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Interesting Review of the Travel Industry

Many people seem to think that the online travel world has ‘arrived,’ and that it’s a very crowded market.  However, I read an interesting article over at the UpTake blog today by one of that company’s founders Elliot Ng.  His reviews of the new wave in travel sites, those that are moving away from being solely booking platforms and which are now more integrative planning tools.  From what I have seen, the best of these act like a virtual guide book that you can dog ear and write in without having to carry the weight around.  I’m excited about this development in the industry, however I find myself getting frustrated frequently because many people don’t know about these options or that there are better ways to plan your travel.

For example: My friend was working on booking a hotel for a getaway in July to a nice place in San Diego.  I was looking over her shoulder and suggested several of the great booking and review platforms that I know of because of my work in the industry.  She insisted instead on spending a large amount of time trying to do everything through Travelocity.  Why?  Because the travelocity gnome is her friend on MySpace.

Yes, that’s great advertising by Travelocity, but seriously?  Seriously?  (now I sound like Grey’s Anatomy) but Seriously?  Sorry… got into a moment there.  Anyone else excited that the new season starts soon?

Back to where I was.   So in an effort to encourage others to check out new advances in travel planning, here are some great new startups and services: Nile Guide, TravelMuse, Tripit, Doppler, the Yahoo trip planner read about them and more in Elliot’s article.  

Enjoy!

PS- no one’s gotten the age right yet… keep trying!!! Auto Insurance

Sorry… just one more… for the new season… SERIOUSLY????!

Really, I’m done now.

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61 Comments »

Comment by Carlanne (1 comments)
2008-04-25 13:15:22

Excellent comments and assessment. People spend hours and hours on the internet trying to plan their vacations. Regardless of how much a person earns per hour, we all work 2080 hours (if not self-employed I mean, cause then it is half again more +/-) for that 1 or 2 weeks of vacation. Do you really want to entrust that valuable time to a gnome in a pointy hat who is the figment of a PR person’s imagination? (!?!) He is not real. There is a voice-over and animation! And regardless of what people are led to believe from the commercials, he will not magically show up when something goes wrong. But the travel consultant is a phone call or email away to be your advocate!

 
Comment by Aaron (2 comments)
2008-08-23 21:50:02

I must say that is a pretty interesting reason for your friend’s brand loyalty. I suspect there will always be people who are perfectly happy with doing things with a “safe” and well known choice like Travelocity. More and more people will start becoming comfortable with and using the new travel planning services though, and the travel planning services will be refined through user feedback too.

 
Comment by James (1 comments)
2008-09-18 00:54:01

Hi, I found your blog on this new directory of WordPress Blogs at blackhatbootcamp.com/listofwordpressblogs. I dont know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, i duno. Anyways, I just clicked it and here I am. Your blog looks good. Have a nice day. James.

 
Comment by Maria (1 comments)
2008-11-06 09:18:50

Hey!

Have you checked out http://www.tripwolf.com ? tripwolf.com is an online social travel guide. tripwolf gives travelers the opportunity to create—and print—a personalized travel guide for any destination.
Travel information is a compilation of tips from members, network friends, destination “trip gurus” and MairDumont, Europe’s largest travel guide publisher. Users also can publish individualized content about their own travel experiences, including YouTube videos, Flickr photos and travel journals.
Additionally, tripwolf members can network with other travelers from around the world, as well as import their contacts from social networks such as Facebook.

You should check it out!!

[disclaimer: I’m a consultant for tripwolf]

 
Comment by Daniel Noll (1 comments)
2008-11-18 03:04:28

When planning closed-end travel (limited amount of time, had to return to a desk job), my wife and I preferred to anchor our time around a couple of experiences and let the rest unfold…an approach not well-aided by travel planning tools.

Particularly since my previous profession involved large-scale project management and planning, the last thing I think I wanted to do was a detailed plan of my holiday.

Now that our travel is more open-ended, we’ve developed our own home-baked systems(I use that term very loosely, by the way) to determine what’s next.

