travmedia.com: "The survey of over 1,100 people throughout Great Britain ... conducted by Best Western Hotels GB, to help understand what influences us Brits to take a hotel break in Great Britain reveals that almost half of us start the week looking forward to the weekend and a third of us describe our average week as repetitive. As only one in ten describe the week as exciting...
69% of women book a weekend break to get away from the household chores whilst over 56% of men book a hotel break to get away from work, however there are 2% of us out there that book a weekend break to get away from our partners! "
Friday, June 17, 2005
Monday, June 13, 2005
Sidestep: Online agencies wary of joining travel search engine
The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, USA: "Online agencies wary of joining travel search engine By Bruce Mohl The Boston Globe:
Sidestep, the online travel search engine, is now hunting for hotel and air vacation packages the same way it scours the Web for price comparisons involving individual flights, cars and rooms. The new search function holds great promise for consumers looking for the best package deal, but it's facing opposition from some travel companies fearful of seeing their unique hotel and air packages sold as commodities.
The online travel agencies Travelocity and Expedia, two of the biggest package vendors, are refusing to participate, which means Sidestep isn't yet able to offer a comprehensive search....
The one big drawback to the Sidestep search model is its limited reach. Sidestep's revenue model depends on customers clicking through to the travel vendor they want and that vendor paying a small fee to Sidestep for the referral.
However, a number of travel vendors, particularly those selling vacation packages, are wary of companies such as Sidestep trying to establish travel search engines.
Many travel suppliers view their vacation packages as customized products that help pull customers to their Web sites, so they are reluctant to pay referral fees to a company trying to help consumers compare them as if they were all the same.
Carpenter said Sidestep has referral deals in place with Orbitz, the National Leisure Group in Woburn, and Pleasant Holidays. Many other vacation package suppliers have so far refused to sign on.
"We're not convinced that any of these search engines are good for consumers, suppliers or us,'' said a spokeswoman for Travelocity.
"We see these engines as commoditizing travel at a time when we're working hard with suppliers to go in the opposite direction.'' "
Sidestep, the online travel search engine, is now hunting for hotel and air vacation packages the same way it scours the Web for price comparisons involving individual flights, cars and rooms. The new search function holds great promise for consumers looking for the best package deal, but it's facing opposition from some travel companies fearful of seeing their unique hotel and air packages sold as commodities.
The online travel agencies Travelocity and Expedia, two of the biggest package vendors, are refusing to participate, which means Sidestep isn't yet able to offer a comprehensive search....
The one big drawback to the Sidestep search model is its limited reach. Sidestep's revenue model depends on customers clicking through to the travel vendor they want and that vendor paying a small fee to Sidestep for the referral.
However, a number of travel vendors, particularly those selling vacation packages, are wary of companies such as Sidestep trying to establish travel search engines.
Many travel suppliers view their vacation packages as customized products that help pull customers to their Web sites, so they are reluctant to pay referral fees to a company trying to help consumers compare them as if they were all the same.
Carpenter said Sidestep has referral deals in place with Orbitz, the National Leisure Group in Woburn, and Pleasant Holidays. Many other vacation package suppliers have so far refused to sign on.
"We're not convinced that any of these search engines are good for consumers, suppliers or us,'' said a spokeswoman for Travelocity.
"We see these engines as commoditizing travel at a time when we're working hard with suppliers to go in the opposite direction.'' "
Sunday, June 12, 2005
TRAVEL search engines traffic up
MediaPost : "FOUR OF THE LARGEST TRAVEL search engines--Yahoo! Farechase, Kayak, Mobissimo, and Cheapflights--showed big spikes in traffic in the last six months, Hitwise reported Thursday.
