Dennis Schaal

Developments at OpenTable have been almost as quiet as a library while the restaurant reservations platform has been in investment mode. The acquisition of a dining reservations platform in Australia is obviously a geographic play.

We haven't seen the contract but can assure you this: Expedia gave some ground to American Airlines Group. Otherwise Expedia Inc. sites would not be getting access to American's and US Airways' ancillary services or be able to ink the deal to provide hotel inventory to AA.com.

The Baubax Travel Jacket is the modern-day equivalent of the geeky pen holder/pocket protector and shows how freaked out a lot of people are about the stress of the airport and passenger experience. Warning: Don't give a romantic hug as a sendoff at the airport to someone wearing one of these contraptions. You might puncture something.

TripAdvisor/FlipKey's challenges with the vacation rental industry aren't only technical ones. They also reflect increased supply available from individual homeowners and apartment renters. TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Airbnb are going after this sector and professionally managed properties are feeling the lumps.

So much for the guest experience. Paying fees, one shouldn't forget, is part of the experience too.

With Ralph Bartel of Travelzoo essentially buying back his Asia-Pacific business at a huge profit, Travelzoo instantly becomes more global as it tries to build out its hotel-booking business.

As competitors close in and some do heavy TV advertising, HotelTonight states that it is doing "hundreds of millions of dollars" annually in gross bookings and that it has grown 100 percent per year over the last two years. This will continue to be an interesting skirmish between a well-funded startup focusing on last-minute versus larger players that can offer more wide-ranging solutions for hotels.

Is Hilton Worldwide's decision a victory against sexual exploitation or a prudish move that limits freedom of expression? The debate will continue to rage as adults who believe the latter will continue to stream movies to their own liking.

American's Philly-Tel Aviv flights faced competition from El Al and United from JFK.

Unlike the Priceline Group and Expedia Inc., TripAdvisor tried to go-it alone in China without a long-term home-grown partner. Expedia failed even though it had a Chinese partner in eLong so there are no guarantees in doing business in this potentially very lucrative but stubbornly difficult market.