This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel DEVICES in tourism and hospitality for June 2015.
Tuesday 23 June 2015:
Wego creates Apple Watch app
- The app will be available later this week and for 20 languages. The metasearch engine's version features a number of tools, including flight options for destinations within five hours flight time booking flights and hotels in one app, filtering tools and last-minute hotel options.
Monday 22 June 2015:Silversea offers free wifi (kind of) to all cruise passengers
- The cruise operator says from January 2016 all passengers in the more expensive classes will get free acces to internet services throughout each ship. Other guests will the complimentary connection for one hour per day. The agreement will include a number of its Expedition voyages as well as all of its existing ocean ships.
Thursday 18 June 2015:British Airways partners with Ventoura for app flights
- The airline says it is the first UK travel company to come to an agreement with the local experiences host whereby users of Ventoura can book BA (and OneWorld) flights after selecting a hosted product. Tips and guides from Ventoura will also be featured on BA.com.
Tuesday 16 June 2015:Alice app integrates real-time translation
- The guest concierge app for hotels will now be able to translate free-form text in 30 languages. For example, a guest can send a message in Italian and it will automatically translate to the property user's native language, and vice versa. The company says the technology has taken nearly a year to develop and refine and will be able to all its hotel customers.
HotelTonight opens first in Australia
- The last-minute mobile hotel booking service aims to use the opening to boost its services in Asia-Pacific, with deals specifically for Melbourne being added soon. Two further Caribbean destinations - Dominican Republic and the Bahamas - have also started this week, joining 2013 launch destination Puerto Rico in the region.
Friday 12 June 2015:IATA and OAG team up for passenger health app
- The SkyZen mobile app will be available for Apple devices and is designed to monitor the health and well-being of passengers before, during and after a flight. It works alongside the Jawbone fitness wristband and allows users to track their activity and sleep patterns, as well as providing tips on how to combat jetlag. Versions for Fitbit and Apple Watch users will are also planned for the future.
Expedia upgrades apps with new services and tools
- The overhauled app will include rental cars, local activities (US-only for now, UK, Canada and other markets to follow), a pay later tool and a discount service for package trips. The new features will be on both the Apple and Android versions of the apps.
Wednesday 10 June 2015:HotelTonight launches Escape service
- The latest feature released by the late-hotel booking app gives users a list of getaway deals for weekends ahead and last-minute offers on the same day. The service has also overhauled its older Rate Drop and Bonus Rate tools, now known as GeoRates. The tool is an location-specific discounting service so hotels can target specific areas and customer types.
Oman Air releases one-touch app
- The application (available for both Apple and Android devices) will give passengers the ability to book flights, check-in, obtain flight information and manage their bookings. It will be available in English and Arabic.
TheTrainLine,
Lastminute.com promise Apple Pay
- Both brands will integrate Apply Pay technology into their respective apps when the service becomes available. Lastminte.com claims the option will give users the chance to book a hotel in under a minute.
Wizz Air launches mobile website
- The inclusion of a dedicated mobile website will work alongside the airline's existing desktop service and applications for Apple and Android devices.
Tuesday 2 June 2015:TripAdvisor gets smart with Android watches
- Quick on the heels of the Apple Watch frenzy and Pebble device product, TripAdvisor has a free app for Android-hosted wearables. The application includes recommendations for restaurants, attractions and hotels, as well as point of interest details, saving tools and links to a user's mobile phone.
Opodo launches Apple Watch application
- The online travel agency's app for the Apple device will be available in 11 languages and allow users to access travel itineraries and schedules, airport information, weather and other content related to a trip. Languages include English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Greek.
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NB2: Travel image via Shutterstock.