3 game-changing initiatives in travel that have yet to make a difference
Photo Credit: Room Key may have lost its way as the hotel chains that founded the site may have larger priorities. Room Key
Skift Take
With Tingo, SniqueAway and hotel metasearch, TripAdvisor is moving closer toward becoming an online travel agency everyday. The smart money says it's only a matter of time.
Three travel-company launches -- Google Flight Search, Room Key and TripAdvisor's Tingo -- caused a stir when they debuted, but none has really had a significant impact among consumers.
Sometimes you even wonder if they are still around.
The search for Google Flight Search
Google acquired flight-shopping maven ITA Software in April 2011, and launched Google Flight Search about five months later.
Some feared the move would kill Kayak and the flight businesses of online travel agencies such as Expedia, who would be forced to pay Google even more-exhorbitant advertising fees than they already do to attract consumers eager to plunk down their credit cards to buy airline tickets.
In the interim, Kayak executed a very successful IPO, and Priceline is poised to acquire Kayak for $1.8 billion, although UK regulators are delaying that fait accompli for a couple of months.
Meanwhile, when is the last time you heard friends tell you that they found their flights through Google Fli
