Blog homeThis is big news folks.
There have been rumours, more rumours and even more rumours about what Google plan to do within the global travel industry. Even the UK’s Travel Technology Initiative are getting excited / concerned about what Google may be planning – dedicating a session at a recent executive forum just to discussing concerns about Google’s plans. (see their blog post)
I have posted about the concept of Troogle before (Google Travel) - and indeed Google have constantly denied any interest in the travel industry (except of course selling advertising and providing location based information – which they are very good at)
Anyway, exclusive to this blog, I can announce that Google’s first jump into the travel industry for real is to become a product supplier (and no I am not talking about their corporate jet).
Forget about being a travel agent – they have announced they want to completely disintermediate the travel industry and control the end product themselves. Coupled with their advertising strength this will be a combination not to be underestimated.
The first industry they are targeting is the hotel and hospitality industry. Google will soon announce that they are launching their own hotel chain. Their first hotel will be a combined hotel and conference centre next to the Googleplex in Mountain View.
The big global hotel chains better watch out!
wink 
Further information from ValleyWag
(OK – I made up the bit about the hotel chain – looks like just a single hotel…In fact this is quite a distorted post…. but I thought we all needed a bit of amusement)
Well done, you will have a jump in your stats blog with this post
[...] http://www.tourcms.com/blog/2008/02/12/exclusive-google-finally-announces-travel-industry-strategy-disintermediation/ [...]
Thanks for a reminder, I had almost forgotten to make a first Finnish post ever about speculations Google’s plans for the travel industry. (It is usually very easy to be first one here, because I am the only eTourism blogger in the whole country;)