Feature 1: Search is going social. Google has added a recommendation feature for its search results called +1. Registered users with a profile will see the +1 button alongside search results.

Google doesn’t show all the +1′s to all users. Instead, it is showing only recommendations based on signals like connections on Google (chat buddies and contacts). It’s also working on implementing recommendations from a user’s connections on other sites, like Twitter.

Google Plus One

Rob Spiro, product manager for Google, explains in a blog post, “Say, for example, you’re planning a winter trip to Tahoe, Calif. When you do a search, you may now see a +1 from your slalom-skiing aunt next to the result for a lodge in the area.”

+1’s: the right recommendations right when you want them—in your search results – Google Blog
Bing News adds real-time Twitter updates – Bing Blog

Feature 2: Limos.com has secured $10 million in funding from Austin Ventures. The new investment adds to the company’s original funding of $5 million from Canal Partners.

Limos also announced the launch of its new corporate travel management product, Limos.com for Business, which offers direct access to local car service operators. Limos.com president & CEO T.J. Clark says that companies overpay by at least 40 percent on car services when they don’t book with local suppliers.

They’re also about to launch mobile apps for iPhone and Android, which will allow travelers to search and book car services “on the go” in all of its markets worldwide.

Limos.com secures $10 million in financing from Austin Ventures – AustinVentures.com

Here’s the rest of the week’s interesting news:-

Why the mobile buzz is fizzing and how not to fall victim - FlightCaster
Travel editors discuss consumers and changing travel patterns - Travel Weekly

Yuupon launches with date flexibility and refunds on flash deals – Yuupon.com
Overstock’s travel site takes flight with heavily discounted hotels - AllThingsD
Boston-based startup aims to be travel industry’s Groupon – InsiderTrips.com

Expedia launches new rewards program – UpTake
Expedia Chairman: Hopes to resolve dispute with American Airlines soon - WSJ
Florida company makes $3.25 billion offer for AMR? - Dallas News

71 percent feel travel is better today than it was 10 years ago - Orbitz.com
Enterprise pulls cars from Orbitz after dispute - Elliott.org

Can a smartphone app juice the market for electric cars? NetworkWorld.com
Chicken fat studied by NASA as eco-friendly jet fuel - NASA.gov

Study says airport scanners release little radiation - Washington Post
Siemens introduces secure apron baggage screening (SABS) solution at LAX – Siemens.com

Spirit Airlines adds new late fees for luggage - CNN
Global airline luggage delays climb in 2010 - AP
Ryanair to offer child-free flights. Real or April Fools marketing? - Reuters

Centrav launches consolidator mobile fares site for travel agents – TravelAgentCentral
Yapta opens up airfare tracking technology to developers - Yapta.com

Photo – Google Blog

Related posts:-
TravelTechnology Weekly – Bing Deals, Autosuggests, Google Links…
Traveltechnology Weekly – Search Wars on Travel Terrain
Travel Gets More Social with Launch of Gogobot
Limos.com: solid consumer play in the ground transportation space