Technology
According to a survey from MMGY Global, 50% of Americans would take the COVID-19 vaccine immediately.During its first day of trading, shares of Airbnb closed at a stunning $144.71, 113% above the initial public offering price of $68.Google launched #hotelinsights, a new tool allowing hotels to “learn where interest for your hotel and your region is highest right now, explore booking trends, and learn about the digital tools you can use to attract new guests and grow your business.” Here’s an example for Ile-de-France: https://hotelinsights.withgoogle.com/global-insights/?region=ChIJF4ymA8Th5UcRcCWLaMOCCwETripadvisor is about to launch a subscription service, called Tripadvisor Plus, providing members with deals and perks on thousands of hotels and attractions. “Think of it as a travel club,” CEO Steve Kaufer, stated. The service will cost $99/year, and you can sign up for early access here: beta.subs.tripadvisor.com/plus/. In the meantime, China banned Tripadvisor from its app store, considering it “illegal.” Tripadvisor did not comment on it.Tripadvisor launched reco (https://www.helloreco.com/), a new platform that “matches travelers with a personal Trip Designer to simplify vacation planning [and] ensures travelers’ unique needs for their next trip are fulfilled, thanks to the expertise of advisors who know a destination best.”The chatbot HiJiffy raised €1 million in funding, thanks to an investment led by Portugal Ventures.Trip.com made a quarterly profit for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak.Lonely Planet, known mainly for its travel guidebooks, has been acquired by Red Ventures.Sad news for geeks like me: Uber decided to sell its driverless car unit. On the other hand, however, Amazon is ready to launch its Zoox vehicle.The Federal Trade Commission and 46 states sued Facebook for social networking monopoly and could force the company to sell Instagram and WhatsApp.