The research firm found that Kayak visits were up more than 6,000 percent from October through April, while Farechase showed a 659 percent increase, Mobissimo also had a 350 percent gain, and Cheapflights was up 56 percent. Overall, the travel market share of visits to those four meta search engines picked up 304 percent in the last six months, while that of the top five online travel agencies--Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Yahoo! Travel, and CheapTickets--increased by just 11 percent...the online travel agencies see far greater overall traffic than the meta engines. For the week ending May 7, the top five travel search engines accounted for just 3.14 percent of all visits to the Hitwise travel agencies category, compared to the top five travel agencies sites, which accounted for 60.44 percent of all visits...
The study also found that the major search engines like Google and Yahoo! play an important role in driving traffic to meta-search sites. Yahoo!'s Farechase received 39.3 percent of its visits from standard search engines for the week ending April 30, 2005; Cheapflights received 24.3 percent from search; and Kayak 16.6 percent, according to Hitwise.
"What some of the new travel meta-search engines lack in brand equity and reach, they make up for in search marketing and optimization within the landscape of the traditional search engines like Google," Tancer said in a statement. "Their product is essentially robust and sought-after content, and that is the lifeblood of search engine functionality." "
The research firm found that Kayak visits were up more than 6,000 percent from October through April, while Farechase showed a 659 percent increase, Mobissimo also had a 350 percent gain, and Cheapflights was up 56 percent. Overall, the travel market share of visits to those four meta search engines picked up 304 percent in the last six months, while that of the top five online travel agencies--Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Yahoo! Travel, and CheapTickets--increased by just 11 percent...the online travel agencies see far greater overall traffic than the meta engines. For the week ending May 7, the top five travel search engines accounted for just 3.14 percent of all visits to the Hitwise travel agencies category, compared to the top five travel agencies sites, which accounted for 60.44 percent of all visits...
The study also found that the major search engines like Google and Yahoo! play an important role in driving traffic to meta-search sites. Yahoo!'s Farechase received 39.3 percent of its visits from standard search engines for the week ending April 30, 2005; Cheapflights received 24.3 percent from search; and Kayak 16.6 percent, according to Hitwise.
"What some of the new travel meta-search engines lack in brand equity and reach, they make up for in search marketing and optimization within the landscape of the traditional search engines like Google," Tancer said in a statement. "Their product is essentially robust and sought-after content, and that is the lifeblood of search engine functionality." "
Friday, June 10, 2005
ebookers implement global Internet Protocol network
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis "ebookers, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cendant Corporation, has implemented an Internet Protocol network across 31 sites in 13 countries as part of its strategy to route calls between travel advisers around the world, reducing customer waiting times and cutting costs."
Kayak.com and TIG Global Announce Preferred Marketing Partnership
Hospitality Net : "Kayak.com, a comparison shopping travel site created by co-founders of Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity, and TIG Global (www.TIGglobal.com) today announced a yearlong preferred marketing partnership. TIG Global, the leading provider of interactive marketing services for hotels, will utilize patent-pending technology from Kayak Network (www.kayaknetwork.com) to drive business to more than 100 of its client websites...
About Kayak.com: Created by co-founders of Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia, Kayak.com is the first travel site to integrate real-time prices, availability and other travel information from over 100 other online travel sites in one easy-to-use display, including prices and itineraries from 551 airlines and 91,000 hotels. Kayak.com's investors include Sequoia Capital, America Online, Inc. and General Catalyst Partners. For additional background, please visit www.kayak.com. Companies interested in an agreement with Kayak should contact partners@kayak.com.
About TIG Global: TIG Global, headquartered in Washington, DC, is the market-leading interactive marketing company for hotels. TIG Global's consultative, strategic marketing programs raise online visibility, drive direct incremental revenue, and deliver unrivaled ROI to hotels. Created by hoteliers, TIG Global combines its hospitality industry knowledge and e-business expertise to help hotel clients maximize the potential of Internet channel and gain more than their fair share of this rapidly expanding market. TIG Global serves more than 300 hotel and resort clients, including independents and branded hotels, located throughout North America, Europe, and the Caribbean."
