Posted September 12, 2008
An Orbitz official said the company is "admittedly" disappointed in usage of the social networking component of its Traveler Update service, in which travelers can post "real-time updates from fellow travelers about security wait times, traffic and parking, taxi lines and more." Still in beta, the service shows Orbitz isn't "afraid to take risks," said the spokesman. "It's important to try new things, and we're eager to see what will work." He said other components of Traveler Update--including one-way dissemination of weather and traffic information--have "gained traction."
I asked about the service after Egencia CEO Jean-Pierre Remy took a swipe at it during this summer's National Business Travel Association convention: "It's a real stretch to think that business travelers will stand in a queue at security or waiting for a cab and suddenly go online to upload this information. I would like to believe this, but I would probably call my wife or my assistant first. Don't try to change their behavior; try to get as much as you can from the way they behave today."