The regular Tnooz roundup of product news from around the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, all with a technology, online and digital twist - Wednesday 13 April 2011.
- Flyte Systems installs real-time flight monitoring screens at one of Chicago's most high profile hotels. The departure and arrival boards at the Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro Hotel run use data direct from airlines rather than US FAA-regulated information bulletins.
- Rough Guides launches quartet of city guides for Apple iPhone and iPod Touch devices. The city apps (Rome, London, New York and Paris) include detailed information on key sights and listings for hotels and restaurants across all budgets. Bookmarking tools are also included to allow users to create itineraries ahead of a journey.
- TravelTripper upgrades RezTrip hotel booking software to include two new features. The first sees the addition of a booking engine enhancement so that guests see alternative rate options in the booking window ahead of confirmation, allowing hotels to upsell. Another new piece of functionality includes the addition of social media tools so site visitors can share details of a deal or booking before or after confirmation.
- 200 million passengers worldwide are predicted to have flown on wifi-enabled flights during 2011. AirCell, which produced the report, says around 2,000 aircraft are now fitted with its own (almost 1,100) and web connection technology from other providers. The number has increased massively in recent years, with just 15 aircraft across the US having such connectivity in 2008.