Dennis Schaal

What does Priceline's $1.8 billion acquisition of metasearcher Kayak mean as the first-year anniversary approaches? If you are a big-time online travel agency, you gotta have one. Just ask Expedia, which got its hands on Trivago soon after Priceline made its move on Kayak.

Priceline outlasted Expedia in the room-night growth arms race, posting 32% growth to Expedia's 24%. Although there was a slight dent in the armor, as Priceline room-night growth was slightly faster a year earlier.

Lawsuits didn't kill hotel rate parity. Instead, it is Big Data, analytics, advertsiing retargeting and personalization that are making enforcement of rate-parity provisions almost untenable.

The gaming companies don't have the most beds, but they've managed to turn each one they have into a reliable cash register for their business.

Travelocity talked years ago about getting into the advertising and media business in a big way, but never made it happen. But, now Expedia has grand plans to use Travelocity's North America sites as a platform to expanding Expedia's own advertising and media business in tandem with the jolt that Trivago is already providing.

Who's going to catch HomeAway? TripAdvisor is going to give it a try, as it acquired the smallish VacationHomeRentals.com to its portfolio, but unlike HomeAway, TripAdvisor has a lot of other irons in the fire.

With 1,000 customers signed up for its open-booking platform, and 5,000 new clients enrolled in all its products over the last year, Concur is getting increasingly mainstream in the corporate travel industry. That's a challenge for establishment companies such as American Express, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and BCD, which must pay heed to the insurgent.

Does Accor's new streamlined check-in process in practice as advertised? We're not sure, but it potentially is a great way to personalise service and make a lasting impression with the guest.

There were two interesting announcements from major travel sites April 28: TripAdvisor added Wendy Perrin, formerly of Conde Nast Traveler, as its travel advocate, and Yahoo Travel relaunched with an emphasis on editorial, but also very heavy on travel inspiration and sponsored content. TripAdvisor has one of the most well-rounded travel sites on earth, and Yahoo is being Yahoo.

HomeAway is not about to be another Booking.com, but Google is going to get a new and large global customer when the vacation rental site ramps up its search engine marketing, probably next year.