2010 January

Expedia’s Khosrowshahi: Metasearch forever

January 6, 2010 By Dennis Schaal 3 Comments

Expedia Inc. historically has dabbled less in metasearch than Orbitz Worldwide and some of its other online travel agency competitors, but CEO Dara Khosrowshahi now is bullish on the channel.

“We’ll play in metasearch and we think metasearch will be around forever,” Khosrowshahi told attendees at Citi’s 20th Annual Global Entertainment, Media & Telecommunications Conference in San Francisco Jan. 5.

At the advent of travel metasearch several years ago, the channel was widely seen as a supplier medium that might bring the OTAs to their knees, but much has changed since then.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Dara Khosrowshahi, expedia, metasearch, online travel agency

SideStep is still close to our hearts says Kayak

January 6, 2010 By Kevin May 1 Comment

Remember SideStep? With all the focus on Kayak with its TV ads, possible IPO and the intermediary saga, many would be forgiven for forgetting about the rival metasearch engine it bought.

Well, for all the talk about mobile and other developments at the mothership, Kayak appears to be throwing some energy into its acquisition from 2006.

The Connecticut, USA-based company says it is considering an iPhone app for Sidestep as a way to keep tools and services across both brands developing along similar patterns.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: kayak, metasearch, sidestep

Open letter to all airports in 2010

January 6, 2010 By Stephen Joyce 6 Comments

Dear Airport Authority, TSA, and/or Agencies responsible for security,

As a member of the traveling public who, over the years, has adjusted my habits in order to streamline the airport security experience not only for myself but for fellow passengers, I want it to be known that I will be adjusting my habits again to take in account the use of full body scanners.

Not only will I be wearing pants that don’t require a belt and slip on shoes, and sorting all my personals into plastic baggies for easy screening, now I will be checking in my carry-on luggage which, for so many years, has been the only luggage I have had to bring on any trip up to a week in length.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: air security, airline security, TSA

Skyscanner turn into geeks for first ever TV commercial

January 6, 2010 By Kevin May 3 Comments

Fresh from hiring its first ever advertising agency for TV creative work, Skyscanner has unveiled the first 30-second spot to be aired in Scotland ahead of a possible wider roll-out across the UK.

The ad launched on a number of leading Scottish commercial channels in prime and off-peak time slots and will run until mid-February before officials at the metasearch site decide whether to extend elsewhere.

The agency behind the ad – featuring two plane spotters discussing aircraft and fares at the end of a runway – is Edinburgh-based Newhaven, with media buying by FeatherBrooksbank.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: design, marketing, metasearch, skyscanner, travelsupermarket

Amadeus in-sources customer tech support, Sabre lands LAN

January 5, 2010 By Dennis Schaal 4 Comments

So much for outsourcing.

Using in-house staff, Amadeus opened customer service centers in San Jose, Costa Rica, and Buenos, Argentina, to support travel agencies in 39 countries in the Americas.

Meanwhile, Sabre signed a multifaceted, multi-year agreement with LAN Airlines.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: amadeus, customer support, LAN Airlines, sabre

Should airline boarding passes look like this?

January 5, 2010 By Kevin May 23 Comments

Technology, design and modern printing methods can be used to make the airline boarding pass so much more appealing to the eye and helpful for the brain.

Or at least that is what Tyler Thompson, creative director at New York-based agency SquareSpace, says after studying the functionality and design of the ubiquitous cards given to passengers after check-in at airports around the world.

Thompson took to his task after receiving a Delta pass on a recent trip from JFK to Seattle, Washington.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: airline, Delta, GDS

Should there be balance between air safety and efficiency? NBTA thinks so

January 5, 2010 By Dennis Schaal 5 Comments

The National Business Travel Association surveyed 150 travel managers and found that the vast majority, 81%, have no plans to reduce business travel out of concerns about the Dec. 25 Northwest flight attempted bombing.

While 43% expressed safety concerns about the incident and 42% had no new concerns about air safety, NBTA Executive Director and COO Michael McCormick says: “NBTA encourages governments and airports to strike the proper balance of safety and efficiency in these new regulations and future policy changes.”

But, is there really a proper balance between air safety and efficiency, and is risk management the way to go?

Filed Under: Data, News Tagged With: air security, NBTA, risk management, travel managers

EveryTrail secures funding round, gets thumbs up for new iPhone app

January 5, 2010 By Kevin May 2 Comments

Global Motion, the company behind the highly regarded EveryTrail iPhone app and web service, has secured a $1 million round of funding.

California-based Band of Angels has invested in the fellow state startup as it looks to spearhead growth of the product and widen the senior management team.

A number of other undisclosed US and international investors are also part of the funding team.

Filed Under: Mobile, News Tagged With: apple, everytrail, iphone

Check the technology of a travel company before applying for a job

January 5, 2010 By Special Nodes 3 Comments

Before getting into the recruiting game, I used to sell software for a living – admittedly one of those software salespeople who didn’t always feel comfortable or knowledgeable about some of the products I was representing.

I am not proud of it, but when one drinks the KoolAid it’s hard to settle for plain water.

Most of the time I was backed up by the company and software I was representing, thus ensuring smooth installs and happy customers.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Jobs, recruitment

Western online travel firms need to think differently when they come to China

January 5, 2010 By Special Nodes 3 Comments

After a four percent drop in 2009, travel bookings in China will grow by five percent in 2010, projects a new PhoCusWright report, Emerging Online Travel Marketplace in China.

The same report predicts that travel will expand to become a $65 billion industry by 2011, and that 20 percent of that market would be online.

“You can see that online booking is growing, and people are ready to travel,” says Sandeep Bahl, general manager of China for Delta-Northwest Airlines, adding that he expects support from Beijing to boost the market. “The government in China has recognized tourism as a pillar.”

Filed Under: News Tagged With: China