In today's edition: Hostelworld on track with Rail Europe, Ski Pad adds property concierge and new search tools, Travelgrove brings in the Matrix.
This is the regular Tnooz roundup of product news from around the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, all with a technology, online and digital twist - Thursday 21 April 2011.
- Hostelworld signs partnership deal with Rail Europe. Under the agreement, visitors to the rail ticket agent website will be able to search and book any of the 25,000 properties provided by the budget accommodation specialist. It's the second such deal for Hostelworld in April 2011 following a similar partnership with FindMyBeach.
- Travelers visiting JetBlue's Terminal 5 at JFK airport from April 22 to May 30 will get to show off their Nintendo 3DS skills at a grandstand. They will be able to take 3DS photos and videos, play games and be eligible for prizes. JetBlue isn't handing out these Nintendo systems on board its jets, but an official says "we will give consumers an especially fun way to pass the time while they wait to board their flights."
- Ski rental startup Ski Pad [TLabs Showcase - Ski Pad] upgrades website with new features. The site has added a detailed information section about each property (including what items can hire on a guest's behalf), four currencies and improvements to the search user experience.
- Travelgrove introduces matrix system to search results to help with a user's frequent flyer requirements. The tool allows the user to filer results in three ways: awards by dollar, awards total, and progress towards a free trip. The system is provided through a partnership with air mile specialist MileBlaster.