 
Comment by admin (1 comments)
2008-12-02 05:03:00

Bu yaz? ?ok ilgimi ?ekti sizin gibi yazarlara ihtiyac?m?z var work and travel

 
Comment by stress treat (1 comments)
2008-12-16 06:39:49

Thanks for this interesting article, I am the first time on your blog and I am going to read your other posts.

 
Comment by Oxford MS Hotels (1 comments)
2009-02-11 20:17:18

Haha that little gnome is your friend too, admit it!

 
Comment by keynote speaker (1 comments)
2009-04-22 17:27:04

You’ve hit the nail on the head again!

 
Comment by dyslexia (1 comments)
2009-04-22 23:35:26

You certainly raised a good point there.

 
Comment by government grant (1 comments)
2009-04-23 17:41:37

Great post, once again thanks.

 
Comment by christmas myspace layouts (1 comments)
2009-04-27 00:39:22

I saw something about that on the local TV channel last night.

 
Comment by advertise your business (1 comments)
2009-04-28 00:06:34

Nice one. A great read yet again.

 
Comment by finance perth (1 comments)
2009-05-07 20:04:14

I’m so glad I found this website, it’s great!

 
Comment by jewellery (1 comments)
2009-05-13 19:14:06

I would have to totally agree with you.

 
Comment by cheating (1 comments)
2009-05-15 08:35:42

Always such an interesting read, never a dull moment.

 
Comment by Sophie (1 comments)
2009-05-28 12:13:49

Some people just stick to what they know first or felt comfy in choosing a travel guide. But it will be a really great idea to not just to stick to one but to try the other stuffs because by doing it, you just can discover new and something you might ever know.

 
Comment by Customer relationship marketing (2 comments)
2009-06-13 09:41:59

Looking for a career change and love to travel, especially Hawaii. I have tons of business and management experience, just not in the travel industry. I am aware that it’s not really the best paid industry but I’m ready for a change.

 
Comment by Alexander (1 comments)
2009-06-14 07:30:41

That is a really interesting post, thank you.

 
Comment by Computer Repair Service (2 comments)
2009-06-19 09:28:28

there involved with the travel industry that have a promising future and… tourist guides department of tourism officials flight attendants tourist information center.

 
Comment by Harvey (2 comments)
2009-07-10 05:26:22

Travelocity still has a tremendous customer base with loyalty and the new startup sites have to offer great service with significantly better prices. The online travel sites a re really mature now, Orbitz, Travelocity, and expecia are all good.

 
Comment by Hawaii Vacation Soon (1 comments)
2009-07-19 12:14:24

Always a pleasure visiting your blog. Keep up the great work.

 
Comment by Urlaub Sizilien (1 comments)
2009-07-20 22:25:51

Sounds exciting. I would like to know more about this travel industry.

 
Comment by Weight loss supplements blog (1 comments)
2009-08-26 21:04:41

I really take into consideration what you have meant with this article. Thank you so much for this great observation.

 
Comment by T.K. (1 comments)
2009-09-11 06:17:34

Most of the people really loves to travel and some of them doesn’t have enough time to look around for other planning options especially those busy people. And also dont get frustrated Susan because it seems that most of the people really don’t know about it because it was not yet popular unlike those existing commercial establishments. And many people still don’t have enough time to read travel blogs and forums. All I can say is, if they want it, they will find it.

 
Comment by Mikaela (1 comments)
2009-09-18 21:35:39

It sure is nice to travel without carrying any weight around. Virtual guide book is a new stuff for me but it sounds interesting that i will check out more information about it. About your friend, well, it seemed impractical to chose a costly option over the options you opened for her, specially considering you are a friend and therefore, some one she already knows she could trust. Well, people have different choices. I suppose we just respect others of the choices they make.

 
Comment by Colon Detoxification (1 comments)
2009-09-20 11:48:04

AWesome work - you’re my favourite blogger in this area!

 
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2009-09-29 04:09:42

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Comment by tweet adder discount (1 comments)
2009-10-09 15:06:11

Thanks so much for this information ? I?m already doing some of these suggestions but there are many others that are new to me.

