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Friday, December 31, 2004
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Cendant and Groople agree to provide special rates for group travel
:: Travel Weekly ::
"The Cendant Hotel Group signed an agreement with Groople, an online group-travel booking company, to provide special rates for group travel planners. The group rates will be available and displayed prominently on Groople's Web site at www.groople.com....Best Western and La Quinta, which separately signed up with Groople in October. Groople has relationships with some 57,000 properties worldwide."
"The Cendant Hotel Group signed an agreement with Groople, an online group-travel booking company, to provide special rates for group travel planners. The group rates will be available and displayed prominently on Groople's Web site at www.groople.com....Best Western and La Quinta, which separately signed up with Groople in October. Groople has relationships with some 57,000 properties worldwide."
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Cendant Car Rental Group (Avis and Budget) roll out Web tool
:: Travel Weekly ::
"The Cendant Car Rental Group, owner of Avis and Budget, rolled out a Web tool that allows agencies to upload Avis and Budget inventory to the agency’s Web site and earn commission whenever a customer books either car rental brand. To request the product, visit www.avisagent.com or www.unlimitedbudget.com."
"The Cendant Car Rental Group, owner of Avis and Budget, rolled out a Web tool that allows agencies to upload Avis and Budget inventory to the agency’s Web site and earn commission whenever a customer books either car rental brand. To request the product, visit www.avisagent.com or www.unlimitedbudget.com."
Kayak.com Secures $7 Million in Series B Financing;
CBS MarketWatch
"Kayak.com, a website that helps consumers get comprehensive and objective travel information, today announced the completion of a $7 million Series B financing round led by Sequoia Capital, a California-based venture capital firm. Kayak.com is only the third East Coast company Sequoia Capital has funded in the last two years.
The company has now raised a total of $15.5 million to create the next generation of online travel. The additional funding will be used to further product development and expand marketing."
"Kayak.com, a website that helps consumers get comprehensive and objective travel information, today announced the completion of a $7 million Series B financing round led by Sequoia Capital, a California-based venture capital firm. Kayak.com is only the third East Coast company Sequoia Capital has funded in the last two years.
The company has now raised a total of $15.5 million to create the next generation of online travel. The additional funding will be used to further product development and expand marketing."
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
IAC to restructure - split off Expedia and othe rtravel businesses
Reuters.com
"IAC/InterActiveCorp. (IACI.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , saying its growth is being hindered by the perception that it is strictly a travel company, on Tuesday said it plans to split itself in two by spinning off online travel service Expedia.com and related businesses into a company to be called Expedia... After the spin-off, IAC will be a diversified interactive commerce company that includes ticketing, electronic retailing, financial services and real estate, local and media services, personals and teleservices. These businesses include Ticketmaster, the Home Shopping Network, CitySearch and match.com. "
"IAC/InterActiveCorp. (IACI.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , saying its growth is being hindered by the perception that it is strictly a travel company, on Tuesday said it plans to split itself in two by spinning off online travel service Expedia.com and related businesses into a company to be called Expedia... After the spin-off, IAC will be a diversified interactive commerce company that includes ticketing, electronic retailing, financial services and real estate, local and media services, personals and teleservices. These businesses include Ticketmaster, the Home Shopping Network, CitySearch and match.com. "
Local search
iMediaConnection: Stay www.Here
Richard Zwicky, Metamend Software reckons that: "The hospitality industry will be affected faster and more strongly than any other industry by the increasing adoption of local search by Internet users."
Like B Francisco he sees the death of yellow pages as "Consumers no longer just use the search engines for research; they expect to find relevant, local, information about their community."
Zwicky concludes optimistically that "Optimizing your Web site's content to ensure local attention will not minimize the opportunities your business receives from regular, Internet-wide search engine traffic. Instead, it will supplement existing traffic with increased highly localized traffic, which will likely result in people just walking into your business without ever mentioning that they found your business online."
Great for bricks and mortar properties but not web only agencies.
Richard Zwicky, Metamend Software reckons that: "The hospitality industry will be affected faster and more strongly than any other industry by the increasing adoption of local search by Internet users."
Like B Francisco he sees the death of yellow pages as "Consumers no longer just use the search engines for research; they expect to find relevant, local, information about their community."
Zwicky concludes optimistically that "Optimizing your Web site's content to ensure local attention will not minimize the opportunities your business receives from regular, Internet-wide search engine traffic. Instead, it will supplement existing traffic with increased highly localized traffic, which will likely result in people just walking into your business without ever mentioning that they found your business online."
Great for bricks and mortar properties but not web only agencies.
Eurostar Launches Wi-Fi Service at Waterloo and Ashford International
Internet Travel News
"Paul Charles, Director of Communications, said "Eurostar is constantly looking at ways to enhance the service it offers to business travellers. The launch of the ReadytoSurf(tm) Wi-Fi service in our UK terminals follows the recent introduction of our refurbished train interiors which feature power sockets for laptops and mobiles. Next year, trials begin with two suppliers for our onboard Wi-Fi service."
Wi-Fi internet access is also available in Eurostar's Paris terminal and will be launched in its Brussels terminal next year."
"Paul Charles, Director of Communications, said "Eurostar is constantly looking at ways to enhance the service it offers to business travellers. The launch of the ReadytoSurf(tm) Wi-Fi service in our UK terminals follows the recent introduction of our refurbished train interiors which feature power sockets for laptops and mobiles. Next year, trials begin with two suppliers for our onboard Wi-Fi service."
Wi-Fi internet access is also available in Eurostar's Paris terminal and will be launched in its Brussels terminal next year."
VisitBritain start 2005 campaign
travmedia.com
"VisitBritain has produced a new (2005) edition of the Enjoy England Holiday Planner" to promote short breaks includes:
1) uggested itineraries highlighting things to see and do in each of England’s nine regions
2) Personal recommendations from experienced travel journalists
3) Exclusive offers
"VisitBritain has produced a new (2005) edition of the Enjoy England Holiday Planner" to promote short breaks includes:
1) uggested itineraries highlighting things to see and do in each of England’s nine regions
2) Personal recommendations from experienced travel journalists
3) Exclusive offers
British Travel Trade Fair March 2005 Details
travmedia.com
"The Tourism Society and UKinbound have secured the top tourism politicians for a Tourism Question Time event at British Travel Trade Fair (BTTF) on Thursday 3rd March 2005."
"The Tourism Society and UKinbound have secured the top tourism politicians for a Tourism Question Time event at British Travel Trade Fair (BTTF) on Thursday 3rd March 2005."
SideStep gaining partners :: Hyatt Corp
:: Travel Weekly ::
"SideStep and Hyatt Corp. forged a marketing partnership in which the search engine will drive consumers to the Hyatt Web site."
SideStep also has partnerships with WestJet, InterContinental Hotels Group, Starwood, Best Western and various others.
Their technology, "SideStep TotalConnect" interfaces with supplier sites regardless of their platforms.
"SideStep and Hyatt Corp. forged a marketing partnership in which the search engine will drive consumers to the Hyatt Web site."
SideStep also has partnerships with WestJet, InterContinental Hotels Group, Starwood, Best Western and various others.
Their technology, "SideStep TotalConnect" interfaces with supplier sites regardless of their platforms.
Under 2% commerce online- the future is bright :: Think about hedging your Internet bets in 2005
Net Sense
Bambi Francisco, CBS.MarketWatch.com writes a very upbeat article about the shift of commerce and advertising to online but warns about getting "caught up in the emotion" and paying over the odds for shares and stocks.
"Online shopping sales are expected to rise closer to 30 percent than an earlier estimate of about 24.5 percent.
The behavioral shift in where we shop and go about finding information, or accessing our entertainment, has caused the underlying secular shift in advertising dollars and commerce to the Web. At this juncture, still three percent of total advertising is online and less than 2 percent of commerce is conducted online"
The article goes on to discuss her interview with Thiel, a major fund manager ($300 million in his hedge fund, Clarium): She writes that "Thiel's dose of reality and equity recommendation to just "sell" is tough to handle, especially when it seems as though Internet stocks are still working" and advises a cautious selling tactic.
