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.
American Airlines Wins Court Round – Travelers Losing Still
A Texas judge has ruled that Sabre Holdings Corp. cannot stop American Airlines (AMR) from seeking a court order to bar Sabre from diminishing the position of AMR’s flight listings. American is seeking an injunction to stop Sabre from listing the airline’s flights beneath competitors routinely. While AMR has won the most recent court round, passengers may lose in the end.
Orbitz Stock Into Orbit With American Airlines Verdict
For all those investors who emailed to ask me if the American Airlines slash Orbitz fight would be a game changer, the news today of skyrocketing Orbitz stock prices is as good an answer as any. Orbitz Worldwide Inc. bounced shares upward on an Illinois court reversal of their case against American Airlines. The court ordered American to resume selling flights via the online travel agency.
US Government Approves Google-ITA Deal
The Department of Justice has approved a $700 million deal that will see Google acquire ITA Software, a travel technology company. The DoJ released a detailed ruling outlining the approval, along with some restrictions. As part of the deal, Google must license QPX software from ITA to airfare websites under “commercially reasonable terms”, continue to […]
Google People Finder Helps Locate Japan Quake Victims
The powerful earthquake that rocked Japan and sent 30-foot-high tsunamis crashing into the shores has left many travelers in the region disoriented, frightened, and, in some cases, missing loved ones. Google is now featuring its “People Finder” once again, which has helped some local residents and travelers in the area locate each other. The interface […]
Join Google and Women on the Bridge This Women’s Day
From the Millenium Bridge in London, to Brooklyn Bridge, on the Golden Gate and to the far reaches of the world – literally – Google, and many others, stand together to try and improve the lives of women around the world.
Bing-Kayak: Travel Search or Dumb Meets Dumber?
The still raging war for online travel supremacy continues with news from Microsoft and Kayak. The pending sale of ITA to Google has spurred some fairly ridiculous allegiances and deals, not the least of which is the latest Bing “slash” Kayak pairing. Let’s face it, Microsoft has already spent two king’s ransoms trying to beat Google, and now this?