Viator Officials Leave TripAdvisor and 4 Other Digital Trends This Week

Throughout the week we post dozens of original stories, connecting the dots across the travel industry, and every weekend we sum it all up. This weekend roundup examines digital trends.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

>>Another year of travel startup trials and tribulations is about to come to a close. Here’s a look at a few companies that survived: 5 New Travel Startups Saying Hello to 2017 With Some Momentum

>>TripAdvisor officials are obviously in no hurry to settle Instant Booking into a consistent user interface that won’t confuse the hell out of consumers because they want to perfect it first. Public company or not, they are in no rush despite investor impatience: TripAdvisor Instant Booking: Testing, Learning and Confusing

>>TripAdvisor’s move to import executives from the company’s vacation rentals business to run a leading tours and activities business isn’t exactly being welcomed with open arms by the rank and file: Exclusive: Viator Officials Depart as TripAdvisor Installs Vacation Rental Execs as Replacements

>>In mid-2015 Kayak opted to go dark on U.S. TV and to put more investment into broadcast advertising in Europe. Kayak’s Hafner claims, however, “the sky didn’t fall” in the U.S., although one could surmise that Google Flights is “knock-knock-knockin’ on heaven’s door”: Kayak Begins Advertising on U.S. Television Again

>>Wearable technology offers plenty of upsides for travel brands. But it also involves lots of complex, behind-the-scenes moving pieces to make it run smoothly: Carnival’s Wearable Tech Program — Digital Marketing News This Week