Bambi Francisco, CBS.MarketWatch.com writes a very upbeat article about the shift of commerce and advertising to online but warns about getting "caught up in the emotion" and paying over the odds for shares and stocks.
"Online shopping sales are expected to rise closer to 30 percent than an earlier estimate of about 24.5 percent.
The behavioral shift in where we shop and go about finding information, or accessing our entertainment, has caused the underlying secular shift in advertising dollars and commerce to the Web. At this juncture, still three percent of total advertising is online and less than 2 percent of commerce is conducted online"
The article goes on to discuss her interview with Thiel, a major fund manager ($300 million in his hedge fund, Clarium): She writes that "Thiel's dose of reality and equity recommendation to just "sell" is tough to handle, especially when it seems as though Internet stocks are still working" and advises a cautious selling tactic.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Rich Media Increases Brand Awareness More than Static
MediaDailyNews
"Online ads that use audio and video are better for branding than ads that use more static formats, according to new research from Dynamic Logic. The research reveals that a single exposure to an audio/video ad increased brand awareness by 10 percentage points over a controlled group of consumers who were not exposed to any ads"
"Online ads that use audio and video are better for branding than ads that use more static formats, according to new research from Dynamic Logic. The research reveals that a single exposure to an audio/video ad increased brand awareness by 10 percentage points over a controlled group of consumers who were not exposed to any ads"
Online business directories must include ratings, reviews for success
MediaDailyNews
A a new report by The Kelsey Group underlines the importance of enabling user reviews: "Including reviews in business listings are also a good way to build consumer loyalty--provided the publishers don't attempt to manipulate consumer discussions..."Word of mouth is also the most effective source of leads for local businesses," Sterling ( editor and program director of The Kelsey Group) added. Including reviews in business listings are also a good way to build consumer loyalty--provided the publishers don't attempt to manipulate consumer discussions, said Sterling"
A a new report by The Kelsey Group underlines the importance of enabling user reviews: "Including reviews in business listings are also a good way to build consumer loyalty--provided the publishers don't attempt to manipulate consumer discussions..."Word of mouth is also the most effective source of leads for local businesses," Sterling ( editor and program director of The Kelsey Group) added. Including reviews in business listings are also a good way to build consumer loyalty--provided the publishers don't attempt to manipulate consumer discussions, said Sterling"
Travelzoo subscriber base growth
eyefortravel.com
"Travelzoo, internet publisher of travel offers available directly from hundreds of travel companies, has stated that its publications now reach more than 8 million subscribers. This represents a 31% increase over the 6.1 million subscribers that the organisation counted a year ago."
Article also states that in their emails and alerts "Travelzoo provides information on travel deals from more than 300 companies. The organisation stresses that its information is timely, accurate and valuable. It adds that at the time of publication, it independently test-books all deals to ensure that offers are legitimate and available."
"Travelzoo, internet publisher of travel offers available directly from hundreds of travel companies, has stated that its publications now reach more than 8 million subscribers. This represents a 31% increase over the 6.1 million subscribers that the organisation counted a year ago."
Article also states that in their emails and alerts "Travelzoo provides information on travel deals from more than 300 companies. The organisation stresses that its information is timely, accurate and valuable. It adds that at the time of publication, it independently test-books all deals to ensure that offers are legitimate and available."
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Expedia's User Experience Tops Competition
Forrester Research:
"Conclusion only available - US$195.00
Using Forrester's Web Site Review methodology, we evaluated three popular travel sites: Expedia, Travelocity.com, and Orbitz. Based on our analysis, Expedia passed the largest number of criteria and Orbitz.com needs the biggest makeover."
"Conclusion only available - US$195.00
Using Forrester's Web Site Review methodology, we evaluated three popular travel sites: Expedia, Travelocity.com, and Orbitz. Based on our analysis, Expedia passed the largest number of criteria and Orbitz.com needs the biggest makeover."
Friday, December 17, 2004
TV discounting push starts Christmas Day
travelmole.com
"First Choice has broken cover with details of its 2005 discounting campaign with TV advertising to break on Christmas Day." The article gives outline of the campaign....
"First Choice has broken cover with details of its 2005 discounting campaign with TV advertising to break on Christmas Day." The article gives outline of the campaign....
Search engines and travel portals boost travel website traffic
travelmole.com gives highlights from the most recent Hitwise report:
Search engines and travel industry portals are becoming of growing importance as access points to agency websites.
Latest clickstream data from online research firm Hitwise shows that the top four referring sites belong to search engines including Google UK, Google, Ask Jeeves UK and MSN.co.uk Search.
UK-based travel search engine Cheapflights.co.uk is rated as the fifth most popular referring site, providiing almost one per cent of traffic to travel agency websites.This is described by Hitwise as a “significant proportion” given the dominance of search engines in providing traffic to the travel industry.
Hitwise industry data for the four weeks to December 10 shows that search engines referred 36% of “upstream” traffic to travel agencies’ websites.
The top no-frills airline site was EasyJet in seventh place, while Thomson Holidays came in at 11th place, ahead of lastminute.com and British Airways.
Hitwise also found that visits to travel industry websites grew by 27% in the 12 months from November 2003. Traffic to travel websites in November accounted for 3.4% of all UK online traffic.
Search engines and travel industry portals are becoming of growing importance as access points to agency websites.
Latest clickstream data from online research firm Hitwise shows that the top four referring sites belong to search engines including Google UK, Google, Ask Jeeves UK and MSN.co.uk Search.
UK-based travel search engine Cheapflights.co.uk is rated as the fifth most popular referring site, providiing almost one per cent of traffic to travel agency websites.This is described by Hitwise as a “significant proportion” given the dominance of search engines in providing traffic to the travel industry.
Hitwise industry data for the four weeks to December 10 shows that search engines referred 36% of “upstream” traffic to travel agencies’ websites.
The top no-frills airline site was EasyJet in seventh place, while Thomson Holidays came in at 11th place, ahead of lastminute.com and British Airways.
Hitwise also found that visits to travel industry websites grew by 27% in the 12 months from November 2003. Traffic to travel websites in November accounted for 3.4% of all UK online traffic.
Sandals rebranding details
:: Travel Weekly ::
"Sandals Resorts launched a multimillion-dollar rebranding initiative designed to redefine the firms all-inclusive position in a crowded marketplace...
Campaign components include:
New advertising, billboards and collateral materials that include a 192-page brochure.
Newly branded Red Lane Spas that offer special treatments, including couples’ massages en suite or on the beach.
The launch of the Butler Service next month in the top-suite category at Sandals and Beaches resorts."
"Sandals Resorts launched a multimillion-dollar rebranding initiative designed to redefine the firms all-inclusive position in a crowded marketplace...
Campaign components include:
New advertising, billboards and collateral materials that include a 192-page brochure.
Newly branded Red Lane Spas that offer special treatments, including couples’ massages en suite or on the beach.
The launch of the Butler Service next month in the top-suite category at Sandals and Beaches resorts."
Cendant deals details $$$
:: Travel Weekly ::
Cendant "agreed to acquire U.K.-based wholesaler Gullivers Travel Associates for $1.1 billion in cash.That comes on top of Cendant’s recent acquisition of Orbitz for $1.25 billion and Cendant’s pending purchase of ebookers for $329.6 million.
The three purchases give Cendant major footholds as an intermediary in the U.S., Europe and Asia, as well as a strong presence as a wholesaler...
Gullivers wholesales hotels, destination services, packages and group tours. Although it sells in Europe and throughout the world, Gullivers largest outbound market is Asia, including Japan, China and Hong Kong.
Cendant said the Gullivers takeover is the final piece in its distribution strategy -- so don’t expect growth-through acquisition to be an ongoing tactic."
Really?
Cendant "agreed to acquire U.K.-based wholesaler Gullivers Travel Associates for $1.1 billion in cash.That comes on top of Cendant’s recent acquisition of Orbitz for $1.25 billion and Cendant’s pending purchase of ebookers for $329.6 million.
The three purchases give Cendant major footholds as an intermediary in the U.S., Europe and Asia, as well as a strong presence as a wholesaler...
