• by Tameka Kee , January 2, 2008

TripAdvisor has inked a syndication deal with GeoBeats, which will add new, professional-grade video content to its collection of user-generated vacation videos. The online travel community launched its video-sharing feature in early February 2007.

Rockville, Md.-based GeoBeats produces travel videos using local filmmakers and destination guides, and distributes them via an embeddable Flash-based player, as well as syndication services like Blinkx and Roo. The company's content spans locales in 30 countries, and has a video feed featured in the Google Earth gallery. "Our aim is to show travelers exactly what they're in store for before they book their vacations," said Ashish Khurana, CEO of GeoBeats. "Watching our videos is the next best thing to being there." TripAdvisor users will be able to access more than 450 GeoBeats videos while researching vacation info naturally via the site, as well as by searching for them specifically on the video home page at http://www.tripadvisor.com/VideoHome.

"We are happy to add GeoBeats' professional videos to our travel video portfolio. The local filmmakers' unique viewpoints give our users the insider perspective on their destinations," said Stephen Kaufer, founder and CEO of TripAdvisor.