July 27, 2010

Google / ITA and the GDS

Now that the Google acquisition has been announced a great deal speculation has emerged as far as Google’s intentions. Given the fact that regulatory approval is required and that the deal has not been completed, ITA itself has been unable to speculate on Google’s strategy. Google has devoted some energy in stating that it will not become a seller of […]
July 9, 2010

GUI Finally Comes to the Agent POS

Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) were first introduced to the public with the original Apple MAC  in 1984. The MAC as well as the first version of Microsoft Windows were actually based on technology developed by Xerox PARC back n the early 1980s. The GUI became mainstream with the introduction of Microsoft Windows and by the early 1990s most consumers were […]
July 8, 2010

Eye For Travel TDS June 2010

I attended the Eye for Travel TDS Summit last month in London and found the sessions lively and informative while the conference provided some great networking opportunities. The most enjoyable general session was about mobile which had consecutive presentations from Google, RIM, Facebook and Nokia.  For those who were not following my tweets, here are some of the highlights from […]
June 22, 2010

Location Based Networking Apps and Travel

Mobile location based networking apps such as Foursquare, Gowalla, Brightkite and Loopt are gaining traction in the market. How do they fit into the travel experience? By definition mobile location based networking is designed to help you discover the world around you, a natural connection to travel. There is a gaming element of these apps that allow you earn badges […]
June 21, 2010

AMS 3.0 Digitizing the World’s Content

Last month I spoke at the World Congress on Information and Technology (WCIT) in Amsterdam.  Mark Ejlenberg one of the co-founders of the hotel online content distribution platform Leonardo, presented a new project called AMS 3.0.  The goal of AMS 3.0 is to create a platform that will make all the city’s data available. Mark has been working with a […]
May 13, 2010

Apple Buys Siri

Loyal readers of my blog know that I  have long advocated the need for a more intelligent interface for travel planing and booking.  Early self-booking engines often promoted themselves as replacements for travel agents, while in reality most were (and many still are) simply sending off commands to the GDS  or supplier reservation systems and displaying standard content.  During the […]