Travel is a major part of the online marketing industry. But it has lots of privacy concerns–who knows where you plan to go, spend time [in the exact location via geomapping, etc], how much money you generally spend, with your family or on business, etc. There are a host of civil liberties issues related to commercial and government access to this data.  That’s one of the reasons why competition and privacy regulators around the world should closely critically analyze the proposed Google acquisition of travel information leader ITA Software.
Google is currently expanding its online travel advertising business–and swallowing ITA will undoubtedly boost its market share–and give it access to reams of additional data on consumers and business practices. For example, in its Seattle regional office, Google is hiring several marketing specialists, including:
*Display Account Manager, Travel: [“As a Display Account Manager, you’ll sell and manage advertising for the sixth-largest media property in the world and other Google display offerings. You will be a part of the team on the cutting edge of interactive marketing and media. You will drive the online video marketplace forward and engage advertising agencies and brand marketers in programs that move the needle for their companies. The primary responsibility of the Display Account Manager is to drive new business revenue for YouTube and other Google display services and products with Fortune 1000 advertisers across multiple industries.”]  They also want an Account Manager, Travel Vertical and a Display Account Executive, Travel. Other travel online ad sales jobs are posted for London [“As a Google Industry Manager, Travel you will be working with clients to provide digital solutions for sales & marketing objectives via a variety of Google’s Search, Display and Tools. This job is a mix of finding and managing new and existing business customer relationships, and working closely with the Industry Head to develop Google’s marketplace in the Travel sector. You’ll combine digital media and deep commercial knowledge with strong presentation and communication skills. You’ll own the relationships with clients and agencies, targeting, educating and developing new clients to grow the business in unpenetrated territory.”]; Australia [Account Strategist, Travel Industry]. Plus its DoubleClick division performs travel related online marketing work. Of course, given Google’s recently expanded role providing mobile ad targeting, via its Admob acquisition, related privacy and competition issues are also raised.
