Hilton And Uber Expand Partnership, Unveil App Integration For Simplified Travel

The integrated apps are the next step in Hilton and Uber's partnership, which began in September 2015 with Local Scene and Ride Reminder, both of which have seen significant usage. Travel logistics just got a whole lot simpler, thanks to an expanded partnership between Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) and Uber to further bring together their respective mobile apps. In a first for the hospitality industry, Hilton HHonors members can now order an Uber straight from the HHonors app, and Uber riders can now view their hotel stay information and check-in, all accessed via the Uber app en route to their hotel. The expanded partnership builds on the success of the companies’ Local Scene and Ride Reminder partnership – digital features more than 250,000 travelers within the U.S. have used to simplify their stay.

New Travel App May Offer Big Savings On Air Travel By Creating An Online Marketplace To Allow Swapping Seats

Travelers Can Also Use App to Get a Better Seat

Seateroo, launching in January 2016, will create an online market where ticketed air travelers can swap

seats in exchange for electronic payment. With this two-sided market, buyers are unhappy with their seat

location and are willing to pay to swap for a desired seat. Sellers, in return for being paid, are willing to

swap for a less desired seat.

Based upon a survey by Seateroo, a significant portion of air travelers are willing to either pay or be paid

 to swap seats. For example, on flights of at least 3.5 hours, 39% are willing to pay to swap from a middle

 seat to an aisle seat, while 44% are willing to pay to swap from an economy seat to a premium seat.

In addition, the Seateroo survey revealed that air travelers will pay significant amounts to swap for a 

better seat. To swap out of a middle seat, 26% would pay at least $50. To swap from an economy to

a premium seat, 18% would pay at least $100. At an average domestic roundtrip flight cost of $379,

 business travelers using Seateroo to swap for a less desired seat for one or both flights could significantly

 reduce their travel costs.

In addition, business travelers frequently book air travel at the last minute. For such travelers, if they

are willing to pay to do so, Seateroo could be used to get a better seat.

"Travel managers are tasked with reducing travel costs and improving traveler satisfaction." said 

Brad Pursel, Founder and President of Seateroo. "After a trip has been booked, Seateroo can be

 used to either reduce travel costs or enhance traveler satisfaction. For businesses that share travel

 savings with its employees, it's a win-win."

About Seateroo: Launching in January 2016, the Seateroo app will bring the sharing economy to air

 travel by creating an online market where ticketed passengers can swap seats. For more information

 on Seateroo or the survey, visit www.seateroo.com.

New Travel App Release Gives Confidence To The Vegetarian Traveler

 Helsinki-based, Agogo Apps is pleased to announce the launch of Veggoagogo, a 50 language travel translation app for vegetarians, available on the iOS and Android platforms.

iTunes: http://itunes.com/apps/veggoagogo
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.client.veggoagogo

Veggoagogo aims to provide the modern vegetarian traveller with an app that lends confidence to a situation that has filled vegetarians with dread for decades; ordering vegetarian food on the road.

As well as defining what a vegetarian is, Veggoagogo addresses many of the needs that the travelling vegetarian faces on a daily basis, from locating a restaurant that serves vegetarian fare, to choosing suitable items from the menu, down to thanking the chef, waiter, concierge, market-stall holder or friendly local.

Veggoagogo is intuitive, easy to use and requires no Internet connectivity. The user simply chooses a question from those on offer, then selects from one of 50 languages available before tapping the translate button and being presented with their translation.

The translation screen text has been optimised to be displayed at distance. It can be flicked between night and day modes, making the text easy to read in all lighting conditions.

Agogo Apps enlisted the drawing talents of illustrator, Cat MacInnnes to create a range of animal icons, that add to the usability of the app, whilst maintaining its simplicity.

Users can tap the animal icons atop the translation screen and be presented with full screen versions which can be swiped and used as a visual backup to the translated message. Users are encouraged to spice up their Veggoagogo experience to match the flavour of their current destination with one of the many preset colour themes on offer.

