French automaker Renault has just acquired taxi metasearch app Karhoo, according to the news from Tnooz. In a deal undertaken by Renault’s wholly owned bank RCI, the business which acquired the assets of Karhoo from the administrators of the startup.
Tnooz
THack Mallorca Hist Mallorca Tomorrow
Coming up in the Baelerics tomorrow, THack Mallorca is a hackathon dedicated to hospitality solutions. THack Mallorca is FREE for professional and student developers and offers the chance for teams of up to five developers to win their share of at least €5,000 in cash and other prizes.
On an Island of Hospitality Data: Using Pineapple Search
Over the last dozen years I’ve tested just about every search technology that exists. From back in the so-called “search wars”, to new forms of AI and semantic intelligence, the ultimate goal of any search device is relevance for the user. Today I tested a little hospitality search engine called Pineapple Search.
Online Travel Sucking Wind with Consumers! Huh?
A USA Today story from yesterday pretty much tells on an online travel industry that has failed on nearly every front to deliver. Let’s face it, just because you can book a plane or hotel on Expedia, this does not equal the innovation and awe so many have spoken of these last three years. Tnooz to this beleaguered writer, online travel should be farther along by now in delivering on its promise.
Treovi To Revolutionize the Online Hotel Industry
Revolutionizing the online hotel industry, Treovi reservation service recently announced their main objective of excluding all existing online commissions and founding an equitable collaboration between hotels and their customers. Now this is news.
European Vacation Rentals: Room At the Top
Key findings from PhoCusWright, presented by Tnooz, reveal the strength of Europe’s holiday rental segment. Despite the complexities of the European holiday rental market, the potential for revenue there is undeniable, PCW estimates the current in the report titled: PhoCusWright’s European Vacation Rental Marketplace: 2011-2013. €20 billion euro is one powerful incentive for studying rentals.
WTM: 2011 Money Generation Machine
Travel Daily News reported this morning, the start of this week’s World Travel Market in London, the leading worldwide travel industry event, welcomed some 183 new exhibitors for 2011. From national tourism boards, destination management companies, to technology entities and beyond, ExCeL, London is the place to be November 7 through 10.
TripAdvisor’s Fake Reviews Sickness Goes Critical
TripAdvisor, the leading online travel reviews site in the world, is now under investigation by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over concerns reviews from travelers may be illegitimate. A formal investigation has reportedly been launched on the heels of complaints TripAdvisor’s reviews problems have reached monumental levels.
Argophilia Launches Citizen’s Travel Portal
Argophilia Travel Albania launches as the first of many regional travel directories aimed at introducing Eastern Europe’s hidden gems. Breathtaking places sit undiscovered by most of the world’s top travel businesses, a scattered lot of informative sites offer little or no value to travelers or local businesses, but Argo addresses the problem directly.
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?
White Line Hotels – There In Black and White
Paris, London, New York, or even a Caribbean cruise, what’s the one thing all vacations have in common? The place a traveler stays after arrival, for one. Argo Travel News went far afield today in search of the extraordinary. After all, while we seek pattern and commonality in travel, many times – isn’t it the “unique” that is so often missing?
Sabre’s Hospitable Solution for Facebook
Dennis Schaal, over at Tnooz, offered a report yesterday on Sabre Hospitality Solutions’ latest incursion for the Arizona Grand Resort, and their so called SocialConversion suite. If the innovation is important enough for Tnooz to cover it, then certainly Argo Travel should look into Sabre’s most prized social platform. Is this suite as good as it looks?
Argo Travel Tech: iGottaGuide
A new startup called iGottaGuide promises to show travelers a simpler and better way to book great tour experiences. On further study, it appears the development has a ways to go.
Hopper Building Advanced Travel Search System
Hopper, a full-text search engine for travel, is now in early alpha testing for its new natural-language-based search technology. The company is the brainchild of Frederic Lalonde and Joost Ouwerkerk; Lalonde is also the chairman of Tnooz. The developers working on the project are former Expedia geeks, and the tool they are trying to create […]
Sabre Launches AgentStream Germany With Resounding Thump
In travel news from Germany, online travel giant Sabre Group has announced the launch of a social networking platform here in Germany. AgentStream is theoretically designed for travel agents in Germany to be able to engage the social web, at least this is what the over four thousand global participants at AgentStream hope. But aside the obvious PR push of this, is the platform really all that social? It looks more like a push to keep up with Travelport than anything.
Tnooz’s THack Uncovers Some Tech Greatness
Travel Technology Europe wrapped up earlier this week in London, and what was revealed is pretty significant for ongoing travel developments. Tnooz’s THack initiative in particular uncovered and showcased some extraordinary travel technology assets. Voice enabled travel search, advanced API use tools, and even superior advertising solutions were offered, among the many other cutting edge technologies.
Google’s Probability of Online Travel Success
American Airlines and ITA penned a deal the other day which AA claims had nothing to do with Google’s acquisition of ITA technology. But the suggestion still remains as to what exactly Google is doing to fend off its opponents in the so called “Online Travel War.” Is Google silently orchestrating the downfall of Expedia and the others of FairSearch? Well, probably not anything so diabolical, but winning the ITA acquisition with underlying business relationships? This is not only possible, but probable.
Fear Google – Trust Expedia
Google’s detractors huddle in Phoenix at this year’s PhoCusWright Conference to try an lobby allies. Fearing Google’s ITA acquisition will forever change the online travel game, some top travel execs seem willing to do anything to block the Internet’s biggest player.
Tripit Still Shines If Not Altogether New
TripIt is without a doubt one of the most useful travel tools yet developed. But, can this fairly limited tool, regardless how slick, remain atop the travel app list forever? With an increased user base via Hotwire TripIt has so far fended off all competition, but one slip is all it will take for the next big thing to steamroll this startup. The larger question is, “Can simple modular applications be stand alone monetization models?”
Travelport to Integrate and Reorganize Channels
Travelport announces new integration features as the company gets a new lease on life from investors. Travelport’s leading edge GDS technology is in need of an update, as worldwide travel becomes far more competitive. Blackstone Group’s reservation portal forgoes $2.6 billion in mature loans for now. Will the company integrate and expand its global business?