Gullivers wholesales hotels, destination services, packages and group tours. Although it sells in Europe and throughout the world, Gullivers largest outbound market is Asia, including Japan, China and Hong Kong.
Cendant said the Gullivers takeover is the final piece in its distribution strategy -- so don’t expect growth-through acquisition to be an ongoing tactic."
Really?
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Sstreet by street in London -bars restaurants etc
Street Sensation! - The liveliest streets in London: "London's favourite streets. Entire streetscapes showing over 3000 shops, bars and restaurants in the liveliest areas of London - Oxford Street and Regent Street; Portobello Road and Notting Hill; the King's Road in Chelsea; Carnaby Street; Covent Garden, Bond Street; Knightsbridge; Soho and Chinatown; Islington and Camden"
More details re Cendant
eyefortravel.com
"GTA will form part of Cendant’s Travel Distribution Services (TDS) division and will be run as a separate entity within the division. It is anticipated that key management of Gullivers, including David Babai, chairman, will remain with the company in similar capacities for a period of time...
...The transaction is subject to certain regulatory filings and is anticipated to close in April 2005."
"GTA will form part of Cendant’s Travel Distribution Services (TDS) division and will be run as a separate entity within the division. It is anticipated that key management of Gullivers, including David Babai, chairman, will remain with the company in similar capacities for a period of time...
...The transaction is subject to certain regulatory filings and is anticipated to close in April 2005."
usage of online travel sites up 13 percent in November, (USA)
Reuters.co.uk
"Nearly one in four Americans, or 68 million Web surfers, used online travel sites in November, up 13 percent from a year earlier, Nielsen//NetRatings says.The market research company said on Thursday 23 percent of Americans and 46 percent of all active Web surfers visited a travel site during the month.
Online consumers spent $919 million (470.5 million pounds) on travel during November, up 11 percent from the $828 million spent a year earlier, according to the Holiday eSpending Report by Goldman Sachs, Harris Interactive and Nielsen//NetRatings.
In November, MapQuest, part of Time Warner, ranked No. 1 in online travel destinations with 31 million unique visitors, while Expedia, owned by IAC/InterActiveCorp, followed with 14 million visitors, the market research showed. Travelocity, owned by Sabre Holdings, drew 11 million online surfers, while Orbitz, a unit of Cendant, and Southwest Airlines rounded out the top five online travel destinations with 11 million and 7 million unique visitors, respectively."
"Nearly one in four Americans, or 68 million Web surfers, used online travel sites in November, up 13 percent from a year earlier, Nielsen//NetRatings says.The market research company said on Thursday 23 percent of Americans and 46 percent of all active Web surfers visited a travel site during the month.
Online consumers spent $919 million (470.5 million pounds) on travel during November, up 11 percent from the $828 million spent a year earlier, according to the Holiday eSpending Report by Goldman Sachs, Harris Interactive and Nielsen//NetRatings.
In November, MapQuest, part of Time Warner, ranked No. 1 in online travel destinations with 31 million unique visitors, while Expedia, owned by IAC/InterActiveCorp, followed with 14 million visitors, the market research showed. Travelocity, owned by Sabre Holdings, drew 11 million online surfers, while Orbitz, a unit of Cendant, and Southwest Airlines rounded out the top five online travel destinations with 11 million and 7 million unique visitors, respectively."
Cendant acquires Gullivers/OctopusTravel.com - 16-Dec-04.
Travelmole
"US travel giant Cendant has continued its rapid expansion by acquiring Gullivers Travel Associates and online arm OctopusTravel.com.
The deal comes shortly after the purchase of ebookers and the acquisition of Ramada.
Gullivers chairman David Babai said: "I have no doubt that the partnership with Cendant will create a new and formidable force in the travel distribution business which will change the face of tourism as we know it"
"US travel giant Cendant has continued its rapid expansion by acquiring Gullivers Travel Associates and online arm OctopusTravel.com.
The deal comes shortly after the purchase of ebookers and the acquisition of Ramada.
Gullivers chairman David Babai said: "I have no doubt that the partnership with Cendant will create a new and formidable force in the travel distribution business which will change the face of tourism as we know it"
Internet hits package holiday firms :: Xmas online retail boom
This is Money
>> "....since the advent of the internet and budget airlines, increasing numbers shun such organised vacations and make their own plans
>>According to retail analysts Mintel, Britons will book about 24m independent holidays this year - 55% of the market
>>This is a rise of 60% since 1998, with spending more than doubled to an estimated £11.7bn
>>Mintel predicts that such spending on independent holidays will rocket to £21bn within five years
>>The web and cheap fares have also brought a boom in short breaks, again widening horizons"
Combine the above findings and predictions with the online retail boom this Christmas and the future for internet travel looks even more promising.
This is Money report that:
SHOPPERS are abandoning the High Street in record numbers. Figures released today show that 18m Britons are set to spend a record £4bn shopping online this Christmas, while £40bn is expected to be spent in stores over the same period...A recent study by psychologist Dr David Lewis found High Street trips more than twice as stressful as online shopping. He said: 'We've found heart rate and blood pressure among some consumers similar to combat pilots and riot police.'
>> "....since the advent of the internet and budget airlines, increasing numbers shun such organised vacations and make their own plans
>>According to retail analysts Mintel, Britons will book about 24m independent holidays this year - 55% of the market
>>This is a rise of 60% since 1998, with spending more than doubled to an estimated £11.7bn
>>Mintel predicts that such spending on independent holidays will rocket to £21bn within five years
>>The web and cheap fares have also brought a boom in short breaks, again widening horizons"
Combine the above findings and predictions with the online retail boom this Christmas and the future for internet travel looks even more promising.
This is Money report that:
SHOPPERS are abandoning the High Street in record numbers. Figures released today show that 18m Britons are set to spend a record £4bn shopping online this Christmas, while £40bn is expected to be spent in stores over the same period...A recent study by psychologist Dr David Lewis found High Street trips more than twice as stressful as online shopping. He said: 'We've found heart rate and blood pressure among some consumers similar to combat pilots and riot police.'
Yahoo! Adds Traffic Updates To Search
Forbes.com
"Yahoo! will launch a new, locally oriented search intended to offer consumers updated traffic-condition updates from around the U.S...Initially, the service will be integrated into Yahoo's main Web search section as well as on its Yahoo! Local and Yahoo! Maps sections. Plans include adapting the service to work with wireless devices, the company says...
"We've worked with a wide range of information providers," he says. "All the information is taken from the original source and then processed and then presented." Users can search for information relatively simply, by entering the name of the city with the word "traffic" into a general search, which will take them to the relevant traffic map, complete with the live conditions.
Nielsen NetRatings says online map usage has grown 60% during the last two years."
Article details other traffic information services including XM Satellite Radio's and Sirius Satellite Radio .
"Yahoo! will launch a new, locally oriented search intended to offer consumers updated traffic-condition updates from around the U.S...Initially, the service will be integrated into Yahoo's main Web search section as well as on its Yahoo! Local and Yahoo! Maps sections. Plans include adapting the service to work with wireless devices, the company says...
"We've worked with a wide range of information providers," he says. "All the information is taken from the original source and then processed and then presented." Users can search for information relatively simply, by entering the name of the city with the word "traffic" into a general search, which will take them to the relevant traffic map, complete with the live conditions.
Nielsen NetRatings says online map usage has grown 60% during the last two years."
Article details other traffic information services including XM Satellite Radio's and Sirius Satellite Radio .
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Priceline.com's Hotel Service Achieves Milestone
Internet Travel News
"Priceline.com said today that it has sold a total of more than 20 million hotel room nights since launching its first Internet hotel reservation service in October 1998...
In 2005, priceline.com said it will begin integrating its various hotel reservation options so that customers will have a choice - they can pick the exact hotel property they want at specially discounted published prices or, for greater savings, they can use priceline.com's Name Your Own Price option.
Priceline.com's Name Your Own Price hotel service is different from other hotel reservation services. Customers choose the dates, the neighborhood, the star level hotel they want and the price they want to pay. Priceline.com then works to find a hotel willing to sell a room at the customer's desired price. Priceline.com customers using this option are able to save up to 40% or more over the published prices found on other major travel reservation services."