 
Comment by jim montek (1 comments)
2009-10-15 05:06:59

very nice article. your article has forced me to believe that travel world is really very exciting and full of adventures.

 
Comment by Acaislim (1 comments)
2009-10-16 02:38:22

Always a pleasure visiting your blog. Keep up the great work.

 
Comment by Eldon Montgomery (1 comments)
2009-11-15 15:29:09

I am thankful that you took the time out to share this information with me. This information can be very helpful for me in the present and in the future.

 
Comment by watch ncis online (1 comments)
2009-12-02 00:29:04

my God, i thought you were going to chip in with some decisive insght at the end there, not leave it with ?we leave it to you to decide?

 
Comment by amy harris (1 comments)
2009-12-02 12:34:12

or anything really. I couldnt even get a car loan at the end up, i got there in the end though, it takes a little digging,

 
Comment by Gregory Despain (1 comments)
2010-01-23 09:18:49

Quite interesting blog and really great post! Thank you.

 
Comment by Holland Urlauber (1 comments)
2010-02-05 09:22:07

nice post and nice review. Keep up the nice blog!

 
Comment by Campori (1 comments)
2010-02-06 11:30:20

I agree,really nice Blog, and its really nice looking too :) Good Article about the travel industry,thanks for this

 
Comment by india (3 comments)
2010-02-11 07:47:58

Although few college courses relate directly to travel or tourism, a college education sometimes is desired by employers to establish a background in fields such as computer science, geography, communication, foreign languages, and world history.

 
Comment by india (3 comments)
2010-02-11 07:48:24

What are the important web site for tourism and travel industry so as to prepare a project on tourism?

 
Comment by Chapel Hill Homes (2 comments)
2010-02-17 04:41:33

Thanks for this interesting and informative article.Keep up the good work. Look forward to more posts from you!

 
Comment by ferierejser (1 comments)
2010-03-02 04:40:21

hi, very informative & interesting blog. Thanks for the links you provided above in travel planning.

 
Comment by Daren Ridel (1 comments)
2010-03-02 23:03:31

I’ve seen other blogs that talks about this but your blog is most informative!

 
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2010-03-27 11:16:44

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2010-04-09 05:39:57

Thank you for discussing such an topical article with all of us. I?ve bookmarked your blog will come back for a re-read again. Keep up the great work.

 
Comment by Alyssa (1 comments)
2010-04-10 02:41:00

Just wondering if you have abandoned your blog.. I can’t find a post more recent than this one.. I do however agree. There are nay great travel sites out there that can give you all kind of reviews, and they are growing more and more extensive everyday. I like doppler myself. Great site.. I’ll need to check out some of the others you have mentioned as well.

 
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2010-05-18 01:28:49

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2010-05-18 01:41:26

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2010-05-27 23:38:18

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2010-07-04 19:41:35

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Comment by Gary Baker (1 comments)
2010-07-06 01:23:26

Great post, once again thanks.

 
Comment by Kaitlyn Rogers (1 comments)
2010-07-09 08:37:13

Tom Cruise have dyslexia and yet he is still a very successful actor.*,:

 
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2010-07-13 18:55:27

Keep up the good work. Your posts are really information packed. Thanks

 
Comment by chicken24 (1 comments)
2010-07-13 19:02:03

Fantastic article. This is really a great post about the travel industry. Thanks a lot for sharing this information.

 
Comment by july (1 comments)
2010-07-13 19:03:02

There are nay great travel sites out there that can give you all kind of reviews, and they are growing more and more extensive everyday. I like doppler myself. Great site.. I’ll need to check out some of the others you have mentioned as well.

 
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2010-07-13 19:03:52

Keep up the good work. Your posts are really information packed. Thanks

 
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Comment by Olivia Miller (1 comments)
2010-07-18 19:52:50

dyslexia is not that debiliating but it is somewhat limiting to the kind of job that you can get:-;

 
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2010-07-27 02:12:31

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2010-07-27 02:17:32

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2010-07-27 05:56:24

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2010-07-29 02:00:15

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