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.

HoloLens: Possible travel uses for Microsoft's rival to Oculus Rift
News / Technology
HoloLens: Possible travel uses for Microsoft's rival to Oculus Rift
By Sean O'Neil | January 21, 2015
Today Microsoft previewed its augmented reality goggles, HoloLens. A prototype will be released later this year for testing, and it has plenty of potential uses for travel companies. HoloLens claim... Read More
Airline and hotel apps less popular than OTA apps with Millennials
News / Technology
Airline and hotel apps less popular than OTA apps with Millennials
By Nick Vivion | January 21, 2015
Millennials are under-indexing on airline and hotel apps, while dramatically over-indexing in their usage of branded OTA apps. This finding challenges certain beliefs that the millennial is now boo... Read More
CNN adds TripAdvisor search, SkyTeam joins WeChat, Mercure tests six degrees theory, and more...
News / Online
CNN adds TripAdvisor search, SkyTeam joins WeChat, Mercure tests six degrees theory, and more...
By PhocusWire | January 21, 2015
This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel MARKETING in tourism and hospitality for January 2015. Wednesday 21 January: CNN International adds TripAdvisor metasearch. CNN... Read More
Quietly, quietly, a Chinese online travel giant prepares to take on the world
News / Distribution
Quietly, quietly, a Chinese online travel giant prepares to take on the world
By Martin Cowen | January 21, 2015
Last week's announcement that "Ctrip.com has partnered with Amadeus to power its global expansion" has largely gone unnoticed, despite some very clear indications that this could be a significant mome... Read More
Shire Hotels brings price comparison back to home turf
News / Distribution
Shire Hotels brings price comparison back to home turf
By Linda Fox | January 21, 2015
In what can only be described as a bold move, Shire Hotels has introduced price comparison functionality on its website displaying rates from big OTAs alongside its own. In a bid to boost conversio... Read More
Startup pitch: SmarterParis drags the guidebook into the mobile era
News
Startup pitch: SmarterParis drags the guidebook into the mobile era
By Sean O'Neil | January 20, 2015
Many travelers don't like carrying paper guidebooks with them on vacations. For one thing, they can be heavy in a bag after a day's walking. But efforts to translate the guidebook experience into a... Read More
Hoping to be cool, Marriott trials Netflix, Hulu, and GoPro tie-ups
News / Online
Hoping to be cool, Marriott trials Netflix, Hulu, and GoPro tie-ups
By Sean O'Neil | January 20, 2015
On the one hand, Marriott International has been facing a public relations disaster over its brief attempt to block personal wifi hotspots at its properties. On the other hand, Marriott is trying t... Read More
Microsoft all but closes Bing Travel, expands MSN Travel
News / Online
Microsoft all but closes Bing Travel, expands MSN Travel
By Sean O'Neil | January 20, 2015
Microsoft's seven-year effort at building up a Bing Travel brand has ended. The company has shifted its marketing muscle into promoting MSN Travel. In 2008, Microsoft created a travel section for i... Read More
Let the intergalactic pirating begin: Elon Musk lays out plan for the space internet
News / Technology
Let the intergalactic pirating begin: Elon Musk lays out plan for the space internet
By Nick Vivion | January 20, 2015
In a private event captured on amateur video (embedded below), space pioneer Elon Musk has outlined his next task: space internet. Of course, this makes sense - if you are going to start pushing tr... Read More
Visit California relaunches, in once-a-decade site overhaul
News / Online
Visit California relaunches, in once-a-decade site overhaul
By Sean O'Neil | January 20, 2015
Visit California, the digital portal for the state's direct marketing organization (DMO), relaunched today. The cost was $250,000 to revamp the website's infrastructure, in what was called a "once-... Read More
Glamping shows growth in the UK and Europe [INFOGRAPHIC]
News
Glamping shows growth in the UK and Europe [INFOGRAPHIC]
By Nick Vivion | January 20, 2015
Glamping - or luxury camping - is seeing strong growth in the UK as some holiday makers stick closer to home during their vacations. The shift also coincides with an increase in amenities at the avera... Read More
OAG grabs FlightView for more real-time action
News / Technology
OAG grabs FlightView for more real-time action
By Linda Fox | January 20, 2015
Flight information and analysis specialist OAG has acquired FlightView for an undisclosed sum. OAG says it is 'strengthening its position' in the expanding real-time flight status market through th... Read More
What influences business travelers and how to adapt hotel marketing
News / Online
What influences business travelers and how to adapt hotel marketing
By Viewpoints | January 20, 2015
Kelly A McGuire (PhD), executive director of hospitality and travel global practice, SAS and Dr. Breffni Noone, associate professor at Penn State, conducted a thorough study into the booking habits an... Read More
Airbnb tipped to double in size and begin gradual impact on hotels
News / Distribution
Airbnb tipped to double in size and begin gradual impact on hotels
By Kevin May | January 20, 2015
Such a statement would be expected from Airbnb itself - but the prediction comes from one of the leading financial travel analysts in Europe. In an investor note released last week, Barclays says i... Read More
Uber woos Europe with promise of 50,000 jobs
News
Uber woos Europe with promise of 50,000 jobs
By Martin Cowen | January 20, 2015
Travis Kalanick, Uber's CEO, has identified expanding its European operations as the key focus for the business in 2015. Speaking at the DLD15 Conference in Munich this week, he said that Uber coul... Read More
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