"Priceline.com said today that it has sold a total of more than 20 million hotel room nights since launching its first Internet hotel reservation service in October 1998...
In 2005, priceline.com said it will begin integrating its various hotel reservation options so that customers will have a choice - they can pick the exact hotel property they want at specially discounted published prices or, for greater savings, they can use priceline.com's Name Your Own Price option.
Priceline.com's Name Your Own Price hotel service is different from other hotel reservation services. Customers choose the dates, the neighborhood, the star level hotel they want and the price they want to pay. Priceline.com then works to find a hotel willing to sell a room at the customer's desired price. Priceline.com customers using this option are able to save up to 40% or more over the published prices found on other major travel reservation services."
Tourist boards at last reach agreement - 15-Dec-04.
Tourist boards at last reach agreement - 15-Dec-04.: "The major UK tourist boards and motoring organisations have at last reached agreement on how to grade accommodation after decades of arguing about the ratings for hotels and guesthouses...
It’s the first time agreement on ratings has been reached since the classification of properties began in the 1960s. A formal announcement of the details is expected in mid-January and the new assessment of properties will begin in April.
Under the current system, VisitBritain, the RAC and AA rate properties according to their facilities, while VisitScotland and the Wales Tourist Board also take into account the ambience and service offered. "
It’s the first time agreement on ratings has been reached since the classification of properties began in the 1960s. A formal announcement of the details is expected in mid-January and the new assessment of properties will begin in April.
Under the current system, VisitBritain, the RAC and AA rate properties according to their facilities, while VisitScotland and the Wales Tourist Board also take into account the ambience and service offered. "
Travelocity powers Amex consumer site
:: Travel Weekly - Dennis Schaal reports that "American Express is playing the online leisure-travel card, coming to a strategic agreement with Travelocity to have the Sabre unit power air, car, hotel and dynamic packages on American Express’ existing consumer Web site.
Travelocity, which provides similar functions for Yahoo, AOL and AARP, is furnishing American Express with a private-label version of its booking engine for the American Express site at www.americanexpress.com/travel."
Travelocity, which provides similar functions for Yahoo, AOL and AARP, is furnishing American Express with a private-label version of its booking engine for the American Express site at www.americanexpress.com/travel."
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Branson ticked off for “wing-walking" stunt - in the news again
Travelmole
Sir Richard Branson has once again stirred up some controversy – this time by walking out on to the wing of an aircraft, clutching a surfboard.
Sir Richard Branson has once again stirred up some controversy – this time by walking out on to the wing of an aircraft, clutching a surfboard.
Coast Casinos Direct Connects to Expedia and Hotels.com
Internet Travel News
"Coast Casinos became the first hotel chain to install Expedia's direct connect interface into its Hotel Information Systems epitome for iSeries property management system (PMS). The technology streamlines the reservations process for more than 30,000 bookings made annually on Expedia across all four Coast Casinos properties in Las Vegas. "
"Coast Casinos became the first hotel chain to install Expedia's direct connect interface into its Hotel Information Systems epitome for iSeries property management system (PMS). The technology streamlines the reservations process for more than 30,000 bookings made annually on Expedia across all four Coast Casinos properties in Las Vegas. "
AIG Europe sole provider for ebookers.coms range of travel insurance
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
"AIG Europe (UK) Limited, has been reappointed as sole provider to ebookers.coms range of travel insurance products, following a competitive tender...the company has been appointed to provide insurance to the two other brands within the ebookers UK Group: Travelbag and Bridge the World.
ebookers.com, Travelbag and Bridge the World have an extensive product range, with particular expertise in mid and long-haul travel. Holiday and business travel insurance has become an important part of their product range and their comprehensive cover includes single trip, annual, multi-trip, gap year, winter sports and adventure sports
"
"AIG Europe (UK) Limited, has been reappointed as sole provider to ebookers.coms range of travel insurance products, following a competitive tender...the company has been appointed to provide insurance to the two other brands within the ebookers UK Group: Travelbag and Bridge the World.
ebookers.com, Travelbag and Bridge the World have an extensive product range, with particular expertise in mid and long-haul travel. Holiday and business travel insurance has become an important part of their product range and their comprehensive cover includes single trip, annual, multi-trip, gap year, winter sports and adventure sports
"
easyJetHotels launch
eyefortravel.com
"easyJet, Europe's leading low cost airline, has teamed up with Hotelopia the online hotel booking service, specialising in great value hotel rates to launch easyJetHotels... combines Hotelopia's low cost operating model with easyJet's 24 million passenger volume to deliver a simple, quick and easy option for customers looking for best priced accommodation online.
People can now book accommodation in all easyJet destinations and beyond if they wish with more than 500 destinations being covered altogether. The service offers multiple meal plan options and family suited services across a selection of over 10,000 hotels. easyJetHotels will increasingly provide useful and important hotel information, area information, destination guides and points of interest on key locations."
"easyJet, Europe's leading low cost airline, has teamed up with Hotelopia the online hotel booking service, specialising in great value hotel rates to launch easyJetHotels... combines Hotelopia's low cost operating model with easyJet's 24 million passenger volume to deliver a simple, quick and easy option for customers looking for best priced accommodation online.
People can now book accommodation in all easyJet destinations and beyond if they wish with more than 500 destinations being covered altogether. The service offers multiple meal plan options and family suited services across a selection of over 10,000 hotels. easyJetHotels will increasingly provide useful and important hotel information, area information, destination guides and points of interest on key locations."
More re Asia
eyefortravel.com
"Online hotel sites operating across Asia have emerged as a legitimate distribution channel rather than a dumping ground for distressed inventory.
For example, revenue per available room (revPAR) for the InterContinental Hotels Group across the Asia-Pacific increased by 51.8 per cent in the 10 months to October 31. Further evidence of the bounce, albeit from a low base, can also be found in the Hotel Benchmark Survey by Deloitte, which revealed that revPAR across the region for the first six months of this year was up 41 per cent over the same period in 2003"
"Online hotel sites operating across Asia have emerged as a legitimate distribution channel rather than a dumping ground for distressed inventory.
For example, revenue per available room (revPAR) for the InterContinental Hotels Group across the Asia-Pacific increased by 51.8 per cent in the 10 months to October 31. Further evidence of the bounce, albeit from a low base, can also be found in the Hotel Benchmark Survey by Deloitte, which revealed that revPAR across the region for the first six months of this year was up 41 per cent over the same period in 2003"
Sabre acquire SynXis to extend hotel distribution
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
"Sabre to acquire SynXis to broaden hotel distribution capabilities
The $40 million cash transaction is expected to be neutral to Sabre Holdings earnings per share on an adjusted basis in 2005 and slightly dilutive on a GAAP basis in 2005 due to the amortization of certain intangibles. The proposed transaction is expected to generate tax deductions that will effectively reduce Sabre’s cost of the acquisition by approximately $6 million, to approximately $34 million. "
"Sabre to acquire SynXis to broaden hotel distribution capabilities
The $40 million cash transaction is expected to be neutral to Sabre Holdings earnings per share on an adjusted basis in 2005 and slightly dilutive on a GAAP basis in 2005 due to the amortization of certain intangibles. The proposed transaction is expected to generate tax deductions that will effectively reduce Sabre’s cost of the acquisition by approximately $6 million, to approximately $34 million. "
Nielsen//NetRatings� Week in Review (11/28/04)
iMediaConnection: Nielsen//NetRatings Week in Review (11/28/04)
"Top 10 Travel Advertisers
Company Impressions (000)
Orbitz 291,958
Cendant Corporation 81,395
InterActiveCorp 75,745
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. 72,317
Delta Air Lines, Inc 71,119
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide 23,256
Hilton Hotels Corporation 22,510
Hyatt Hotels Corporation 20,271
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 17,084
InterContinental Hotels GroupPLC 16,257
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings AdRelevance
Week ending November 28, 2004, U.S., Home and Work
Note: All online advertising data excludes house ads, which are advertisements run on an advertiser's own Web property."
