Preview Travel, Inc. today announced the integration of video, weather and currency information services into its Web site offerings, an expansion boosted by a partnership with Vicinity Corp., a provider of geography-based technology solutions.
Preview Travel said the new content is aimed at enabling users to “look before they book” their travel by launching the service with more than 100 travel video clips for over 60 destinations around the world.
Using Vicinity’s mapping capabilities, consumers visiting Preview Travel’s
Web site can print out maps and driving directions to hotels, restaurants
and other points of interest when they plan trips. In addition, users can pan
and zoom in on different directions within the printable maps, to give them
the ultimate look at where they’re going, the firms said.
The enhanced version of Preview Travel’s Web site also is designed to feature integrated weather information, streaming video, and currency conversion. Users can shop for airline tickets, car rentals, hotels, vacation packages and cruises as well.
“Our goal has always been to empower consumers with useful, comprehensive
and engaging content,” said Barrie Seidenberg, Preview Travel’s senior vice
president of online services. “With the addition of these new services, we
believe our online site offers consumers an unprecedented level of
travel-planning information and resources. Our site now serves as a travel
guide, video center, weather source, and travel agency–all rolled into
one.”
After launching interactive maps and driving directions, Preview Travel said it
plans to offer consumers geographic search capabilities. Using Vicinity’s Business Finder 3.0 service, consumers will be able to search for information on hotels, restaurants and other points of interest.
