Google’s Advertiser Bias and 8 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.

>>Redeam doesn’t recommend places to visit, call itself “a Facebook for travel,” or indulge in other startup pitch clichés. It strives instead to build a solution to a pain point companies will pay to fix — namely, automating paper voucher redemptions for attractions. How refreshingly uncool: Tour Tech Startup Redeam Turns to Industry Vets for Funding

>>Something seems off about this. Yes, Gogo CEO Michael Small probably had to go. But shouldn’t the company have chosen a new CEO with a background in telecommunications? Gogo Replaces CEO With Its Largest Shareholder

>>Facebook isn’t really in the conversation yet when it comes to competing with Google in travel advertising. But Facebook has the ability to reach travelers at various stages of the trip-planning process so it has the potential to be even more disruptive than it has been: Facebook Takes On Google With Trip-Planning Ads

>>Lola’s new group management travel tools are useful for small companies that don’t want to deal with the hassle of creating a heavily managed travel program. Its upcoming marketing push will likely prove crucial as the company looks to attract more customers in a crowded business travel booking sector: Lola Expands Business Travel Push With Team Management Features

>>Talk about using incentives to change behavior. Is the threat of obsolescence due to new technology and startup business models enough to prompt incumbent travel management companies such as Egencia and Carlson Wagonlit to adapt? TripActions Raises $51 Million Series B for Its Business Travel Service

>>It sounds like the potential buyers didn’t accept the company’s new strategy — or the buyers weren’t willing to pay enough. Regardless, while it’s certainly a risk, eDreams Odigeo is doing the right thing in diversifying its business and improving price transparency: eDreams Odigeo Gives Up on Its Sales Process

>>Every travel management company offers an online booking tool, but some are offering the tools travelers want to use instead of confusing or restricted user experiences: TripActions and Lola Get Creative to Fix the Business Travel Experience

>>The concept of a budget brand hotel network that promises consistent amenities has been popularized by India’s OYO Rooms. RedDoorz has traction with a similar model in Indonesia, which suggests the model may have legs worldwide: Budget Hotel Brand RedDoorz Raises $11 Million: Travel Startup Funding This Week

>>It has become harder to find the online travel agencies with the lowest prices in Google’s metasearch. The apparent change this week implicitly favors travel giants, which can afford to dominate ad auctions for online search: Has Google Made the Lowest Hotel Rates Harder to Find?