Yelp's Antitrust Drive and 8 Other Digital Trends This Week

>>Yelp's efforts to see tighter regulation of Google's business practices could have more success this time around than several years ago, when the U.S. Federal Trade Commission dropped the ball. European Union regulators have really cast the previous U.S. effort in a shameful light, and the Trump team may be more sympathetic than the Obama administration: Yelp Targets Google Employees in New Antitrust Drive

>>High upfront costs remain a barrier to many travelers who can't make a large purchase all at once. Affirm is trying to remove that obstacle and other travel brands are warming up to the monthly payments model in the process: Skift Tech Forum Preview: Affirm’s CEO on Travel Industry’s Oncoming Payments Revolution

>>A lot of brands talk a big game about data science, but few know how to use it to their advantage and to the benefit of their consumers. HotelTonight's chief data and strategy officer Amanda Richardson will cut through the hype on stage at Skift Tech Forum on June 12: Skift Tech Forum Preview: HotelTonight Executive Cuts Through the Hype of Big Data

>>Skift Tech Forum is a first-of-its-kind, laser-focused conference on the tech disruptions happening in the retailing, merchandising, and distribution of travel. Will you join us? We’re Amplifying Our Voice in Tech at Skift Tech Forum

>>If they can't beat the online travel companies, airlines might as well try to copy those companies' slickest moves. A couple of carriers are testing the display of flights on rival airlines in an attempt to prevent consumers from clicking away to shop elsewhere: Airlines Test Adding Metasearch to Their Websites

>>Some airlines will not be happy that Kayak has lent its credibility and, in effect, its customer base, to startups that specialize in travel claims compensation. The claims cost airlines money. But Kayak still likes doing things a bit different from the other global online players: Kayak to Help Flyers Get Compensated for Delayed and Canceled Flights

>>The growth of mobile meeting apps presents planners with a dilemma filled with irony. Are the apps — aimed at facilitating and enhancing the meeting experience — actually diminishing the kind of face-to-face interactions that are the very purpose of on-site events? Planners Conflicted Over Mobile Technology as Tool or Distraction

>>Event planners know technology can enhance the attendee experience if deployed appropriately. How much technology is too much, though, remains an open question: How Much Technology Is Too Much For Events?

>>Can virtual reality content play a role in helping to persuade travelers to book luxury destinations in Southeast Asia? That's the bet made by Rizort, an online travel agency startup that received funding this week: Rizort Raises $2.9 Million for VR-Infused Travel Advice: Travel Startup Funding This Week