About Kayak.com: Created by co-founders of Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia, Kayak.com is the first travel site to integrate real-time prices, availability and other travel information from over 100 other online travel sites in one easy-to-use display, including prices and itineraries from 551 airlines and 91,000 hotels. Kayak.com's investors include Sequoia Capital, America Online, Inc. and General Catalyst Partners. For additional background, please visit www.kayak.com. Companies interested in an agreement with Kayak should contact partners@kayak.com.
About TIG Global: TIG Global, headquartered in Washington, DC, is the market-leading interactive marketing company for hotels. TIG Global's consultative, strategic marketing programs raise online visibility, drive direct incremental revenue, and deliver unrivaled ROI to hotels. Created by hoteliers, TIG Global combines its hospitality industry knowledge and e-business expertise to help hotel clients maximize the potential of Internet channel and gain more than their fair share of this rapidly expanding market. TIG Global serves more than 300 hotel and resort clients, including independents and branded hotels, located throughout North America, Europe, and the Caribbean."
Thursday, June 09, 2005
China to Replace USAas the Largest Originator of World Tourists By 2007
www.hotel-online.com: "By 2007, China Will Replace the United States as the Largest Originator of World Tourists Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News "
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Regional hotels hit all-time high-01-Jun-05.
www.travelmole.com: "The performance of regional hotels in the UK is at an all-time high according to research by consultants Deloitte and Touche, with airport cities the major winners.
During the first four months of the year, the study revealed revenue per room increased 4% over the same period last year.
Liverpool was the top performer in England with an 18% rise from �39 per room to �45. Gatwick hotels rose �6 to �66 while in Scotland, Aberdeen hoteliers saw revenue increase by 12% to �37."
During the first four months of the year, the study revealed revenue per room increased 4% over the same period last year.
Liverpool was the top performer in England with an 18% rise from �39 per room to �45. Gatwick hotels rose �6 to �66 while in Scotland, Aberdeen hoteliers saw revenue increase by 12% to �37."
Travel portal to revolutionise online search - for agents
travelmole.com: "A new search engine designed specifically for travel agents will revolutionise their use of the Internet, it has been claimed.
Online fares database provider FarePoint said the launch of Travel Navigator will cut through the myriad of useless information and take retailers direct to relevant websites.
The system, which is free for agents, works by bringing all websites designed for the trade into a single portal with direct links to host sites. Main categories will include airlines, flight only, tour operators, dynamic packaging suppliers, accommodation only, car hire, transfers, holiday add-ons and even weather. Foreign Office advice, travel news and a links database can also be searched using key words.
FarePoint managing director Jon Constantine said locating information on the Internet jungle has become increasingly time-consuming and confusing for retailers....
"... we are actively seeking marketing agreements with suppliers in return for generating regular traffic to their websites," he added. "As travel agents sit directly at the point of sale conversion rates from click throughs will be higher than those from the general public." "
Online fares database provider FarePoint said the launch of Travel Navigator will cut through the myriad of useless information and take retailers direct to relevant websites.
The system, which is free for agents, works by bringing all websites designed for the trade into a single portal with direct links to host sites. Main categories will include airlines, flight only, tour operators, dynamic packaging suppliers, accommodation only, car hire, transfers, holiday add-ons and even weather. Foreign Office advice, travel news and a links database can also be searched using key words.
FarePoint managing director Jon Constantine said locating information on the Internet jungle has become increasingly time-consuming and confusing for retailers....
"... we are actively seeking marketing agreements with suppliers in return for generating regular traffic to their websites," he added. "As travel agents sit directly at the point of sale conversion rates from click throughs will be higher than those from the general public." "
Navigating London
Usual suspects apart from mention of toptable....Navigating London: "London offers wonderful opportunities for rambling explorationbut it's also easy to lose your bearings if you're not careful. Fortunately, the web offers some terrific navigation tools and maps to help you find your way. "
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