The Future of Travel, According to Google

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Aug 4, 2014) - If it is left up to Google, travel will probably take place in glasses and Smartphones rather than places and destinations. But until we all become virtual travelers the Silicon Valley search company is envisioning a world where travel is greatly enhanced, from first thing in the morning and through all events of the day, by the flow of personalized information to every individual with an Internet connection.

Those were the visions of David Pavelko, Google's chief of travel, who spoke to members of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) at the annual convention in Los Angeles last week. Pavelko described a futuristic world not ten years away in which travelers will have their own personal "IPITAs" (that's Integrated Proactive Intermodal Travel Assistant) that mechanically manage the details of travel while the traveler sleeps.

Travel-Intel, a weekly publication by Tours.com that goes out to the travel industry, reports the findings from the 2014 GBTA conference plus offers other important discoveries in the current issue out this week.

Connecting to other breaking news, Travel-Intel offers an interview with a major purveyor of travel to Russia regarding the safety of traveling to Russia these days, if not the Ukraine. MIR Corp. president Douglas Grimes discusses what's safe and what's not, and what's cool and what's hot this year about traveling to Russia and former Soviet states and the best ways to safely manage travel to these areas.

Travel to Nicaragua is also in the spotlight in the latest Travel-Intel. The Central American paradise is the focus of jetsetters who find a stay at Mukul to be the perfect blend of luxury, majesty and value. Mukul Resort & Spa is a part of the exclusive Kurtz-Ahlers Collection.

In other stories, readers learn the latest findings about beach behavior and preferences worldwide. Hint: Nude or topless beaches are not as high a priority for American beachgoers as they are for a certain European country. Guess which one.

Finally, Travel-Intel offers a look at the latest revolutionary development from JetBlue: a first class, trans-continental seat that extends to a full lie-flat position and costs only $599. Also, noted: a new in-your-pocket pass to Paris that offers a complete itinerary of must-sees and free entries for visitors with only two days or three to see the City of Lights.

Travel-Intel reaches more than 130,000 sellers of travel weekly in the U.S. and Canada and is also posted online on Tours.com. It also partners with eGroup Communications to offer strategically targeted marketing services to keep travel agents and sellers of incentive and group travel up on an ever-changing world of products and destinations.

The publication reports from travel conferences and popular hotels, exotic resorts, cruise ships and travel destinations near and far with stories that feature the latest intel on travel. Current features and archives can be viewed at www.travel-intel.com.

"We cover what news and information is out there and are, in a sense, eyes and ears for the travel industry," says Lark Gould, content director for Travel-Intel and Tours.com. "We watch trends and keep those who need to know informed about the customers they serve and the products they sell."

As a veteran travel journalist who has been covering the travel industry for more than 20 years, Gould puts her incisive perspective into the weekly publication, with features and news updates, and also "packages" issues that detail great deals to be found at hotels and resort locations worldwide. Travel-Intel can be viewed as a stand-alone site on Tours.com. Gould publishes travel columns in Larkslist, genConnect and Barclay's Travel Community and Business Traveler USA.

About Tours.com: Tours.com Since 1995 - The Directory of Tours & Vacations Worldwide is the most comprehensive directory of tour and vacation providers searchable by company name, destination and/or activity. The Travel Resource section categories include Passport & Vistas, Travel Insurance, Accommodations ( B&B, castles, villas and more, etc) Cruises, Barges, Boats, Yachts & Ferries, Rail & Railroad Vacations just to name a few, The Find a Travel Agent Specialist is searchable directory allows one to search for travel agents with in-depth knowledge in their chosen specialty.