This could put Google in a better position to offer on-the-go bookings

Most don't know or take advantage, but you can find a hotel room and/or flight via Google. The problem is that both offer a terrible UI and limited functionality. It seems Google is ready to change all that, as they've agreed to license Room 77 software, which should help with results on both fronts.Room 77 is a startup backed by Expedia, and is located in Mountain View very close to Google. Bloomberg reports that several of Room 77's staff, including co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Calvin Yang, are "joining Google". The pany will retain their "brand, websites, mobile applications, patents" as well as other technology. We assume this is what makes it a licensing deal rather than an acquisition, because staff from Room 77 heading to Google definitely sounds more acquisition than licensing.

This could put Google in a better position to offer on-the-go bookings, and situate them better to offer ads for online bookings. Priceline offers a much more lucrative angle for ads when it es to travel, and Google is likely keen to keep their mantle as a top search and ad service.Google's current flight search results e courtesy of a $700 million investment in ITA back in 2011. Their hotel search results e courtesy of scraping, with both services being limited and sparsely used. It's not yet known if Google will parlay this into a standalone travel app, but that seems likely at some point down the line.It's more than a convention. Experts say a travel show taking place in Chicago right now could translate into a billion-dollar boon for Chicago.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports.The goal of hosting the show here is to showcase the best of this city to 6,000 travel professionals from 70 different countries.The payoff? Tourists and their money.They may gather under one giant roof. But McCormick Place is only a gateway to the rest of Chicago for these international travel professionals.From sky to ground, travel professionals are getting a true taste of Chicago outside convention walls — with hopes it will impress them enough to talk it up to folks back home and boost tourism here.That influx of cash is only the beginning. The potential revenue can't be ignored, especially when city and state leaders continue to grapple with massive budget deficits.