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Latest News

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

Airbnb scoops up another $555 million in investment
News / Online
Airbnb scoops up another $555 million in investment
By Kevin May | September 23, 2016
Airbnb has landed a further $555 million in funding from Google Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures. The round was confirmed in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission this week.... Read More
Sygic navigates its way into virtual reality landscape
News / Technology
Sygic navigates its way into virtual reality landscape
By Linda Fox | September 23, 2016
Navigation specialist Sygic is claiming a first with the launch of its virtual reality travel application on the Oculus store. The Bratislava-based company says anyone with an Oculus-powered Samsun... Read More
Startup pitch: Comencia, led by ex-Expedia execs, helps SMBs skip agency middlemen [UPDATED]
News
Startup pitch: Comencia, led by ex-Expedia execs, helps SMBs skip agency middlemen [UPDATED]
By Sean O'Neil | September 23, 2016
Comencia is a startup that aims to help small- to medium-sized businesses book travel online without needing the help of travel agencies. UPDATE Monday Sept. 26. This story has been updated with th... Read More
Startup pitch: SlingShot helps travellers to pimp their points
News / Distribution
Startup pitch: SlingShot helps travellers to pimp their points
By Martin Cowen | September 22, 2016
There's a lot of interest in loyalty and frequent flier schemes at the moment,  and rewards points in general are a big part of how we shop. The airline industry was one of if not the first to rewa... Read More
Three slides that (kind of) show the current state of online travel
News / Technology
Three slides that (kind of) show the current state of online travel
By Linda Fox | September 22, 2016
The three Cs of mobile - connection, convenience and context - and how they relate to online travel are increasingly hard to get away from. They're often mentioned at travel conferences (more on th... Read More
Travel loses its edge as moment marketing picks up elsewhere
News / Online
Travel loses its edge as moment marketing picks up elsewhere
By Kevin May | September 22, 2016
Less than a year ago, travel and tourism brands were deemed to be leading the way when it comes to so-called "moment marketing". But other industries have caught up. Not only have they caught up bu... Read More
Travelport Digital synchs Locomote with MTT
News / Technology
Travelport Digital synchs Locomote with MTT
By Martin Cowen | September 22, 2016
Travelport is ramping up not only the international presence of its Australian corporate travel platform Locomote but also its newly formed Digital division. As part of its expansion plans, it has... Read More
Expedia axes strategy of dimming hotels that apparently offer low value
News
Expedia axes strategy of dimming hotels that apparently offer low value
By Kevin May | September 21, 2016
A process where search results for some hotels are not shown in prominent positions or do not include types of media content has been scrapped by Expedia Inc. The group, which has the Expedia, Hote... Read More
Expedia pushes hotel B2B services with revenue management launch
News / Online
Expedia pushes hotel B2B services with revenue management launch
By Kevin May | September 21, 2016
Expedia Inc wants to boost its efforts on the hotel technology side of operations - unveiling a revenue management tool known as Rev+ this week. The Expedia Partner Central wing of the group says i... Read More
Plateno opens platform to European hotels wanting access to China outbound
News / Distribution
Plateno opens platform to European hotels wanting access to China outbound
By Martin Cowen | September 21, 2016
Chinese hotel group Plateno is helping European hotels access Chinese outbound travellers through its Plateno Connect platform. Plateno Group operates more than 3,000 hotels in China with 7 Days In... Read More
Startup pitch: Sonder raises $10 million for serviced home rentals
News
Startup pitch: Sonder raises $10 million for serviced home rentals
By Sean O'Neil | September 20, 2016
Short-term rentals are more interesting than cookie-cutter chain hotel rooms. But the service quality can vary widely. So perhaps there is demand for short-term rentals that have consistent quality in... Read More
WAYN travel social network bought by Lastminute.com Group
News
WAYN travel social network bought by Lastminute.com Group
By Kevin May | September 20, 2016
Pioneering travel social network WAYN has ended 14 years as an independent company and sold to Lastminute.com Group. Terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed. The platform claims to have... Read More
HotelBeds and What Now create app to give hotels revenue from activities
News / Technology
HotelBeds and What Now create app to give hotels revenue from activities
By Kevin May | September 20, 2016
HotelBeds Group will use a partnership with travel startup What Now to push mobile apps and money-making opportunities in-destination to hotels. The idea is that hotels on the HotelBeds distributio... Read More
Ancillary revenue study features GDS agreements
News / Distribution
Ancillary revenue study features GDS agreements
By Martin Cowen | September 20, 2016
The CarTrawler Ancillary Revenue Yearbook by IdeaWorks Company has been released in full and includes, for the first time, a look at each of the airline's relationships with Amadeus, Travelport and Sa... Read More
The Standard becomes another hotel group offering an OTA-like marketplace
News / Technology
The Standard becomes another hotel group offering an OTA-like marketplace
By Sean O'Neil | September 20, 2016
It was a year ago that AccorHotels began selling independent hotels alongside its own properties on its website, in an "open marketplace" concept that has drawn a lot of attention. Today Standard I... Read More
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