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.

Rategain secures investment, targets North America and APAC
News / Distribution
Rategain secures investment, targets North America and APAC
By Martin Cowen | January 15, 2015
Ten years after launch, hotel IT business Rategain has confirmed its first ever funding round, with TA Associates stumping up the cash. Financial details are not disclosed, although reports put the... Read More
Travelstart makes acquisition as it looks to leverage social data
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Travelstart makes acquisition as it looks to leverage social data
By Linda Fox | January 14, 2015
Online travel agency Travelstart has acquired social seating specialist Satisfly for an undisclosed sum. The Cape Town-based OTA says the acquisition will enable it to target customers with persona... Read More
South Korea gets a messaging-based licensed taxi app
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South Korea gets a messaging-based licensed taxi app
By Martin Cowen | January 14, 2015
Daum Kakao, one of South Korea's biggest digital businesses, is launching a taxi-hailing app, making a lot of noise about the fact that it will only be available for registered drivers. Kakao Taxi... Read More
Australian players fearful of Booking.com's boom, Wotif's weakness
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Australian players fearful of Booking.com's boom, Wotif's weakness
By Sean O'Neil | January 14, 2015
Why did Australian regulators okay Expedia Inc's $703 million acquisition of Wotif Holdings last October? Documents released on Tuesday explain their official reasoning. At the core, the regulators... Read More
Virgin Hotels launches in-room personal assistant called...
News / Technology
Virgin Hotels launches in-room personal assistant called...
By Nick Vivion | January 14, 2015
Lucy is the name of the new mobile app launched by Virgin Hotels. The app will complement the guest experience with a full list of features, including some industry-leading integrations. It seems t... Read More
Here's some free geeky knowledge from Silicon Valley's engineering elite [VIDEO]
News / Technology
Here's some free geeky knowledge from Silicon Valley's engineering elite [VIDEO]
By Nick Vivion | January 14, 2015
One advantage of working for a growth-stage company is the many educational opportunities that are institutionally available. And thanks to the general open ethos of many startups in Silicon Valley... Read More
One view on the top trends in travel advertising [INFOGRAPHIC]
News / Online
One view on the top trends in travel advertising [INFOGRAPHIC]
By Nick Vivion | January 14, 2015
The fastest growth in travel industry advertising spend will come from social and video commercials, says recent Expedia Media Solutions/Phocuswright research. The growth is aligning well with the... Read More
A wish list for hotel marketers in 2015
News / Online
A wish list for hotel marketers in 2015
By Viewpoints | January 14, 2015
At the end of each year, we ask clients, partners and hotel marketing peers to tell us what’s on their wish lists for next year. NB: This an analysis by Dave Spector, a partner at Tambourine. Wh... Read More
HRS loses rate parity appeal, calls for unified approach
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HRS loses rate parity appeal, calls for unified approach
By Linda Fox | January 13, 2015
A German court has ruled parity clauses from hotel specialist HRS are anti-competitive, paving the way for similar decisions on other online intermediaries. The ruling from the Higher Regional Cour... Read More
Google Flight Search goes live in India
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Google Flight Search goes live in India
By Martin Cowen | January 13, 2015
Despite an underwhelming start in most markets, Google is bringing its Flight Search product to India. The launch was officially announced on the Google India blog. Google Flight Search India has t... Read More
Four very basic mistakes that stall many ecommerce startups
News / Online
Four very basic mistakes that stall many ecommerce startups
By PhocusWire | January 13, 2015
Consumers have overwhelmingly embraced online shopping.... Read More
Interactive Airbnb map shows where people are Airbnbing in real-time
News / Online
Interactive Airbnb map shows where people are Airbnbing in real-time
By Nick Vivion | January 13, 2015
Airbnb is no stranger to clever marketing campaigns, although some of them haven't ended so well. This time last year there was the Birdhouse campaign, which led to threatened litigation for brand co... Read More
Startup pitch: Vamo fuses scope of a travel agent with online booking tool
News / Technology
Startup pitch: Vamo fuses scope of a travel agent with online booking tool
By Nick Vivion | January 13, 2015
Today's startup pitch comes from Vamo, an emerging travel startup that promises to fuse a travel agent's ability to handle complex itineraries with the conveniences of a fully-customizable online book... Read More
Hack attack on some United and American accounts, 20 other travel sites
News
Hack attack on some United and American accounts, 20 other travel sites
By Sean O'Neil | January 13, 2015
Stolen usernames and passwords have been used by thieves to hack into the mileage accounts of frequent fliers at United and American, say the airlines. Both carriers tell Tnooz they are confident t... Read More
TravelClick buys hotel video production company TVTrip
News / Distribution
TravelClick buys hotel video production company TVTrip
By Kevin May | January 13, 2015
Hotel technology giant TravelClick has acquired France-based TVTrip, in a bid to improve its marketing services to property owners. No terms for the deal were disclosed. TVTrip was created in 20... Read More
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