2013 › April

Tourism out of Asia is growing, but travelers worldwide are still looking to trim costs leading to the rise in low-cost carriers and the now evident decline of full service airlines.

The elusive upgrade was always a game of chance and an auction model makes it even more interesting.

The Mayor's Office, Airbnb, and SFO all talk about an ongoing "dialogue" and "conversation," but any timelines are vague and the city’s own neighborhood associations, let alone its residents, aren't yet part of the discussion. The sharing economy will one day be regulated in San Francisco, but there's still much work to be done.

Tweets at passengers and sponsoring food trucks helps airlines soothe flyers bothered by crowded flights and hefty fees.

Users of airline mobile apps find them very handy for accessing flight information, but many travelers wait to break out their laptops or use desktops to actually purchase an airline ticket. This survey confirms the looking versus booking gap on mobile.

The move outwardly appears to make sense for LivingSocial: If you are attracting a lot of traffic among users who aren't interested in your flash sales, why not diversify and get them to reserve a different hotel. Just how the economics plays out in the end remains to be seen.

It seems like taxi-hailing apps are controversial and disruptive in China, too, with authorities mulling a crackdown because of surcharges/fees. Perhaps Yongche would find a more receptive environment in New York City, where things are starting to loosen up for taxi apps.

It’s not CEO Michael O’Leary who’s put his foot in his mouth this time. Ryanair is looking to take advantage of the recession to bolster its own business and, in true Ryanair fashion, classy enough to publish it in a press release.

Nothing quite captures the imagination like space, and when you throw Branson into the mix too it'll be hard to dampen the enthusiasm once flights start.

Like Vegas seeking out celebrity chefs, cruise lines have been reaching out to already popular brands for on-board food, drink, and entertainment options, and NCL's turn to TLC star Carlo is a solid match with the line's clientele.