What else is going on in the world of travel tech? A round-up of other stories from across the industry.
- The Doyle Collection has gone mobile with the unveiling of a new website for smartphones. The service includes a four-step booking process for any of the chain's 11 properties as well as the ability to review bookings and send details via SMS. Google Maps have also been integrated into the service.
- The online travel sector is losing out on £470 million of transactions each year because of inefficient identity checks according to research carried out for Experian. The study, conducted by the International Fraud Prevention Research Centre, shows one-in-five transactions are being abandoned altogether and 44% of consumers have abandoned at least one online transaction in the past year.
- VisitGuernsey has unveiled an electronic brochure to promote the island's walking holidays. The e-brochure includes event listings, videos, maps and other travel information. The e-brochure can be downloaded here.
- Thomas Cook-owned brand My Travel is getting social with plans to add social commerce applications from Digital Visitor to its website. The applications will enable consumers to join discussions as well as submit reviews and ratings to the site and upload images and video content.
- Based on data from deals aggregator Yipit, financial analyst Herman Leung of Susquehanna Financial Group writes that "the travel category for Groupon (Getaways) is now tracking at 10-15% of North America billings ..." Groupon Getaways is the product of Groupon's travel partnership with Expedia. Meanwhile, Groupon Goods accounts for 5-10% of North America billings and Groupon Now, which are Groupons that must be redeemed that day, is responsible for just 1% of those billings, Leung writes.