STA Travel has released four new online tools that help
travelers prepare for their trips. These widgets are the first of an
ongoing series of free online travel tools that are available directly from
the STA Travel site, http://www.statravel.com/traveltools.
  As one of the fastest-growing phenomena of Web 2.0, widgets are
mini-applications that enhance the usefulness or aesthetic appeal of a site
by automatically distributing content from around the Web. The STA Travel
widgets, developed in partnership with digital strategy company
ElectricArtists, provide a way for travelers to customize their desktops
and personal web pages through highly visual displays of travel-related
information.
  The four travel tools which include trip countdown, weather comparison,
travel to-do list and special travel offers, can be used either separately
or as a suite of travel planning applications.
  The travel to-do list replaces the pen-and-paper checklist by listing
items that can be marked off as they are completed. The weather comparison
tool provides automatic, real-time weather updates on both a traveler’s
current location and final trip destination. The trip countdown tool
provides a unique and fun way to keep friends updated on your departure
date, while the special offers tool keeps travelers up-to-date on
destination specific travel deals. Each widget supports customized colors
and images for a personal user experience.
  The introduction of widgets represents another innovative way that STA
Travel continues to develop unique online offerings to improve the travel
experiences of its customers.
  “STA Travel has turned routine aspects of the travel planning process
into automated tools. Each of these tools can be updated and customized in
fun and creative ways that resonate with today’s internet savvy student
market,” said Kristen Celko, vice president of marketing and e-commerce for
STA Travel North America.
  In addition to the STA Travel Tools site, the online tools will also be
available to download at the following locations: Mac OSX Widgets, Yahoo!
Widgets and Widgetbox.
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