Skift Originals

As a first-mover, HotelTonight is in an enviable position. The company faces competition from imitators, including big brands, but there absolutely will be more than one winner in the same-day booking sector. There is a whole big world out there.

In between four acquisitions so far this year, TripAdvisor has found the time to begin to give Kayak a run for its money in launching hotel metasearch. Kayak isn't going to roll over and play dead, but there will be a huge alternative for travelers to consider.

Kayak wants to present a single brand in every market, but an upbeat musical ad that works in France might not resonate with customers in the U.S., and Kayak could lose brand awareness if customers can’t relate.

If you see TripAdvisor walking in your direction, don't make eye contact unless you want your company to be acquired.

TripIt has a loyal following, but TripIt Pro lost a some of its attractiveness when Southwest, Delta, United and American decided to play tough with loyalty program trackers. Will Concur continue to give TripIt the resources it fought for and deserves?

Hotels with decent reputations are anxious to get the benefits of more TripAdvisor reviews, an impulse that could help TripAdvisor keep Google and other hotel review sites in the rearview mirror.

We'd be surprised if the allegations against EyeForTravel stick. Dragging an industry conference into the mix with the unsupported implication that vast conspiracies were furthered seems a bit of a stretch.

Social media for a travel attraction should be engaging and give insight into a destination; it’s easier to be creative with the voice of dinosaur trapped in a museum than as a staid social media manager.

It’s not surprising that consumers prefer digitally native booking and review apps to those of airlines and hotels, but online websites remain the most trusted and accessed platform for travelers.