Yahoo! unveils integrated travel tool

by Stuart Derrick, Revolution UK 01-Aug-07, 11:10

LONDON - Yahoo! has rolled out its Trip Planner tool in the UK following its introduction in the US last year. The UK is the second European market to receive the product following France a month ago.

Trip Planners integrates its existing products Flickr, travel guides and maps to create the tool on Yahoo! Travel. The site blends social search, photos, advice and insight from Yahoo! users who upload their personal travels. Users can archive their travel experiences, including pictures, notes and reviews, and share them with others.

Browsers can customise printable travel guides, share details and comment on the travels of other users. Features include journals with a search function for users to find details of destinations, interactive maps to plan the trip, and web clipping and tagging.

Tim Frankcom, GM of Yahoo! Travel & Shopping Europe said Trip Planner was an example of ‘collective intelligence’. “People are no longer limited to just booking tickets online, and by incorporating interactive and social media elements, we’re creating one of the most useful and dynamic travel resources available.”

Trip Planner will be rolled out Europe-wide this year.