Rand McNally is plotting to launch a series of new Web-based travel services.
As evidence of that strategic direction and apparent latitude, Rand McNally completed its integration of Tripology, acquired in March, and introduced a hotel-search advertising platform.
Tripology is now accessible at Tripology.com and through a Find a Travel Specialist link on the Rand McNally homepage.
The travel agent lead-generation company says it plans to introduce technology enhancements later this year.
Meanwhile, Tripology says since its acquisition by Rand McNally, it has renewed alliance agreements with Travel Leaders, AAA, MAST Vacation Partners,Vacation.com and Ensemble.
Tripology, which say it has matched more than 150,000 consumer trip requests with travel agents looking to fulfill them, has more than 40 suppliers in its Travel Industry Supporter Program.
Under the supporter program, suppliers reimburse Tripologists -- travel agent members of Tripology -- for each lead that culminates in a booking.
In other news, Rand McNally separately introduced a Search for Hotels link on its homepage, enabling consumers to search for domestic and international hotels and book on advertisers' websites, including Orbitz, Hotwire, Priceline, Booking.com, getaroom.com and DealBase.
Rand McNally competitor MapQuest, a unit of AOL, uses Travelocity to offer some travel-booking services to consumers through AOL Travel.