Paul Dodson, founder of Agogo Apps had this to say, "Often when travelling abroad it's hard to get across exactly what a vegetarian will and will not eat. In many countries it's a loosely defined concept where vegetarian dishes may still include fish or seafood. With Veggoagogo we aimed to do two things: one, to define very clearly what a vegetarian won't eat and two, to offer a range of questions that travelling vegetarians face on a daily basis. In version 1 of Veggoagogo, we do this in 50 languages.

"Veggoagogo has been designed with simplicity and usability in mind. The interface is uncluttered and hopefully, aesthetically pleasing. All of our translations have been professionally completed by native language speakers".

Further Information

Veggoagogo is the first of a number of travel translation apps designed to use the same application architecture.

Veganagogo, a vegan version of the app is due on the market in June 2015.

Contact

To learn more about Veggoagogo and to obtain screen shots or promo codes, please field first inquiries via email to Paul Dodson at paul@agogoapps.com or visit our website at AgogoApps.com

New VisaPort App Simplifies The Visa Application Process With The 'Click Of A Button'

For travelers everywhere the visa application process is a necessary evil which has to be endured. It’s time-consuming, stressful and often just plain annoying – well not any longer.

The launch of the new VisaPort app has transformed the whole process, as applications can now be made with the click of a button. The free app, which is available for iOS and Android, is proven to dramatically reduce the time and stress of making visa applications.

It is the result of over four years software development and a seven-figure investment by UK company eGoVisa and is aimed at the frequent business or leisure traveller. eGoVisa has partnered with major providers of travel and insurance services to create a one stop shop integrated experience for travelers.

The app ensures that all the traveler's information and personal data (including bio-metric data required in the visa application process) is collected in the correct format to satisfy the visa authorities for all countries in the world.  All personal information is held securely on the VisaPort servers and accessible at any time by the user, making subsequent visa applications extremely easy to process.

The visa application can be presented either electronically (directly to participating embassies and consulates) or in hard copy form, which can be printed by the applicant.  The app lets the user search up to 15,000 visa types worldwide from over 34,000 embassies and outposts with new visas and embassies being added each day.  Every detail of the visa is available including cost, entry conditions, document requirements and lead times in a consistent interface and standardized format.

The app is constantly updated as entry requirements evolve. Travelers can test if they qualify using the document matrix logic which compares the user’s enrollment against the visa requirements. The application also supports the delivery of an electronic visa which can even be sent directly to the user’s smartphone wallet.

In addition, the app has a number of other highly integrated travel-related functions such as an airline and hotel and bookings as well as travel insurance coverage as well as offering extensive travel advice.

eGoVisaGroup CEO Ghassan Matar said: “I know from personal experience that applying for a visa in a number of countries worldwide is far from straightforward and can be a stressful, time consuming and frustrating experience.  The sheer volume of information and level of detail required by some countries can be daunting.”

He added: “Our objective with the app is to take the pain out of the application process by taking the visa applicant through a clear, comprehensive, intuitive and secure process that results in the traveler meeting the exact entry needs of their destination country. For a nominal fee the traveler can save a lot of time and stress while contributing to the reduction in greenhouse gases”

Uniquely, the app can manage complex travel arrangements where members of one family may be flying in at different times from different countries for varying duration of stay  – sorting out the visas for such a situation manually can be a nightmare.  Using the app streamlines the process and makes it easy to apply for multiple visas.   The cost of each visa application is only $25.00 per applicant with a discount for family applications. The fee includes the preparation of a Visa Application package for each applicant which includes the their visa application, their supporting documents, their travel itineraries, their bio-metrics as well as instructions on what to do next, and directions. An electronic copy of this document is automatically filed with the participating embassies and Consulates.  The app also has a facility for reporting lost, stolen or mislaid passports direct to the Embassy.  The Embassy can then cancel or suspend the passport until it is recovered.

The app also acts as a complete travel planning tool. Using an intuitive interface the traveler can search hotels and flights, via eGoVisa’s partner Amadeus and Expedia, with savings of up to 35%.  The user can also shop for travel insurance from over 40 providers. 

To download the app please visit:

(iOS): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/visaport/id950298173?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.egovisa&hl=en

A windows version is coming on stream by the end  of May 2015

For more information please visit: www.visaport.com.