Triphub launches shared trip maps

TripHub Inc.,  a leader in online group travel planning, today announced the availability of dynamic, integrated Trip Maps that show members of a group where their events, activities, and accommodations are relative to each other and relative to other local activities and landmarks.

TripHub’s innovative trip planning “mash-up” was built with the Microsoft Virtual Earthplatform. The new Trip Map feature seamlessly integrates local search to aid in the discovery of nearby services and attractions like restaurants, museums, theme parks, night clubs, and other points of interest. And integrated driving directions provide step by step instructions between any two locations.

“Interactive maps are both fun and extremely useful. By dynamically integrating where people are staying and events they have scheduled, and by making it easy to add new items to the trip based on a local search, we’ve added more ways for groups to view and share information and make smarter planning decisions,” said Josh Herst, TripHub Founder and CEO.

“TripHub’s Trip Map mash-up is a very useful and innovative example of how the integrated platform of mapping and search services in Virtual Earth can enable consumers to easily discover, share, and visualize location data and locally relevant information,” said Erik Jogensen, General Manager of Live Search at Microsoft Corp. “I love what TripHub has done, and I can’t wait to use Trip Maps for planning my own group trips.”

Since launching in 2006, TripHub has been used by thousands of groups to plan and coordinate family vacations, birthday celebrations, bachelor parties, spa vacations, reunions, weddings and trips with clubs and teams. The addition of expanded mapping functionality strengthens TripHub’s position as the best place to plan, coordinate and share any gathering that involves travel.

According to a recent group travel study by PhoCusWright, maps and directions are themost desired planning capabilities in group travel planning sites. Nearly 80% of those surveyed said they’d like to see this feature in the sites they use. This same study forecasts $90 billion in leisure group travel spending in the U.S. in 2008.

“Seeing where hotels are located in relationship to scheduled events and activities is a unique and compelling addition to our trip planning and shopping experience,” said Herst. “And by leveraging local search to help groups find nearby points of interest and dining options, we’re making it easier for groups to build and share rich travel itineraries.”

TripHub reports that the majority of their group trips include three or more scheduled events or activities. The Trip Maps provide a complimentary view to TripHub’s shared event schedules and offers aerial high resolution satellite imagery that provides topographical views and area detail. Both the maps and the step by step driving directions can be printed for convenient reference while on the trip.

The addition of driving directions further expands TripHub’s market appeal. Road trips, including travel to nearby beaches, National Parks and other attractions, represent a significant percent of leisure group trips and TripHub has noticed a growing number of trips being planned that use automobiles as their primary mode of transportation.

TripHub.com was founded in 2005 by Expedia and Microsoft veterans and is headquartered in Seattle. Visit www.triphub.com. For more information, please contact [email protected].

Report by Chitra Mogul