This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel STARTUPS in tourism and hospitality for January 2014.
22 January 2014:
Kuaidi Dache accepts Alipay
- China-based taxi hailing app Kuaidi Dache now supports Alibaba’s Alipay payment service in 40 Chinese cities, covering more than 400,000 taxi drivers. Customers have to key in the fares in Kuaidi app while paying, and drivers who don’t have Kuaidi app in their mobile can still accept Alipay payments through QR codes (if customers phones have Alipay Wallet app).
20 January 2014:Tourlandish supports multiple currency
- Tourlandish (TLabs here), the tours and activities service has launched a new multi-currency feature that allows users to view pricing in 13 currencies and process payments in USD and INR.
15 January 2014:
Wanderu beefs up exec team, adds regions
- The metasearch for inter-city bus and train travel, Wanderu, has added Frederick Buhr, former vice president of ecommerce and digital marketing of Rail Europe, as chief marketing officer. Today it also added coverage to the Southeast US, meaning that users can now find buses or trains from Southern Canada to the tip of Florida. Since its August launch, the site has helped over a quarter million people travel by bus and train, it says. It raised a $2.45 million dollar round of funding led by Alta Ventures in August.
Roomer partners with
Hickory Global Partners to reach agent networks
- HGP's portfolio of agencies will be able to gain access to Roomer's inventory of non-refundable hotel rooms, as part of the deal, whereby agents will use the marketplace to search and book discounted accommodation from most cities across the US.
12 January 2014:GetMyBoat claims P2P boat rental record, launches apps
- The US-based company [TLabs here] says it is adding around 200 boats a week and has recently hit 11,500 vessels in 1,100 cities worldwide. It has also recently launched a customer and owner mobile application for both Android and iPhone devices.
10 January 2014:HotelQuickly takes service to Philippines
- The APAC-focused last minute hotel booking service, HotelQuickly, has launched in Philippines - hotels can be booked in Manila, Cebu, and Davao. The company also promises to refund twice the difference if a cheaper price was found anywhere else.
Uber launches in Kuala Lumpur
- After weeks of running UBER in test/stealth mode in Kuala Lumpur, the company has officially launched the service today in KL. As part of this launch, UBER has doubled the referral bonus for the next two weeks.
9 January 2014TripScanner launches product saving alert service
- The tool works by allowing users to forward an existing booking to the site and allowing it to continually monitor airfares, hotels and car rental rates up until a departure date. If a better deal comes up, TripScanner notifies the traveller so they can re-book or alter their arrangements.
OneFineStay hires ex-Hotels.com exec
- Goh Kuan Tan joins as director of acquisition marketing for the P2P accommodation service. Tan was most recently interim vice president for global paid search at the Expedia-owned hotel brand and prior to that was direct for search marketing in EMEA. He also worked at Boston Consulting and the Monitor Group.
Urban Adventures joins forces with
Bamba Experience for traveller passes
- The partnership gives Urban Adventures customers the chance to use a transport pass that covers the whole of South East Asia, meet with a local to get travel advice and obtain a SIM card to make bookings via a mobile device.
6 January 2014Localeur launches iPhone app
- Local recommendations startup Localeur has released their iOS app into the Apple App Store, expanding their reach from their web-based app. A native Android app is slated to arrive later in 2014.
NB: Send links or releases for travel devices direct to Tnooz
via email.
NB2: Travel startups image via Shutterstock.