"Top 10 Travel Advertisers
Company Impressions (000)
Orbitz 291,958
Cendant Corporation 81,395
InterActiveCorp 75,745
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. 72,317
Delta Air Lines, Inc 71,119
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide 23,256
Hilton Hotels Corporation 22,510
Hyatt Hotels Corporation 20,271
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 17,084
InterContinental Hotels GroupPLC 16,257
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings AdRelevance
Week ending November 28, 2004, U.S., Home and Work
Note: All online advertising data excludes house ads, which are advertisements run on an advertiser's own Web property."
Asia Pacific next sweet spot for online travel market
iMediaConnection: Up, Up and Away for ZUJI
"Online travel is becoming a big industry in Asia Pacific, and ZUJI.com is leading the way. "
"Online travel is becoming a big industry in Asia Pacific, and ZUJI.com is leading the way. "
Travelocity unfair advantage by lower fees for IHG brands
:: Travel Weekly ::
"Travelocity charges consumers lower service fees when they book merchant inventory from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) brands than for any other chain or property, Travel Weekly has learned. This appears to put other hotels at a competitive disadvantage...
Detailing service fees is a flash point in IHG's certification of third-party distributors because IHG demands pricing parity and transparency."
Article details continuing saga of IHG certification & online travel industry.
"Travelocity charges consumers lower service fees when they book merchant inventory from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) brands than for any other chain or property, Travel Weekly has learned. This appears to put other hotels at a competitive disadvantage...
Detailing service fees is a flash point in IHG's certification of third-party distributors because IHG demands pricing parity and transparency."
Article details continuing saga of IHG certification & online travel industry.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Cendant acquire Ramada International Hotels
:: Travel Weekly :: Cendant Corp.’s Hotel Group completed its acquisition of Ramada International Hotels & Resorts from Marriott International. Financial details were not disclosed.
Internet Travel News - Travelers Advantage Delivers Lower Online Prices
Internet Travel News - Travelers Advantage Delivers Lower Online Prices: "Travelers Advantage delivered a lower online price for travel to 50 top destinations nine out of 10 times when compared to Priceline, Expedia, and Travelocity, the membership-based travel service said today. Travelers Advantage based the claim on a 48-week comparison, through November 2004, of total air transportation costs for round trip flights between more than 50 frequently booked pairs of cities...
Travelers Advantage Vice President Julia Ryan. "Each week we compared ourselves to Priceline, Expedia, and Travelocity for travel between cities that include New York and London; Denver and Los Angeles; Los Angeles and Denver; Newark, N.J. and Las Vegas; and Newark and Orlando, Fla.
"Our price comparison is based on the actual price consumers pay," she added. "We included airport fees, taxes and other fees as well as the service fees imposed by the competing travel agencies to present an accurate comparison of the full cost of flying between two cities." "
Travelers Advantage Vice President Julia Ryan. "Each week we compared ourselves to Priceline, Expedia, and Travelocity for travel between cities that include New York and London; Denver and Los Angeles; Los Angeles and Denver; Newark, N.J. and Las Vegas; and Newark and Orlando, Fla.
"Our price comparison is based on the actual price consumers pay," she added. "We included airport fees, taxes and other fees as well as the service fees imposed by the competing travel agencies to present an accurate comparison of the full cost of flying between two cities." "
Visit London survey findings
travmedia.com
"A new survey published today by Visit London reveals what overseas visitors really think about London.Contrary to popular belief, eight in ten visitors find Londoners very friendly or friendly (compared to 75% in 2002 - Londoners are getting friendlier!)
Other findings in the survey include:-
When planning and booking holidays to London, the Internet is overseas visitors’ main source of information, with over half of people preferring to surf the net rather than just 17% who go to a local travel agent.
London’s newest attractions are making a big impact on overseas visitors. The second most recognised of a list of attractions in London after the Tower of London was the Tate Modern (66%). Visitors are also venturing out of the central area more. Three quarters went to the South Bank and Bankside, 30% explored Greenwich, 18% visited Richmond and the Docklands and Wimbledon were on the itinerary of 17% of overseas visitors.
Clothing and shoes are the most popular purchases of visitors from Europe (45%) and the Far East (44%), whereas North Americans prefer to buy souvenirs of London (30%) and speciality British foods (41%). North Americans are also the most likely to be shipping china and glass home (15%) than any other visitors, whilst Europeans are the most likely to be found prowling the music stores for CDs (25%).
92% of visitors spoken to during the summer said that they felt “very/fairly safe’ in London, which compares favourably to the 79% visitor response to the same question in summer 2002. Of those visitors able to make a comparison, over two-thirds (69%) also said that they felt safer in London than Los Angeles and 57% than in New York. Almost 90% of visitors felt safer, or as safe, in London as they did in Rome or in Paris."
"A new survey published today by Visit London reveals what overseas visitors really think about London.Contrary to popular belief, eight in ten visitors find Londoners very friendly or friendly (compared to 75% in 2002 - Londoners are getting friendlier!)
Other findings in the survey include:-
When planning and booking holidays to London, the Internet is overseas visitors’ main source of information, with over half of people preferring to surf the net rather than just 17% who go to a local travel agent.
London’s newest attractions are making a big impact on overseas visitors. The second most recognised of a list of attractions in London after the Tower of London was the Tate Modern (66%). Visitors are also venturing out of the central area more. Three quarters went to the South Bank and Bankside, 30% explored Greenwich, 18% visited Richmond and the Docklands and Wimbledon were on the itinerary of 17% of overseas visitors.
Clothing and shoes are the most popular purchases of visitors from Europe (45%) and the Far East (44%), whereas North Americans prefer to buy souvenirs of London (30%) and speciality British foods (41%). North Americans are also the most likely to be shipping china and glass home (15%) than any other visitors, whilst Europeans are the most likely to be found prowling the music stores for CDs (25%).
92% of visitors spoken to during the summer said that they felt “very/fairly safe’ in London, which compares favourably to the 79% visitor response to the same question in summer 2002. Of those visitors able to make a comparison, over two-thirds (69%) also said that they felt safer in London than Los Angeles and 57% than in New York. Almost 90% of visitors felt safer, or as safe, in London as they did in Rome or in Paris."
EnglandNet to become part of VisitBritain
travmedia.com: "Significant changes to the ownership, governance and strategic direction of the EnglandNet project were announced by VisitBritain chief executive, Tom Wright...
Within the new structure, EnglandNet can be fully focused on developing interoperability, delivering rich and inspirational content to consumer websites, displaying booking availability and passing potential customers on to the industry to take bookings.
EnglandNet will continue as a distinct, priority project and a Programme Board will be established comprising representatives from VisitBritain, RDAs, regional delivery partners and the industry, and chaired by John Govett, who also sits on the England Marketing Advisory Board. The Programme Board will work on future strategy including opportunities for additional marketing support and how these are funded.
As is already the case, EnglandNet will not be an agent of sale, consolidator or operator. In addition, VisitBritain and the RDAs have agreed that VisitBritain will not provide transactional capabilities as a service to the industry. Those elements of the industry who desire a transactional model can source these from the private sector in order to make product bookable through the growing number of distribution deals that VisitBritain will facilitate."
Within the new structure, EnglandNet can be fully focused on developing interoperability, delivering rich and inspirational content to consumer websites, displaying booking availability and passing potential customers on to the industry to take bookings.
EnglandNet will continue as a distinct, priority project and a Programme Board will be established comprising representatives from VisitBritain, RDAs, regional delivery partners and the industry, and chaired by John Govett, who also sits on the England Marketing Advisory Board. The Programme Board will work on future strategy including opportunities for additional marketing support and how these are funded.
As is already the case, EnglandNet will not be an agent of sale, consolidator or operator. In addition, VisitBritain and the RDAs have agreed that VisitBritain will not provide transactional capabilities as a service to the industry. Those elements of the industry who desire a transactional model can source these from the private sector in order to make product bookable through the growing number of distribution deals that VisitBritain will facilitate."
