Traveling Blog: Amazon's Hotel Play + Shunning Biz Booking Tools + Vietnamese Funding Leader

December 1, 2017

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Note From the Editor

If voice-powered services have become a way of life at home, makers of devices built on the tech are intent on making them common in the travel experience as well. Amazon on Thursday announced a new push to get its Alexa service into more workplaces and hotels, which should ultimately make things like changing a room's temperature or channel surfing easier. On the other hand, those creeped out by the idea of a machine listening to them at all times might not be so thrilled by the trend.

One trend that the leaders at tours and activities platform Klook — a Hong Kong company that just announced a U.S. expansion — might want to pay attention to is the decline in international travel to the United States, as we reported this week. The company hopes to cater to Asian travelers visiting the Americas. But with overseas visitor numbers down nearly 6 percent in the first half of the year, America is looking like a riskier place to set up shop.

— Hannah Sampson, News Editor

Three Ways Digital is Influencing Traveler Buying Behavior [SPONSORED]

"Siri: How will Apple respond to hotels adopting Amazon's Alexa?" That's the question.

Half of European Business Travelers Shun Their Corporate Booking Tools

Business travelers in Europe are completely divided on how they prefer to book their work travel. Travel management companies need to make their online booking tools more compelling and easier to use.

Asian Activities Booking Platform Klook Heads to the Americas

Hong Kong-based Klook has selected the Americas as its first stop for expansion outside Asia. To beat the deeply entrenched competition, it will have to find partners that can adapt to the needs of Asian travelers.

Vietnamese Agency Vntrip Raises $10 Million: Travel Startup Funding This Week

After years of following startup funding trends, it's tempting to move to a developing country to start an online travel agency or metasearch company. On the other hand, we can list dozens of reasons not to.

Video: How Krystle Mobayeni, CEO and Co-Founder of BentoBox Deepens the Restaurant Experience [SPONSORED]

Sponsored by The Unbound Collection by Hyatt™

Krystle Mobayeni, CEO and Founder of BentoBox, knows that today, the restaurant experience starts online. With BentoBox, she helps restaurants engage with their customers online, serving as a real partner and embodying the idea of hospitality every step of the way.

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Lyft Begins Its Business Travel Journey — Corporate Travel Innovation Report

One should expect Lyft to officially partner with more big travel management companies over the next year. It'll be interesting to see how the company's corporate travel push lines up with its international expansion aspirations.

Let's hope American Airlines can find enough pilots willing to fly extra in December. Otherwise, it will be a mess for customers.

Google Hotels Revamps Mobile Features as Its Ambitions Expand

Google wants consumers to buy more travel on it. That may prompt industry players to closely patrol the gray line between the search giant referring more customers to them and Google becoming customers' first choice for booking trips.

Southwest Takes Customer Service Seriously — Airline Innovation Report

When something goes wrong on a flight, Southwest tries to be proactive in communicating with customers. Is this the right approach? Or should Southwest wait until passengers complain?

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