Latest News

Latest News

Stay up to date with the latest travel technology news, startup updates, and industry developments from across the global travel ecosystem.

Google Flights comes out of beta, but still isn't profitable
News / Distribution
Google Flights comes out of beta, but still isn't profitable
By Sean O'Neil | March 2, 2015
Google Flights, the travel metasearch tool, has officially come out of beta. The Flights product now appears as an option within the Google products dropdown menu. While no longer in beta, Google F... Read More
Make your responsive website respond quickly on mobile
News / Technology
Make your responsive website respond quickly on mobile
By Viewpoints | March 2, 2015
As mobile starts to matter even more in travel and hospitality, it is important that  the user experience comes up to speed, literally. NB This is an analysis by David Hsieh, VP Marketing at Instar... Read More
Ola buys TaxiForSure for $200 million
News / Distribution
Ola buys TaxiForSure for $200 million
By Martin Cowen | March 2, 2015
India's biggest taxi app Ola has bought TaxiForSure, the country's second largest taxi firm, in a cash and shares deal worth $200 million. Ola, formerly OlaCabs, already has 100,000 "driver-entrepr... Read More
TUI throws in the towel with AsiaRooms hotel booking site
News / Distribution
TUI throws in the towel with AsiaRooms hotel booking site
By Kevin May | February 28, 2015
The recently created TUI Group has made its first strategic move and will close the under performing AsiaRooms brand. The company confirmed the plan this weekend after hotel partners were informed... Read More
5 hotel distribution trends in 2015 [INFOGRAPHIC]
News / Distribution
5 hotel distribution trends in 2015 [INFOGRAPHIC]
By Nick Vivion | February 27, 2015
March is upon us, and as winter theoretically fades into spring, there's still a solid bit of 2015 remaining to plan strategies and achieve goals. eRevMax has compiled five distribution trends that... Read More
Olset kickstarts HotelMatch, Olery sums up reviews, Dallas gives props to UTrip, and more...
News / Online
Olset kickstarts HotelMatch, Olery sums up reviews, Dallas gives props to UTrip, and more...
By PhocusWire | February 27, 2015
This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel MARKETING in tourism and hospitality for February 2015. Friday 27 February 2015: Olset launches HotelMatch.me HotelMatch.me is... Read More
Oracle Micros ties up with SiteMinder [UPDATED]
News / Distribution
Oracle Micros ties up with SiteMinder [UPDATED]
By Sean O'Neil | February 27, 2015
For a couple of years now, SiteMinder, the Australia-based hotel channel manager, has been stealing market share away from Micros, the hotel technology provider recently purchased by Oracle. Micros... Read More
Citymaps raises $6 million to fuel its Yelp/Google Maps mashup
News / Online
Citymaps raises $6 million to fuel its Yelp/Google Maps mashup
By Nick Vivion | February 27, 2015
Citymaps is a mashup of Yelp and Google/Apple Maps, spinning mobile mapping in a new direction. This direction includes large logos, which the company calls its "logo maps." The idea is to shift th... Read More
HRG creates Fraedom, Seekda launches platform, Epteca unveils ancillary platform, and more...
News / Distribution
HRG creates Fraedom, Seekda launches platform, Epteca unveils ancillary platform, and more...
By PhocusWire | February 27, 2015
This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel DISTRIBUTION in tourism and hospitality for February 2015. Friday 27 February 2015 Hogg Robinson Group launches new company Fraedom... Read More
CMO of Booking.com becomes CEO of Priceline brand
News / Online
CMO of Booking.com becomes CEO of Priceline brand
By Sean O'Neil | February 27, 2015
Paul Hennessy, the chief marketing officer (CMO) of Booking.com for the past three years, will step up to become chief executive officer of the Priceline brand at the start of April, said the Pricelin... Read More
Franchise hotels and the framing of online travel agencies
News
Franchise hotels and the framing of online travel agencies
By Viewpoints | February 27, 2015
For more than a decade, online travel agencies such as Expedia or Booking.com have been demonized by franchise chains for being too expensive. Is the criticism true, or is it possible that the OTAs... Read More
Hyperloop - from science fiction to real engineering
News
Hyperloop - from science fiction to real engineering
By PhocusWire | February 27, 2015
Cast your minds back a few years and you will remember the hyperloop, right?... Read More
Amadeus closes year on a high, scoping further acquisitions if price right
News / Distribution
Amadeus closes year on a high, scoping further acquisitions if price right
By Linda Fox | February 27, 2015
Gains across both distribution and the IT solutions businesses as well as mergers and acquisition activity contributed to growth for Amadeus in 2014. Highlights for the final quarter of the year in... Read More
Do digital payments affect tipped wages in hospitality?
News / Technology
Do digital payments affect tipped wages in hospitality?
By Nick Vivion | February 26, 2015
Digital payments are primed for growth, especially as Google prepares to enter the fray with its own "Google Pay" for one-tap payments via Android phones. So as consumers increasingly shift to payi... Read More
Move along there now, Airbnb just looking for business as usual
News / Distribution
Move along there now, Airbnb just looking for business as usual
By Linda Fox | February 26, 2015
It must be exciting in the early days to be dubbed disruptive and gain column inches, good and bad, for every move you make. And then, there must come a time when you just want to fit into the land... Read More