Articles tagged “startups”

Simplification, either through design or automation, should be base of all new travel startups.

Museum Hack is a role model for businesses that want to turn passion into profit, but it's Gray's enthusiasm and talent for storytelling that turns strangers into evangelists.

Given the consumer base of sister companies Booking.com, Agoda and Kayak, OpenTable now has the chance to expand beyond its traditional local orientation into a dining app for travelers, as well. Some of its learnings and technologies can also apply to hotels and tours and activities.

Crowdsourcing enough data to make a service informative for new users can either be difficult or a fast track to becoming a valuable resource. Branding and marketing are key in acquiring initial submissions.

SAP's gain is the travel industry's loss as it will likely lose a strong advocate for travel startup innovation. Concur was unique among travel operators in bankrolling innovation among travel startups, whether it had a direct tie-in to business travel or not.

Rather than reinventing the travel experience, startups today are providing the insights and tool necessary to make the current experience easier and more effective.

Steve Singh is one of the most-forward-looking CEOs in the travel industry, and Concur's $150 million Perfect Trip Fund is actively investing in that vision.

Companies such as Concur, Google, and Rocketrip are transforming business travel and the establishment biggies, from American Express to BCD and Carlson Wagonlit Travel, will eventually have to adapt, as well.