Expedia introduces website to demonstrate new technology

(Source: Internet)

Expedia launched Expedia Labs, a website showcasing travel technology that will enable developers to test their concepts and receive feedback from users.

Expedia Labs features technologies built internally at Expedia, as well as through Expedia partnerships with others. Anyone who visits the site can experiment with the tools and applications found there.

Feedback received will be analyzed and distributed to the relevant teams “and implemented with the goal of identifying concepts travelers find worthwhile and accelerating new product development,” Expedia said in a statement.

As of Tuesday morning, seven concepts were live for Expedia Labs visitors to try, like Expedia Cruise Compare — which enables users to shop for cruises and compare prices based on certain criteria, like departure date — and Triplane, which enables individual travelers and groups to create a collaborative trip itinerary.

In addition to launching Expedia Labs, Expedia is also hosting the first Travel Think Tank at its San Francisco offices on Tuesday. Developer teams will present mobile concepts to a panel of experts, including Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and other industry executives and investors.

“Expedia Labs and Travel Think Tank are a direct reflection of how the company will continue to create new opportunities — both online and offline — for partners to share and test their latest travel apps and learn through direct feedback from Expedia executives and engineers, as well as our massive audience of customers and travelers around the world,” Tony Donohoe, Expedia’s chief technology officer, said in a statement.

Expedia Labs is similar to a program launched late last year by Sabre. Its Innovation Hub features Sabre technology prototypes that users can learn about and test, then provide feedback.