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Online Travel News

These articles delve into the latest trends, technologies, and strategies that are shaping the online booking landscape, ensuring that industry insiders stay informed and prepared for change. These stories cover essential topics such as the development of innovative booking platforms, the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in personalizing travel options, and the impact of mobile technology on customer behavior. Additionally, the news stories highlight the growing importance of user-generated content and reviews in shaping consumer decisions, and the role of social media in the online travel booking ecosystem. Skift’s stories examine the competitive landscape and offer insights into the successes and challenges faced by major online travel agencies (OTAs), startups, and traditional travel companies transitioning to the digital space.

Online Travel

Russia’s Ostrovok besting Expedia in hotel booking choices

Booking.com has built its success on the pay-at-the-hotel model, and if more online travel agencies such as Ostrovok and Expedia transition to hybrid models, it will be interesting to see if that forces Booking.com to make changes of its own.

Russia’s Ostrovok besting Expedia in hotel booking choices

Media and PR

The French are trusting an American to take the Michelin Guides into the digital age

The Michelin Guide has significant work to do to remain relevant in the digital sphere and to prove that content created by experts can trump mostly amateur user-generated content.

The French are trusting an American to take the Michelin Guides into the digital age

Hotels

User reviews impact bookings for economy hotels more than their luxury counterparts

Hotels in the economy segment have more at risk on user review sites, but would be wise to leverage the information found on the sites to address specific failures.

Media and PR

MapQuest introduces Discover, a social-meets-mapping-meets-Pinterest site that might just work

There were two bits of bad news today for traditional travel publishers. Airbnb's Neighborhoods guides and now this, an inspiration and booking site with a built-in audience of over 35 million monthly users.

MapQuest introduces Discover, a social-meets-mapping-meets-Pinterest site that might just work

Online Travel

Here comes Nokia’s new strategy: betting on maps; acquires 3D mapping firm

The $8 billion Navteq acquisition has to do something for Nokia, right? Likely this focus on maps will means this unit will survive as a spinoff at some point, while rest of Nokia will keep going through bouts of identity crisis.

Here comes Nokia’s new strategy: betting on maps; acquires 3D mapping firm

Media and PR

Gogobot spawned social travel and conquered it, according to Gogobot

Gogobot has attracted a lot of funding and appears to have some staying power, but when was the last time you or your neighbor used a social trip-planning service to plan a trip? Unitl Gogobot can really walk the walk, a dose of modesty might be in order.

Hotels

Airbnb Neighborhoods puts the alternative lodging company into the travel guide business

These only have a shot at becoming a real challenger to both digital and traditional publishers if they crack the code on the best way to integrate guest reviews and real-world updates into quality destination information.

Airbnb Neighborhoods puts the alternative lodging company into the travel guide business

Online Travel

Mobile payment app Tabbedout updates restaurant staff on patrons’ preferences

Tabbedout combines the convenience of Squares and the customer service management tools that restaurants need to make every customer feel like a regular.

Mobile payment app Tabbedout updates restaurant staff on patrons’ preferences

Airlines

That social seating on airlines is not just a gimmick, it is a startup

Social seating hasn't shown a market yet, but nice feature for airlines, not a startup based on it.

Online Travel

DogVacay, the Airbnb for dog sitting, just raised another $6 million to expand operations

Better pet sitting isn't disrupting any existing services. Instead it's massively improving the existing ways people find trusted places to leave their animals.

DogVacay, the Airbnb for dog sitting, just raised another $6 million to expand operations