Evolve Vacation Rental Network has taken another $11 million in funding, almost a year to the day since its previous investment round. The US-based company has grown quickly since its formation in 2011 to have a portfolio of 4,000 properties under its wing. The latest round was led, once…

Event Intelligence, formerly known as RateMate, is a startup based in Greater London that provides forward looking event information for the travel industry, primarily hotels. Although most mid-sized and large cities, and even many small towns, compile searchable calendars of concerts, club dates, art exhibitions, conferences and conventions, sporting…

There is no doubt that Google search result pages have changed beyond recognition in recent years – with the search giant’s motivations for doing so regularly irking the rest of the industry. The classic “ten blue links” have been shoved further down the page to make way for Google’s own services,…

Priceline Group has been accused of “fraud in its absolute purest form,” relating to its acquisition of Momondo Group in a lawsuit filed today in Connecticut. A press release has been issued by lawyers DiCello Levitt & Casey on behalf of its client Tersley. It says that Tersley was…

This is a roundup of product news and announcements related to travel distribution in June 2017. Thursday 1 June 2017: HotelBeds taps Trekksoft for activities Trekksoft will power real-time bookings on the accommodation wholesaler’s attractions and tours product. The partnership will also see 2,000 activities added to Hotelbeds platform, giving…

Consumer engagement trends continue to evolve, in turn changing how travelers interact with online resources during the path to purchase. For hoteliers, this has made it difficult to determine which sales and marketing efforts lead to demand. NB: This is a viewpoint by Melissa Maher, senior vice president, global…

JetBlue Airways passengers flying from Boston to Aruba can participate in a test of a self-boarding process using facial recognition technology. Participation is voluntary, and no prior enrollment or registration is required. If the test is successful, it will show how security can be enhanced at the same time…

The Department of Homeland Security announced that Secretary John Kelly did not make an announcement regarding “a much-discussed expansion” of the so-called laptop ban. The no-announcement announcement followed a telephone call with European Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos and Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc. Press Secretary Dave Lapan said Secretary…

Digital transformation and innovation are buzzwords bandied around frequently at travel conferences, but hip-hop and Domino’s Pizzas are very much at the long-tail. At the OpenJaw Summit in Dublin last week, attendees listened to Dr David Rogers from Columbia University share his take on the theory and practice of…

Travellers today have access to all the information they need on the go. A tap, swipe or fingerprint is all that stands between your consumer and the experiences you offer as a travel provider. NB This is a viewpoint by Thomas Helldorff, VP Airline & Travel at Worldpay. There…