A federal lawsuit naming the likes of Expedia, Orbitz, Booking.com, Travelocity, Trump International Hotels Management, Intercontinental, Kimpton, Sabre Holdings, Priceline, Marriott, Starwood, and Hilton alleges the companies conspired to fix hotel room prices. According to the news from Reuters, the suit claims the travel giants did so in an effort to fend off competition from smaller online retailers.
Should Google Buy Travelzoo?
What could Google do with Travelzoo (NASDAQ:TZOO)? This is the question some insiders may be asking if reports of the beleaguered travel deal company’s sale ring true. Having had shared plummet over 70 percent since last year, Travelzoo would seem ripe for the picking, but just who’s plucking online booking portals these days? Reuters has it the company is seeking advisers on a potential sell.
Development of Mobile Banking Products Released
We live in such a busy world, there’s a constant rush, and we have more and more needs. We have contributed to the evolution of technology and technology offered us in return, a more convenient life.
Who’s the Big Bad Wolf of Hotel Marketing?
Just out, the Distribution Channel Analysis study via the American Hotel Lodging Association (AH&LA) and STR, has been released. The detailed study, supposedly aimed at helping “all” hoteliers better understand hotel room distribution, discusses distribution channel mix, among other salient hotel profitability instances. But, is the study really meant for all hoteliers, or just the fat cats?
Google Hotel Finder Adds “Search by Travel Time”
Google Hotel Finder has finally rolled out some of its much-anticipated ‘innovation’, in the form of a new search parameter than allows us to search for hotels by travel time from key attractions and destinations
HotelMaps: Clean, Clear Alternative for Hotel Finding
Sparkly clean accomodation finder HotelMaps is a welcome surprise to the space being dominated by Google and Hipmunk currently. The German startup affords users an interactive experience that leads to a no nonsense booking experience. For those in search of simplicity and accuracy in hotel finding, HotelMaps appears to be a winner.
Will Expedia’s “Verified” Reviews Fly?
Last week, Danny King over at Travel Weekly hit the nail on the head with his assessment of Expedia’s so called “verified” review system. Expedia Verified Reviews attempts to qualify hotel reviews using “use” of Expedia as a criteria. Having pushed TripAdvisor from the OTA nest on its own, Expedia seems intent on milking the last drop from the user review teat.
Selling Soap, Seats, & Other Hospitality Services In 2012
An article on Tnooz last Friday peaked our interest, Xotels boss Patrick Landman offering up key variables in what will become the biggest online trade war ever. When Google, all the big corporate OTAs, and key independent online travel entities lock horns for a final round, a few will not be left standing.
Upcoming: The Festival of Media Asia
Festival of Media Asia, opens their creativity and innovation in media by their first Asia chapter from November 13th thru November 15th in Singapore. Hosted at the Marina Bay Saynds Expo and Convention Center, the gathering hopes to target the challenges Asia marketers, branding, and communications sectors face.
Travelport & Orbitz Safe for Now – and Tomorrow?
Everyone associated with Travelport has to have breathed a sigh of relief on the news that Travelport Holdings successfully revamped their debt, extending their PIK until December of 2016. Unanimous support from their lenders now ensures the travel giants ongoing operations.
Google Flight Search Takes Off
Kayak and Expedia had better watch out – booking flights online just got a whole lot easier thanks to an excellent new tool from those geniuses at Google – the new Flight Search, a super-intuitive tool that is set to wrestle a huge share of the market from traditional flight finder services.
Google Is NOT Taking Over Travel With Hotel Finder
Okay, just because Google bought ITA, just because flight search stuff got put onto the search page, just because they have 50 billion reasons to take over online travel, does not mean Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Eric Schmidt, and the rest at Google will. AND, launching the unbelievably fast Google Hotel Finder aspect for online travel? Nah, Google will never take over the multi-billion dollar online travel scene. Yeah! They will.
Terra Firma, Friends, and Travels Shared Through Google +
If there is one thing concrete that we can say binds all of us, it is good old Terra firma herself. In a very real way, the Earth beneath all our feet, like our own humanity, can teach us a lot about one another. Maybe this is one reason travel is so fantastically popular – as human beings we a
Google + and Really Refined Reviews – Coming Soon
The suggested Google Travel entity could be just around the corner. According to the news from Tnooz and Kevin May, Google unceremoniously yanked third party reviews from hotels on Google Maps and Google Places, a move May suggests puts Google’s review credibility down there with TripAdvisor’s. But what if?
Will Google Launch Their ITA Travel Weapon?
According to TechCrunch’s reliable network of source, Google may well roll out an integrated ITA search platform within days. A report by TC’s Leena Rao 16 hours ago suggests Google’s recent acquisition may in fact be the forboding nightmare Microsoft, Expedia, and others feared.