Packages added to Tourism Australia Web site
Travel Weekly reports that a number of packages have been added to the Tourism Australia Web site. They are targeted at US market and include Qantas flights to Australia, domestic air in Australia, transfers and accommodations. Booking is by email rather than on site.
JetBlue To Leave Sabre GDS
BTN Online
"JetBlue Airways as of Jan. 1 no longer will make its content available in the Sabre global distribution system. Both parties today confirmed the decision, which would make the low-cost carrier's distribution completely dependent on online channels. "
"Five years ago, we were not convinced the entire market was ready for just dot-com and online distribution," director of sales Courtney-Wilds said, "and all along we maintained our presence in Sabre to keep our toe in the corporate market. Now, we don't need to be widely available in Sabre. Everyone is realizing that there will never be one single channel where you can reach every supplier."
"JetBlue's content will be available strictly through a variety of direct channels including its Web site-which handles nearly 80 percent of all bookings and now links to the CompanyBlue corporate portal-and corporate online booking tools such as KDS and Outtask's Cliqbook. The airline also is available through travel agencies that use such content aggregators as AgentWare (BTN, Oct. 7, 2002) and BookingBuilder (BTN, Oct. 18). Expedia Corporate Travel also offers JetBlue content."
Will other Airlines follow this tactic?
"JetBlue Airways as of Jan. 1 no longer will make its content available in the Sabre global distribution system. Both parties today confirmed the decision, which would make the low-cost carrier's distribution completely dependent on online channels. "
"Five years ago, we were not convinced the entire market was ready for just dot-com and online distribution," director of sales Courtney-Wilds said, "and all along we maintained our presence in Sabre to keep our toe in the corporate market. Now, we don't need to be widely available in Sabre. Everyone is realizing that there will never be one single channel where you can reach every supplier."
"JetBlue's content will be available strictly through a variety of direct channels including its Web site-which handles nearly 80 percent of all bookings and now links to the CompanyBlue corporate portal-and corporate online booking tools such as KDS and Outtask's Cliqbook. The airline also is available through travel agencies that use such content aggregators as AgentWare (BTN, Oct. 7, 2002) and BookingBuilder (BTN, Oct. 18). Expedia Corporate Travel also offers JetBlue content."
Will other Airlines follow this tactic?
Friday, December 10, 2004
Travel Manament Cos must face challenge of online bookings -
Travelmole
The growth of online bookings will be the biggest challenge and opportunity for travel management companies in 2005.
“There are big savings to be made through online bookings but our members are taking a responsible, realistic view. Corporates use travel management companies precisely because we can offer a level of service that is beyond even the most sophisticated technologies.”
Other trends for next year identified by the GBTA include:
*An increase in rail travel bookings, possibly at the expense of car rental.
*Greater focus by TMCs on winning business from small and medium-sized companies.
*Growth in short-haul travel volumes.
*An even greater emphasis on staff training.
“The general consensus seems to be that travel volumes will continue to rise in 2005,” said Mr Carlisle. “But members also agree that their corporate clients will still be keeping a close eye on costs.”
The growth of online bookings will be the biggest challenge and opportunity for travel management companies in 2005.
“There are big savings to be made through online bookings but our members are taking a responsible, realistic view. Corporates use travel management companies precisely because we can offer a level of service that is beyond even the most sophisticated technologies.”
Other trends for next year identified by the GBTA include:
*An increase in rail travel bookings, possibly at the expense of car rental.
*Greater focus by TMCs on winning business from small and medium-sized companies.
*Growth in short-haul travel volumes.
*An even greater emphasis on staff training.
“The general consensus seems to be that travel volumes will continue to rise in 2005,” said Mr Carlisle. “But members also agree that their corporate clients will still be keeping a close eye on costs.”
‘Death of the Package Holiday’,
Dynamic packaging can leave clients in the cold - TTA conference report both sides of the debate....
New Shakespeare attraction
travmedia.com: "Shakespearience, a dynamic new visitor attraction based at Waterside Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire has opened to the public."
BA Manage My Booking to handle over 75% of booking changes
travmedia.com
"The new function on the airline’s website, ba.com, enables customers to change the date or time of their flight, upgrade class of travel and cancel and arrange a refund of their tickets. Any costs for changes are calculated instantly and are completely transparent.
Passengers can also use the system, called Manage My Booking, to a view their travel itinerary, make seat and meal requests, check in on-line and print their own boarding pass from selected airports.
“Worldwide 2.5 million changes are made after bookings are ticketed and ba.com aims to handle over 75% of these, freeing up our customer service staff to focus on more complex customer requests.”
"The new function on the airline’s website, ba.com, enables customers to change the date or time of their flight, upgrade class of travel and cancel and arrange a refund of their tickets. Any costs for changes are calculated instantly and are completely transparent.
Passengers can also use the system, called Manage My Booking, to a view their travel itinerary, make seat and meal requests, check in on-line and print their own boarding pass from selected airports.
“Worldwide 2.5 million changes are made after bookings are ticketed and ba.com aims to handle over 75% of these, freeing up our customer service staff to focus on more complex customer requests.”
Cheapflights.com enters Hitwise top 10
Hospitality 1st reports: "Cheapflights.com, the leading aggregator for discount air deals and bargain airfares from the widest range of sources, announced it recently entered the ranks of the top 20 most visited U.S. travel agency web sites, according to Hitwise...
Cheapflights.com entered the U.S. market in 2003 after Cheapflights.co.uk established itself as one of the U.K.’s top 10 travel web sites. Cheapflights.com’s online search engine assembles airline inventory from over hundreds of consolidators, specialists, and other travel websites and low-fare airlines, such as Southwest and Jetblue. Cheapflights Ltd. was recently awarded the U.K.’s Regional National Business Award for Growth Strategy of the Year."
Cheapflights.com entered the U.S. market in 2003 after Cheapflights.co.uk established itself as one of the U.K.’s top 10 travel web sites. Cheapflights.com’s online search engine assembles airline inventory from over hundreds of consolidators, specialists, and other travel websites and low-fare airlines, such as Southwest and Jetblue. Cheapflights Ltd. was recently awarded the U.K.’s Regional National Business Award for Growth Strategy of the Year."
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Expedia Adds New Ways to Help Customers Book
Internet Travel News
Expedia " has introduced three new online resources to help consumers research, evaluate, and confidently choose their next hotel or destination activity.
1) narrow down and prioritize hotels based on their amenities
2) review new online 'traveler opinions' that provide additional insight from customers who have stayed at that hotel
3) separate 'activities' tab to make it easier to book destination activities, attractions, and services "
Expedia " has introduced three new online resources to help consumers research, evaluate, and confidently choose their next hotel or destination activity.
1) narrow down and prioritize hotels based on their amenities
2) review new online 'traveler opinions' that provide additional insight from customers who have stayed at that hotel
3) separate 'activities' tab to make it easier to book destination activities, attractions, and services "
Travel Planning With MP3 Technology
Internet Travel News
"With the introduction of 'MPSee Ohio,' Ohio becomes the first state in the country to offer a travel tour program using the MP3 technology downloadable from its website, http://www.discoverohio.com/ ...
This is just the first of several MPSee Ohio projects on the drawing board for the upcoming year. The Division is currently developing audio tour programs for its Underground Railroad experience, presidential sites and outdoor adventure trails for biking and hiking."
"With the introduction of 'MPSee Ohio,' Ohio becomes the first state in the country to offer a travel tour program using the MP3 technology downloadable from its website, http://www.discoverohio.com/ ...
This is just the first of several MPSee Ohio projects on the drawing board for the upcoming year. The Division is currently developing audio tour programs for its Underground Railroad experience, presidential sites and outdoor adventure trails for biking and hiking."
Consumers to earn by introducing friends to Octopus Travel
They must have overheard me! Travelmole
Report: "Members who join the OctopusTravelCLUB earn two per cent commission (or £5 per £250 booking) if a friend books with the company"
Report: "Members who join the OctopusTravelCLUB earn two per cent commission (or £5 per £250 booking) if a friend books with the company"
Club 18-30 to launch dynamic packaging
Travelmole
"Travelink managing director David Jones agreed that operators were going to have to start selling their product differently.He said: 'There is growing demand for greater flexibility and this is not met by the traditional package model. So smart technology is leading the drive towards a more flexible Uber-package.'"
