Groupon’s Mason on Strategy, Investment and (Finally) a Way to Stop Those Pole-Dancing Offers

Groupon’s CEO Andrew Mason is known for his sense of humor, but during the company’s first earnings call today, it was all business … pretty much.
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Behind the Scenes at Groupon’s Tech Headquarters as It Prepares to Report First Public Earnings

Groupon is slowly building out its technology prowess in Palo Alto, Calif., 2,000 miles away from its headquarters — one acquisition at a time.
Groupon's Palo Alto offices

Kayak’s Web Site Takes Its Influence From Mobile for Its Latest Design

Don’t worry, you’ll still recognize it — especially if you use Kayak’s iPad app.
kayak home page2

Travelzoo’s Stock Tumbles After Q4 Results Disappoint

Travelzoo’s stock is down almost 10 percent, or $3 a share, in late trading after its fourth-quarter revenues disappointed analysts.
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Airbnb’s Skyrocketing Growth Includes Four Million Nights Booked in 2011

Travelers have used Airbnb to book a total of five million guest nights over the past four years, staying in spare bedrooms and empty homes around the world.
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Zozi Gets Cozy With Celebrities to Separate Itself From the Groupon Clones

After slogging it out for two years in the daily deals business and facing competition from Groupon and hundreds of clones, Zozi believes it has started to find its niche.
zozi Guru Jonny Moseley_2

You’re Dead, Jim: Priceline Kills Off Shatner’s “Negotiator”

Priceline is retiring William Shatner’s role as a celebrity spokesman after 14 years as it moves to turn consumer attention to its fixed-price hotel inventory.
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News Byte

Online Travel Agencies Pounce on Obama’s Plan to Encourage Tourism

President Obama outlined a plan today that would encourage more tourists to visit the U.S. — an announcement welcomed by online travel agencies. The plan includes deploying more consuls, reducing visa-processing times and revising the list of countries whose citizens don’t need visas.

Expedia Tries Out New Last-Minute Deals Site Relying on User-Generated Data

Here’s a new twist on flash sales deals in which users — not suppliers — find the best prices for last-minute travel deals.
expedia_last minute deals

HomeAway Hopes Golden Globes Ad Can Fix Super Bowl Blunder

The new campaign — set to the tune of “Let’s Stay Together,” by Al Green — is much more subtle than last year’s ad.
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GoGo Goes for IPO