2013 › October

What is the right formula for Blackstone? Two IPOs and a sale or perhaps three IPOs -- namely for Extended Stay America, Hilton, and possibly La Quinta. It is so nice to have options.

The rise of visual web has been great for travel marketing, which has traditionally been image-driven anyway. Smart companies are doing smart content marketing campaigns, and we show how.

Google may never become the online booking killer that everyone expected it to become, but it can surely be the best travel information utility service on the planet, and it is using Maps to leverage into it.

We have our doubts that FlyFit snacks really ease the pain of jet lag or economy class seats, but the minimal packaging and health consciousness ingredients suggest there are smarter and healthier ways for airlines to replace meals.

This has a hit written all over it, and shows how a small airline at the bottom of the earth can make a big difference with a quirky and creative sensibility.

The subpoena will likely be pared down before it is issued. Some big issues will be coming to a head in this probe, including whether an apartment rental by an individual renders the apartment a hotel that is subject to occupancy tax.

Is Orbitz's hotel supply really differentiated enough from Expedia's and Travelocity's that consumers will notice the difference when Travelocity fades away as a competitor in 2014? That's doubtful, although Orbitz may have some tricks up its sleeve.

This is the digital manifestation of travelers' desires to have more authentic experiences. The greatest differentiator between Foursquare's new feature and other discovery services will be the quality of the user community that provides the tips.

TripAdvisor is paying careful attention to how it's perceived abroad in order to better position itself against rivals such as Booking.com.

Online travel websites are starting to take their marketing efforts offline to build brand awareness and gain new customers via print and TV campaigns. This is a good example of a multi-faceted service distilling its message down to a simple but powerful image.