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.

New TSA chief hopes new technology will smooth airport checkpoints
News
New TSA chief hopes new technology will smooth airport checkpoints
By Sean O'Neil | November 4, 2015
The new head of the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) believes new technologies will eventually speed up and improve airport security checkpoints. Testifying yesterday before a congre... Read More
Lufthansa touts Google as big-name partner, direct-connects starting elsewhere
News / Distribution
Lufthansa touts Google as big-name partner, direct-connects starting elsewhere
By Kevin May | November 4, 2015
Lufthansa is forging ahead with its efforts to establish partnerships with intermediaries and other travel brands - with Google going live this week. The airline is currently embroiled in a bruisin... Read More
Why on earth are tours and activities not bigger online?
News / Technology
Why on earth are tours and activities not bigger online?
By Linda Fox | November 4, 2015
Something happens when you put a bunch of tour and activity guys in a room, not so fresh from a day at World Travel Market London. Initially they talk about the nitty gritty of what constitutes a t... Read More
Airbnb campaign pays off, wins battle in its own backyard
News / Distribution
Airbnb campaign pays off, wins battle in its own backyard
By Kevin May | November 4, 2015
The city of San Francisco has voted against legislation that would have put the skids under the Airbnb model in its home city. Initial results from the Proposition F (as the proposed piece of of re... Read More
Hotelbeds comes in with big APItude
News / Distribution
Hotelbeds comes in with big APItude
By Linda Fox | November 4, 2015
Hotelbeds has developed a set of APIs to make it easier for partners such as online travel agents and tour operators to work with it. Branded APItude, the three APIs cover content, caching and book... Read More
RelayRides rebrands as Turo, lands $47M series C
News
RelayRides rebrands as Turo, lands $47M series C
By Sean O'Neil | November 3, 2015
RelayRides, a peer-to-peer car rental marketplace, is rebranding itself under the name Turo. The San Francisco startup says that it has closed its Series C investment round, led by old-line giant v... Read More
Skyscanner to provide voice flight search for Amazon Echo
News / Distribution
Skyscanner to provide voice flight search for Amazon Echo
By Kevin May | November 3, 2015
Skyscanner is to be the first travel search provider to integrate with Amazon's Echo system, allowing people to find flights using just their voice. The technology works by connecting the Skyscanne... Read More
David versus Goliath in action in online travel
News / Distribution
David versus Goliath in action in online travel
By Kevin May | November 3, 2015
The tough reality of a startup entering a growing online travel market that was previously dominated by a major player is born out in India. Budget accommodation platform Oyo Rooms has made a name... Read More
Internet of Things and other digital projects driving tourists beyond London
News / Technology
Internet of Things and other digital projects driving tourists beyond London
By Linda Fox | November 2, 2015
Cities up and down the UK stand to benefit from increased tourism through digital initiatives according to a report. The WTM Trends Report 2015, carried out in association with Euromonitor Internat... Read More
Airbnb, HomeAway, TripAdvisor, Booking, and Rented talk vacation rentals
News / Distribution
Airbnb, HomeAway, TripAdvisor, Booking, and Rented talk vacation rentals
By Nick Vivion | November 2, 2015
The mainstreaming of vacation rentals, regional consolidation, regulation and technology-driven operational efficiency were themes at the closing session of the annual Vacation Rental Managers Associa... Read More
Travelport takes quarter distribution revenues from non-air, sees Lufthansa decline
News / Distribution
Travelport takes quarter distribution revenues from non-air, sees Lufthansa decline
By Kevin May | November 2, 2015
Travelport claims it is seeing shifts away from bookings for Lufthansa flights since the introduction of the carrier's surcharge. President and CEO Gordon Wilson says the larger switch in volumes h... Read More
Independent hotels: Can they loosen the OTA grip?
News / Technology
Independent hotels: Can they loosen the OTA grip?
By Viewpoints | November 2, 2015
When we think of the lodging industry in the US, many of us think of chains – those big brands such as Marriott, Hilton, and Choice that drive distribution trends and website bookings. NB This is a... Read More
Customer service top priority (rather than sales) for airlines on social media
News / Online
Customer service top priority (rather than sales) for airlines on social media
By Kevin May | November 2, 2015
An annual survey of airline executives has seen a subtle change in how they and their businesses approach and utilise social media. The analysis of the how carriers build a strategy around their us... Read More
Startup pitch: Bellhop widens mobile concierge beyond hotels
News / Technology
Startup pitch: Bellhop widens mobile concierge beyond hotels
By Linda Fox | November 2, 2015
Bellhop has been set up to bring hospitality and travel-related services to travellers seeking on-demand services via mobile. The startup believes the hospitality industry has fallen behind as trav... Read More
MakeMyTrip commits to transactions as India reaches mobile-driven inflection point
News / Technology
MakeMyTrip commits to transactions as India reaches mobile-driven inflection point
By Martin Cowen | November 1, 2015
MakeMyTrip has seen year-on-year triple-digit growth in transaction volumes and reminded the markets that revenues will be hit as a result in the near-term. CEO Rajesh Magow said in the 2016 Q2 ear... Read More
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