"Travelink managing director David Jones agreed that operators were going to have to start selling their product differently.He said: 'There is growing demand for greater flexibility and this is not met by the traditional package model. So smart technology is leading the drive towards a more flexible Uber-package.'"
Multimap provide mapping service for Moat House Hotels
eyefortravel.com
Moat House Hotels offers its "online customers detailed maps, with zoom in/out functionality, showing the exact location of its hotel"...users "hover to select one of the locations that subsequently appears on-screen to access details of the hotels at that location. Details provided include a brief description of the hotel, a 360-degree view of it, and full contact details. To see a scalable, easy-to-read map of the area, on which the exact location of the hotel is pinpointed with a red circle, users click on the “Local Map” link followed by the “View scalable map here” link. ...
Mirabel Smith, web site manager for Moat House Hotels, commented, “Feedback about the maps from our customers has been very positive, and the increase in online reservations that we’ve noted since the deployment of Multimap’s service shows that we made the right choice of mapping partner."
Moat House Hotels offers its "online customers detailed maps, with zoom in/out functionality, showing the exact location of its hotel"...users "hover to select one of the locations that subsequently appears on-screen to access details of the hotels at that location. Details provided include a brief description of the hotel, a 360-degree view of it, and full contact details. To see a scalable, easy-to-read map of the area, on which the exact location of the hotel is pinpointed with a red circle, users click on the “Local Map” link followed by the “View scalable map here” link. ...
Mirabel Smith, web site manager for Moat House Hotels, commented, “Feedback about the maps from our customers has been very positive, and the increase in online reservations that we’ve noted since the deployment of Multimap’s service shows that we made the right choice of mapping partner."
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "majority of consumers refuse to use the Internet to book holidays abroad with 66 per cent citing fear of credit/debit card fraud as one of the reasons...
The ClearCommerce survey also revealed that UK consumers are currently more likely to book a mini break to a European city online (88%) than a long-haul (16%) or adventure holiday (31%). Previous research from ClearCommerce indicated the same trends in 2002 (city break: 67%, long-haul: 22% adventure holiday: 20%)."
The ClearCommerce survey also revealed that UK consumers are currently more likely to book a mini break to a European city online (88%) than a long-haul (16%) or adventure holiday (31%). Previous research from ClearCommerce indicated the same trends in 2002 (city break: 67%, long-haul: 22% adventure holiday: 20%)."
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Dynamic packaging to be the killer app for the travel industry?
Travel Daily News
"a single technology has surfaced as the killer app for the leisure travel industry: dynamic packaging. To reach its true potential, the underlying technology for dynamic packaging must evolve to support a new, `just-in-time,` Internet-based leisure distribution platform...Creating the next generation dynamic packaging engine represents a key battleground between the major online agencies."
The article debates the definition of "dynamic packaging" and states that Key features should be:
: Seamlessly connect to multiple sources of supply
: Manage "just-in-time" package creation through complex business logic
: Provide platform for consumers to create customized vacations online to fit personal preferences & reflect their value to suppliers & intermediaries.
"a single technology has surfaced as the killer app for the leisure travel industry: dynamic packaging. To reach its true potential, the underlying technology for dynamic packaging must evolve to support a new, `just-in-time,` Internet-based leisure distribution platform...Creating the next generation dynamic packaging engine represents a key battleground between the major online agencies."
The article debates the definition of "dynamic packaging" and states that Key features should be:
: Seamlessly connect to multiple sources of supply
: Manage "just-in-time" package creation through complex business logic
: Provide platform for consumers to create customized vacations online to fit personal preferences & reflect their value to suppliers & intermediaries.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
FT catches onto consolidation of online travel sector
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis reports: "Matthew Garrahan and Amy Yee, Financial Times Reporters, explain that Europe has now become the battle ground for US online travel operators looking for growth opportunities. “This is because online penetration in Europe is barely 10% compared with 30% in the US. Acquisition has become the preferred route for US operators trying to break into Europe because the continent is such a diverse market.”
European online travel is dominated by Expedia UK, Lastminute.com and ebookers. Expedia is apparently in the lead, but this position is expected to be challenged by Cendant's ebookers purchase."
European online travel is dominated by Expedia UK, Lastminute.com and ebookers. Expedia is apparently in the lead, but this position is expected to be challenged by Cendant's ebookers purchase."
Monday, December 06, 2004
VisitBritain marketing
traveldailynews details of branding and marketing campaigns aimed at luxury end of market.
Ski website launch by Eurostar
Travelmole reports on the main details of the Eurostar campaign: "The ski site provides information on the ski train and resorts served by Eurostar. A £99 return promotional fare is available to coincide with the site going live."
It would be interesting to track the use of paid online ads for this campaign.
It would be interesting to track the use of paid online ads for this campaign.
TUI implement Pegasus Solutions for internet hotel bookings
Travelmole
The TUI Hotel Portal "accesses Pegasus’ Online Distribution Database, which feeds more than 75,000 images and detailed property information to Pegasus’ Online Distribution Network." The portal launches with Marriott, Best Western and Intercontinental with other chains will be added later.
The TUI Hotel Portal "accesses Pegasus’ Online Distribution Database, which feeds more than 75,000 images and detailed property information to Pegasus’ Online Distribution Network." The portal launches with Marriott, Best Western and Intercontinental with other chains will be added later.
Priceline.com : IHG certified Travelweb as a distribution partner
Travel Weekly
Priceline.com bought the remaining shares it didn’t already own in Travelweb from the InterContinental Hotels Group for $4.1 million, and IHG certified Travelweb as a distribution partner...Priceline plans to use the hotel inventory it gets through Travelweb to roll out a “disclosed” -- not an opaque Name Your Own Price -- merchant hotel offering next year
Priceline.com bought the remaining shares it didn’t already own in Travelweb from the InterContinental Hotels Group for $4.1 million, and IHG certified Travelweb as a distribution partner...Priceline plans to use the hotel inventory it gets through Travelweb to roll out a “disclosed” -- not an opaque Name Your Own Price -- merchant hotel offering next year
UK`s Top Performing Hotel Markets
Travel Daily News
Heathrow and Gatwick are two of the top five markets in terms of revPAR growth inthe UK
Three cities in the North-East of England make up the second: Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle
The article examines the main features, strengths and weaknesses of each market concluding that regional UK growth is set to continue...with emerging destinations having the chance to out perform the more traditional markets.
Heathrow and Gatwick are two of the top five markets in terms of revPAR growth inthe UK
Three cities in the North-East of England make up the second: Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle
The article examines the main features, strengths and weaknesses of each market concluding that regional UK growth is set to continue...with emerging destinations having the chance to out perform the more traditional markets.
More on travel search engines...market share pros and cons
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
According to Hitwise mid-November 2004:
The top six travel search engines held a combined 0.42 percent share of all traffic to online travel sites
Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz held a combined 16 percent share of online travel traffic
SideStep disputes the Hitwise data as it underestimates the usage of its travel search engine because its users must download software to their computer desktop to find airfares
The article outlines the online travel industry "Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz have helped change the way people book travel by deploying sophisticated travel reservation systems that quote prices from most major airlines, hotels and rental car providers."
Phil Carpenter, SideStep's vice president of corporate marketing challenges "The online agencies really represented 'Travel 1.0' because they democratized the process of booking travel and made it available to all of us...The next generation is represented by the travel search engines. We're 'Travel 2.0.' "
According to Hitwise mid-November 2004:
The top six travel search engines held a combined 0.42 percent share of all traffic to online travel sites
Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz held a combined 16 percent share of online travel traffic
SideStep disputes the Hitwise data as it underestimates the usage of its travel search engine because its users must download software to their computer desktop to find airfares
The article outlines the online travel industry "Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz have helped change the way people book travel by deploying sophisticated travel reservation systems that quote prices from most major airlines, hotels and rental car providers."
