Posts tagged ita software
Flight news and more flight news
04 months ago
Is it me, or does it seem like there’s suddenly a flurry of interesting news in regards to airlines and flying. Now, for many ski resorts, this probably isn’t that big of a deal, but for destination resorts, I think it’s news to keep an eye on.
First off, is the fact that Google has finally unveiled their first integration of their purchase of ITA Software in their new Flight Search. I do like the speed and user interface (super clean, but with some real guts as you click down), but am pretty disappointed in the quality of results – as an example, it’s adamant that I can’t fly from SLC to RST (where my parents live) even though I get 1400 results when searching the same route on Kayak? In any case, the features are slick and are better presented than anything I could describe in this slick video:
The second, and nowhere near as ‘neat’ news, is that airlines are planning cut back on their flight capacity, more than usual for the upcoming winter months, with even Southwest Airlines holding off on expanding its fleet at all. The potential for higher fares is not as big as threat to destination ski resorts as the fact that it will be even harder for ski and snowboard vacations to find empty seats to even get to the resorts. Here’s hoping the airlines are judicious in their winter flight planning and keep plenty of capacity to all the winter destination gateway airports…
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Online Travel Changes Underway?
01 year ago
by Eric Hoffman
in article
Just a few quick thoughts, predicated by Google finally closing on their deal to purchase ITA Software, a flight information software company, for $700 million. If (or when) Apple comes out with a full featured iTravel and Microsoft continues along with the path that they’ve already set with Bing Travel, what will this mean for travel world, and more specifically, what will this mean to ski resorts? Might this give ski resorts motivation to innovate and expand in how they distribute and sell their products in the already competitive online marketplace? Or will ski resorts’ distribution options get swallowed up by the big boys (Google, Bing, Apple) as they focus their attentions on the process of travel booking?
Personally, I hope it’s a combination of the options. I think the companies mentioned will come up with some very innovative ways to simplify the travel planning, booking and even experience itself but that there will be plenty of opportunity for ski resorts to create unique and powerful ways to market and sell their products as well. So, by having new ideas injected into the overall online travel market, everyone will benefit. What do you think?!
