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New York State Senator says Airbnb’s actions “pathologically irresponsible”
RoomsNew York State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan), who co-sponsored the law that made a large swathe of short-term rentals — the type you can find on sites from Airbnb to FlipKey to Expedia — in the state illegal, released a statement today regarding the fine handed down to Airbnb host Nigel Warren earlier this week. [...]
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Expedia: AirAsia joint venture falls short but brand-building continues
TransportExpedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi concedes its AirAsia-Expedia joint venture is “not where we want it to be yet,” but he’s confident the new leadership, which combines AirAsia’s marketing know-how and local expertise and Expedia’s technology and product expertise, will propel it forward. “We have a strong service in Japan that’s driving the rest of the [...]
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Expedia pay at hotel program paying off for hotels
DigitalEarly hoteliers participating in Expedia’s “hotel collect” platform—where guests reserve a room on Expedia but don’t pay until they check into the hotel—are reporting positive experiences. The program, introduced in July of last year, is officially called Expedia Traveler Preference because guests can choose whether to pay up front on Expedia or when they get [...]
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Priceline CEO: We won’t bias Kayak search results
DigitalWith Priceline’s acquisition of Kayak expected to close May 21, Priceline will have a new weapon in its arsenal, but CEO Jeffery Boyd vowed today that Priceline won’t do anything to bias Kayak’s search results. Appearing on CNBC today, Boyd said that Priceline won’t do anything to upset the level playing field that exists among [...]
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Best travel ads this week: German perfectionism to quirky explorations
DigitalThis week Lufthansa pokes fun at Germans, Expedia takes viewers around the world with a Wes Anderson-inspired tour, a Baltic cruise company tugs heartstrings, and two more videos provide a bit of Friday escapism. FOR ALL OF OUR SKIFTADS OF THE WEEK COLLECTION, CHECK OUT OUR ARCHIVES HERE. Germany’s national carrier Lufthansa pokes fun at [...]
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Hipmunk dives deeper into hotel business with direct bookings
DigitalThe Hipmunk booking experience just got a little better. Users can now optionally book hotels directly on Hipmunk’s mobile and web platforms, and they’ll experience a smoother booking experience. Customers will be able to purchase hotels with fewer clicks once they opt for the “Book on Hipmunk” button. Previously, users were passed off to an [...]
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Desktop still dominates mobile as travelers’ preferred booking platform
DigitalMobile websites and apps have so far failed in their coup to overtake online bookings. Their rise in popularity and functionality is indisputable, but laptops and desktops are still the preferred platform for booking travel, according to a study by Mobiquity. Sixty-nine percent of travelers looking to book travel on a laptop or desktop plan [...]
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Top travel sites then and now: How usability has evolved in travel
DigitalWhat did Expedia look like before the site and its peers turned the bricks and mortar travel agent industry on its head? And how did airlines connect with customers online when dial-up connections were the norm? It seems like another lifetime when these online travel sites broke onto the scene in the mid- to late- [...]
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Shatner and Priceline put pressure on Hotwire as parent Expedia’s Q1 net loss widens
DigitalWilliam Shatner’s Priceline Negotiator character died awhile back, but the reincarnated Shatner, teaming with actress Kaley Cuoco in a series of commercials, have become Hotwire’s worst nightmare. That tidbit emerged as Expedia Inc. today reported that its first quarter net loss widened dramatically as Priceline’s recently launched Express Deals and the accompanying Shatner-Cuoco ad campaign, along with car-rental consolidation, put [...]
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Probe of Google’s anti-trust activities is not off the table
DigitalThe head of the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust division, speaking at a Senate hearing, didn’t rule out the department starting another probe of Google Inc.’s business practices if new allegations emerge. Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee today asked Assistant Attorney General William Baer whether the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s decision in January to close a [...]
