SideStep Targets Young Adults with TripUp Acquisition

Travel search provider SideStep is acquiring TripUp, a travel-focused social network and community site that is akin to a Facebook for the backpack set. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This is SideStep's second acquisition of a start up that deals with user generated content and a second move targeted at the young adult set. Last year, SideStep acquired TravelPost, a site for user reviews of hotels. And SideStep recently built an application that lets Facebook users plan trips together within that site. >> Full Story

Thoughts// While I would not directly compare TripUp to Facebook, this purchase by SideStep does allow it to enter the travel-related social networking space. It should be intriguing to watch how SideStep integrates TripUp into it's existing sites.

Travel Trends - Tvtrip, TripUp

Tvtrip - Another video hotel guide from Europe, this venture, called Tvtrip (not to be confused with Trivop), is lead by former managers from Expedia Europe. Currently only available with limited hotels in London, Brussles, Paris, and Berlin (because of the huge overhead involved), Tvtrip listings include maps, ratings, pricing and videos touring the hotel’s different classes of rooms, amenities, and exterior compiled by their teams of videographers.
http://www.tvtrip.com/

TripUp - TripUp is a social networking travel community. Think of it as MySpace meets Match.com meets TripAdvisor. Find trip buddies in the city you are traveling to, make friends, connections, get tips or even find someone to travel with.
http://www.tripup.com/