Travel Industry Upset With Google
Google's ITA buyout negotiations irk travel industry
Google is upsetting more people today, with plans to buy out a travel software company leading to complaints from travel sites, and Google's search engine being partially blocked in China after it failed to comply with Chinese censorship requirements.
Google is in negotiations with ITA, a software company specialising in travel, to buy it out and incorporate it into Google's growing empire. ITA's software is employed by a long list of airlines and travel sites, including Kayak and Orbitz, but not everyone is happy with the idea of a Google takeover.
In fact, there is such opposition to the idea that Kayak tried to beat Google to it by offering to buy ITA. Another travel website, Expedia, was willing to give $200 million (£134 million) to seal the Kayak deal, but Google has a lot of money to throw about and managed to get exclusive talks with the sought after software firm.
The reason so many people are concerned about Google taking over ITA is that the combined dominance of Google in the search market and ITA in the travel software sector will lead to a situation where it has too much leverage over data and prices, making it difficult for companies like Kayak to operate successfully.
A deal has yet to be reached, but if it is we can expect plenty of outcries and legal battles, which is a thing Google is growing more and more accustomed to lately.
Comments
Companies like Kayak and Expedia are easy to use... and they're making a fortune, which is why I understand why they'd be threatened by a Google takeover. However, as ASTA likes to say, "Without a Travel Agent, You're ON YOUR OWN"...and boy are they right! These large travel search engines find great prices, and good hotels and even decent flights...BUT....
When there'a problem at 2am? Who do you call to make it right? Expedia? Kayak? They'll connect you with a reservationist who might even understand what you asking for! Will that fix your problem,'tho? ASAP? Try it....and find out. Travel agencies(old fashioned ones!) are the last free service on the face of the earth....and using the good ones are THE ONLY WAY TO GO!!!! Forget Google, Expedia, and Kayak...AND GET YOURSELF A great TRAVEL AGENT!!!!!! You'll be glad that you did.
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