I've just returned from a fun filled trip to Vegas for EyeforTravel's Travel Distribution Summit, N. America. With nearly 600 attendees, all keen to meet, network and discuss the latest trends in online travel it was a great 2 days!
As part of the event, we hosted the EyeforTravel Innovation Awards during which 6 companies battled it out to win the award for the most innovative travel product.
The nominees were -
Roger Wong, Director of Product & Marketing, Room 77
Brian Harniman, President, BusinessTravel.com and former VP Marketing, Kayak
Chris Patridge, Chief Backbid Hotelier, Backbid.com
Travis Katz, CEO, Gogobot.com
Adam Goldstein, CEO, Hipmunk
Sam Shank, CEO, Hoteltonight.com
The nominees all shared the same passion that is common among travel entrepreneurs - the willingness to make the travel research and booking experience less complex and more fun.
There were some fascinating presentations by all those involved. Hipmunk's innovative approach to turning travel search completely on its head to include practical, neat features certainly turned some heads but it Hotel Tonight who outshone the competition to take the award.
HotelTonight was founded in December 2010 to provide easy mobile booking of same-day distressed hotel inventory. The app offers customers the chance to save up to 70% on the cost of a hotel room through booking last minute via the Hotel Tonight app. For hotels, the platform offers a great way to fill hotel rooms that wouldn't normally have been sold.
Their CEO & Co-Founder, Sam Shank, previously CEO of Dealbase.com and prior to that CEO, TravelPost.com, was at the show to collect the award (photos to follow shortly).
EyeforTravel will be sharing more information about the award winners Hotel Tonight and their latest projects shortly. In the meantime, congratulations to the Hotel Tonight team!
As part of the event, we hosted the EyeforTravel Innovation Awards during which 6 companies battled it out to win the award for the most innovative travel product.
The nominees were -
Roger Wong, Director of Product & Marketing, Room 77
Brian Harniman, President, BusinessTravel.com and former VP Marketing, Kayak
Chris Patridge, Chief Backbid Hotelier, Backbid.com
Travis Katz, CEO, Gogobot.com
Adam Goldstein, CEO, Hipmunk
Sam Shank, CEO, Hoteltonight.com
The nominees all shared the same passion that is common among travel entrepreneurs - the willingness to make the travel research and booking experience less complex and more fun.
There were some fascinating presentations by all those involved. Hipmunk's innovative approach to turning travel search completely on its head to include practical, neat features certainly turned some heads but it Hotel Tonight who outshone the competition to take the award.
HotelTonight was founded in December 2010 to provide easy mobile booking of same-day distressed hotel inventory. The app offers customers the chance to save up to 70% on the cost of a hotel room through booking last minute via the Hotel Tonight app. For hotels, the platform offers a great way to fill hotel rooms that wouldn't normally have been sold.
Their CEO & Co-Founder, Sam Shank, previously CEO of Dealbase.com and prior to that CEO, TravelPost.com, was at the show to collect the award (photos to follow shortly).
EyeforTravel will be sharing more information about the award winners Hotel Tonight and their latest projects shortly. In the meantime, congratulations to the Hotel Tonight team!