Latest on Travel: Priceline.com Inc (PCLN)’s Growth, Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (OWW) App, Tripadvisor Inc (TRIP)’s Fresh Start

Editor’s Note: Priceline.com Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN), Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:OWW), Tripadvisor Inc (NASDAQ:TRIP)

priceline.com Stock Rating Reaffirmed by TheStreet (PCLN) (Mideast Time)
Priceline.com Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reiterated by research analysts at TheStreet in a report released on Tuesday, American Banking and Market News reports. The analysts wrote, “Priceline.com (PCLN) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a buy with a ratings score of A. The company’s strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, solid stock price performance, impressive record of earnings per share growth and compelling growth in net income. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook.”

Priceline.com Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN)

Orbitz.com rolls out update to Orbitz flights, hotels, cars app for Android (Breaking Travel News)
Affirming its commitment to industry-leading mobile travel planning tools for consumers, Orbitz.com today announced the re-launch of the Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:OWW) Flights, Hotels, Cars app for Android, adding major speed improvements and single-screen booking for flights, hotel rooms and car rentals for the massive number of travelers now carrying Android-powered smartphones. With nearly 80 percent of smartphones shipped globally in the second quarter of 2013 being Android devices,1 the rebuilt App was designed specifically for Android and gives travelers a fully native, in-app search and book experience while offering Orbitz Mobile Steals – exclusive, mobile-only discounts of up to 50 percent on thousands of hotels worldwide.

TripAdvisor Now Removing Old Negative Reviews After Hotels Renovate (Skift)
In response to hotel owners’ request for a fresh start following major renovations, Tripadvisor Inc (NASDAQ:TRIP) added a review removal policy last October, and updated the policy for clarity in July 2013. The odds are big for hotels: In exchange for proof of major renovations, a hotel’s old reviews are wiped clean — a fresh start. Hotels must produce proof of structural changes including the installation of new guest rooms or bathrooms, alterations to hotel layout, or complete property overhauls. Cosmetic changes like new paint or curtains do not count.

Priceline.com Inc (PCLN)’s Second Quarter Growth In Hotel And Rental (Insider Monkey)
Priceline.com Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN)’s latest results were supported by a busy travel season with steady growth in hotel rooms and rental cars. GAAP net income for the second quarter ended June 30 was $437 million, or $8.39 per diluted share, compared to $352 million, or $6.88 per diluted share in the same period last year. Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter was $508 million, up 25.6% over 2012; non-GAAP net income per diluted share was $9.70 versus last year’s $7.85. The company’s future investments include content expansion and new market penetration and distribution to build the company’s brands. Priceline.com Inc (NASDAQ:PCLN) has five primary brands – Booking.com, priceline.com, Agoda.com, KAYAK, and rentalcars.com – and provides online travel services to over 180 countries.

Courtyard San Diego Oceanside Earns TripAdvisor 2013 Certificate Of Excellence Award (Consumer Electronics Net)
And the award goes to Courtyard San Diego Oceanside! The hotel has received a TripAdvisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence along with being ranked No. 1 out of 27 hotels in Oceanside, California. Earning this award cements the Oceanside, CA, hotels commitment to maintaining an overall rating of at least four out of five on Tripadvisor Inc (NASDAQ:TRIP) as well as residing in the top 10 percent of hotels on the site. These ratings are gained through customer satisfaction reviews, of which 95% of the 61 reviews about the hotel in Oceanside, California, are exceptional. The criteria in which guests rated the hotel in Oceanside, CA, for include value, location, sleep quality, rooms, cleanliness and service.