Kayak.com launched its travel-search engine.
Started by co-founders of Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity, the site was released after four months of testing.
Kayak.com founders say is the first travel search engine to integrate user-created review and ratings, and other relevant travel information with real-time prices and availability.
The site accesses over 100 online travel sites with a single click, providing prices and itineraries for more than 550 airlines and 85,000 hotel rooms.
Said Steve Hafner, CFO and co-founder:
“Online travel has quickly become a $55 billion industry, but the fact remains that most consumers are frustrated by having to look at dozens of sites to find the best deals or itineraries.”
He predicts Kayak will help propel online travel into a $100 billion industry within the next few years.
Kayak. Com has had ongoing announcements of new relationships with airlines, hotels, online travel agencies and consolidators.
The company is also adding new personalization features. Consumers can also select or create their own profiles that automatically filter travel options by their preferences.
“Our Web site will continue to expand functionally in the weeks to come, such as multi-city and one-way itineraries, passenger and cabin-type fares and new personalization features,” said Paul English, Kayak.com’s CTO.
Report by David Wilkening
