Google builds a pack of travel related goodness
Recently I briefed a small piece that Google was sniffing butts with ITA Software. Well, it looks like the pack might be getting a little bigger. According to this article in VentureBeat, Google as added another puppy to the pack with the acquisition of travel site Ruba. Per VentureBeat,
Terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed. Cassidy himself tweeted the news, saying “Now I’m a Googler. Very excited!” On Monday, Ruba’s team will move into the Google headquarters.
TechCrunch also had coverage of the acquisition. Mucho interesting. Seems as if Google is squirreling away travel technology, one assumes to perhaps combat Bing's recent advances (and accolades) in the same space. Certainly, access to infrastructure provided by ITA with new and creative ways to search and build itineraries via Ruba would be a compelling start.
Hey, all you OTA's out there ... are you paying attention? Time to start thinking about how to add value. A list of hotels in Vegas ain't going to do it anymore here real soon.
