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.

Conrad Hotels turns some Instagram images into booking buttons
News / Online
Conrad Hotels turns some Instagram images into booking buttons
By Sean O'Neil | February 13, 2015
Travelers have begun to see an industry first of sorts on the social network Instagram. Clicking on a photo in a special gallery of Conrad Hotels property images will re-direct users to the hotel chai... Read More
Orbitz to net $115 million from Expedia if deal falls through due to anti-trust
News
Orbitz to net $115 million from Expedia if deal falls through due to anti-trust
By Nick Vivion | February 13, 2015
The SEC published Expedia's Form 8-K which discloses its proposed merger with Orbitz Worldwide, Inc., and there's a whopper of a clause: Expedia will dish out $115 million to Orbitz in the event that... Read More
What are the most discussed travel topics on Internet forums? [INFOGRAPHIC]
News / Online
What are the most discussed travel topics on Internet forums? [INFOGRAPHIC]
By Nick Vivion | February 13, 2015
The Internet is a vast and complicated place — especially in the depths of the many travel forums that exists across the Web. Allianz has done some legwork to parse the most discussed travel topics... Read More
Inside the massive IT operations of a modern cruise ship [VIDEO]
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Inside the massive IT operations of a modern cruise ship [VIDEO]
By Nick Vivion | February 13, 2015
A modern cruise ship truly is a marvel of innovation and ingenuity on the IT front. In order to prevent on-board fires, cables must not be spliced — instead they must run through the entire length of... Read More
How the Expedia-Orbitz deal could have happened five years ago
News / Distribution
How the Expedia-Orbitz deal could have happened five years ago
By Kevin May | February 13, 2015
News this week that Expedia has bought rival Orbitz signals a fundamental shift in the world of online travel agencies. But the industry already had an inkling that something like this was on the c... Read More
Startup pitch: Alice wants to answer your hotel stay needs
News / Technology
Startup pitch: Alice wants to answer your hotel stay needs
By Linda Fox | February 13, 2015
The idea for Alice service came to life through the frustration of not being able to connect with a hotel unless you're on the spot or by telephone. The founders conducted research with hotel manag... Read More
Worldmate platform chosen by JTB-CWT for push into Japan
News / Technology
Worldmate platform chosen by JTB-CWT for push into Japan
By Martin Cowen | February 12, 2015
Worldmate has been named as the mobile trip-planning platform of choice for the JTB-CWT joint venture in Japan. The move is intended to pick up on some of the unmanaged part of the $65 billion spen... Read More
Traveling? Visa may track your whereabouts, to OK your transactions
News / Technology
Traveling? Visa may track your whereabouts, to OK your transactions
By Sean O'Neil | February 12, 2015
The security measures that banks take to prevent fraudulent transactions can be too much of a good thing. If you travel abroad often, chances are that you will, sooner or later, have trouble buying... Read More
This site maps every Airbnb rental in New York City
News
This site maps every Airbnb rental in New York City
By Sean O'Neil | February 12, 2015
Inside Airbnb, a data visualization tool released this week activist Murray Cox, scrapes Airbnb's public data for New York City users. The site's analysis of Airbnb's data casts doubt on the compa... Read More
Emerging markets continue to turn to technology to book travel
News / Technology
Emerging markets continue to turn to technology to book travel
By Nick Vivion | February 12, 2015
While emerging markets are taking a bit of a beating as far as growth, the expectations on the travel side of things remain healthy. As the red-hot growth cools, it leaves a newly-minted middle class... Read More
Expedia to buy Orbitz in cash deal worth $1.6 billion
News / Distribution
Expedia to buy Orbitz in cash deal worth $1.6 billion
By Kevin May | February 12, 2015
Expedia Inc has agreed a deal to buy Orbitz Worldwide in a transaction for $12 per share in cash. The acquisition represents an enterprise value of $1.6 billion, a statement says, with a premium of... Read More
Digital detox - your devices are ruining your life
News / Technology
Digital detox - your devices are ruining your life
By PhocusWire | February 12, 2015
A political blogger spent so much time posting and Tweeting and staring at screens that he almost went nuts.... Read More
TripAdvisor sees its expenses spike, may need to bid for controlling interest
News / Distribution
TripAdvisor sees its expenses spike, may need to bid for controlling interest
By Sean O'Neil | February 11, 2015
TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel reviews platform, has placed a bet on becoming an alternative to online travel agencies for both travelers and suppliers through its recently rolled out instant... Read More
Is Airbnb responsible for the softening in New York RevPAR?
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Is Airbnb responsible for the softening in New York RevPAR?
By Nick Vivion | February 11, 2015
A recent analyst report from Credit Suisse suggests that Airbnb has put downward pricing pressure on hotels in New York City. The analysts identified the soft demand heading into the fourth quarter... Read More
Hertz launches digital concierge in Ireland
News
Hertz launches digital concierge in Ireland
By Nick Vivion | February 11, 2015
Hertz has partnered with a local Irish company to create a technology solution for drivers seeking things to do. It's a Web-based concierge called Smart Traveller, and it offers advice on places to ea... Read More