Phil Carpenter, SideStep's vice president of corporate marketing challenges "The online agencies really represented 'Travel 1.0' because they democratized the process of booking travel and made it available to all of us...The next generation is represented by the travel search engines. We're 'Travel 2.0.' "
Friday, December 03, 2004
Cendant confirms £209m deal for Ebookers
FT.com
"The consolidation of the online travel sector intensified yesterday when Cendant, the world's largest travel group, made an agreed all-cash bid for Ebookers worth £209m." By Matthew Garrahan Published: December 3 2004 02:00 | Last updated: December 3 2004 02:00
Ebookers will join a growing UK portfolio of travel companies run by Cendant, including Travel 2/4 acquired last year.
Travelmole add backgound and details of other recent purchases.
"Ebookers will join a growing UK portfolio of travel companies run by Cendant, including Travel 2/4 acquired last year.
Cendant also purchased the largest US online firm Orbitz last month for $1.2 billion to add to Australian company Flairview Travel, which runs the HotelClub.com and RatesToGo.com online brands across14 countries. Cendant owns Galileo, Avis in the US, a range of hotel brands, timeshare company RCI and tour operators in the UK domestic and European package holiday sectors.
Cendant was believed to be up against Sabre to acquire ebookers, which will now become part of its Travel Distribution Services division but run as a separate entity."
Cendant also purchased the largest US online firm Orbitz last month for $1.2 billion to add to Australian company Flairview Travel, which runs the HotelClub.com and RatesToGo.com online brands across14 countries. Cendant owns Galileo, Avis in the US, a range of hotel brands, timeshare company RCI and tour operators in the UK domestic and European package holiday sectors.
Cendant was believed to be up against Sabre to acquire ebookers, which will now become part of its Travel Distribution Services division but run as a separate entity."
Analysis to be added...
"The consolidation of the online travel sector intensified yesterday when Cendant, the world's largest travel group, made an agreed all-cash bid for Ebookers worth £209m." By Matthew Garrahan Published: December 3 2004 02:00 | Last updated: December 3 2004 02:00
Ebookers will join a growing UK portfolio of travel companies run by Cendant, including Travel 2/4 acquired last year.
Travelmole add backgound and details of other recent purchases.
"Ebookers will join a growing UK portfolio of travel companies run by Cendant, including Travel 2/4 acquired last year.
Cendant also purchased the largest US online firm Orbitz last month for $1.2 billion to add to Australian company Flairview Travel, which runs the HotelClub.com and RatesToGo.com online brands across14 countries. Cendant owns Galileo, Avis in the US, a range of hotel brands, timeshare company RCI and tour operators in the UK domestic and European package holiday sectors.
Cendant was believed to be up against Sabre to acquire ebookers, which will now become part of its Travel Distribution Services division but run as a separate entity."
Cendant also purchased the largest US online firm Orbitz last month for $1.2 billion to add to Australian company Flairview Travel, which runs the HotelClub.com and RatesToGo.com online brands across14 countries. Cendant owns Galileo, Avis in the US, a range of hotel brands, timeshare company RCI and tour operators in the UK domestic and European package holiday sectors.
Cendant was believed to be up against Sabre to acquire ebookers, which will now become part of its Travel Distribution Services division but run as a separate entity."
Analysis to be added...
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Flybe expands UK bases
Travelmole: "Flybe is launching 16 new routes for its summer schedule next year including two new bases in the UK...The new bases are Leeds/Bradford and Norwich airports, which add to the airlines current bases at Southampton, Liverpool, Exeter, Belfast and Birmingham...
Flybe’s new flights to launch at the end of March next year, include Leeds to Exeter and Southampton, Norwich to Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Jersey and Southampton to Limoges, Leeds, Bordeaux, Liverpool and Rennes"
Flybe’s new flights to launch at the end of March next year, include Leeds to Exeter and Southampton, Norwich to Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Jersey and Southampton to Limoges, Leeds, Bordeaux, Liverpool and Rennes"
More on Lastminute.com. and traf agents..
Travelmole: "By launching a trade facing website for agents to dynamically package its products, Lastminute.com accepts that is making both a generator of revenue and a competitor out of the travel agent...
Holidayandmore.com, the trade only web-based desktop solution launched by Lastminute.com at the ABTA Convention. It enables agents to book and package together Lastminute’s products at net rates, then add their own margin.It offers agents a single desktop with access to hotels, flights, car rental and lifestyle products from the full range of Lastminute brands including MedHotels, Holiday Autos and OTC. The dynamically packaged products are fully bonded under the ATOL held by Lastminute.com"...
Vic Darvey, general manager for Holidayandmore.com agreed "that by enabling agents to boost online sales, they were enabling them to compete more effectively with online retailers including Lastminute itself...Low cost airlines and charter fares will be added to Holidayandmore.com in January, according to Mr Darvey. Around 500 agents have signed up to the website so far and Lastminute hopes to get this to 1,000 by the end of the year...(the product) gives agents access to net rates which they can then mark up themselves thereby managing their own margins."
Holidayandmore.com, the trade only web-based desktop solution launched by Lastminute.com at the ABTA Convention. It enables agents to book and package together Lastminute’s products at net rates, then add their own margin.It offers agents a single desktop with access to hotels, flights, car rental and lifestyle products from the full range of Lastminute brands including MedHotels, Holiday Autos and OTC. The dynamically packaged products are fully bonded under the ATOL held by Lastminute.com"...
Vic Darvey, general manager for Holidayandmore.com agreed "that by enabling agents to boost online sales, they were enabling them to compete more effectively with online retailers including Lastminute itself...Low cost airlines and charter fares will be added to Holidayandmore.com in January, according to Mr Darvey. Around 500 agents have signed up to the website so far and Lastminute hopes to get this to 1,000 by the end of the year...(the product) gives agents access to net rates which they can then mark up themselves thereby managing their own margins."
Amadeus targets more low cost carriers
Travelmole
The two key elements are:
*Development of a segmented booking fee structure, further differentiating the fee charged for different types of bookings, depending on the value each brings to an airline.
*Additional opportunities for the distribution of airlines' low fare inventory
The two key elements are:
*Development of a segmented booking fee structure, further differentiating the fee charged for different types of bookings, depending on the value each brings to an airline.
*Additional opportunities for the distribution of airlines' low fare inventory
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Hilton reports online milestone - 01-Dec-04.
Travelmole.
Eyefortravel.: "Hilton Hotels Corporation announced bookings on its brand Web sites in October exceeded call center bookings from 800 numbers, representing a company first since its start of Web site reservations.
During October, brand.com sites overall reported more than 972,000 room nights, compared to 873,000 room nights booked from 800 numbers through the 16 Hilton Family call centers worldwide.
the company attributes the increase in brand.com bookings to various benefits, including these:
• An assurance that guests who book on brand.com will receive guaranteed best rates.
• Online hotel, air and car rental packages are often offered at discounted rates.
• Net Direct Rates available only through Hilton Family brand.com sites.
• Guests can make reservations on the brand site with no booking fees."
Eyefortravel.: "Hilton Hotels Corporation announced bookings on its brand Web sites in October exceeded call center bookings from 800 numbers, representing a company first since its start of Web site reservations.
During October, brand.com sites overall reported more than 972,000 room nights, compared to 873,000 room nights booked from 800 numbers through the 16 Hilton Family call centers worldwide.
the company attributes the increase in brand.com bookings to various benefits, including these:
• An assurance that guests who book on brand.com will receive guaranteed best rates.
• Online hotel, air and car rental packages are often offered at discounted rates.
• Net Direct Rates available only through Hilton Family brand.com sites.
• Guests can make reservations on the brand site with no booking fees."
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
IH&RA 41st Annual Congress | The Travellers: Getting Them in Focus
Hospitality Net - Industry News
Four recommended presentations:
1) The Travellers: Getting Them in Focus
Today’s consumer - Babyboomer, Gen X- or both? Who are today’s consumers? Have they really changed? As retiring Babyboomers move out of business travel, what does the new Gen X business - and leisure - traveller expect? Who are today’s high-end luxury travellers? What do they want and what are they willing to pay to get it?
2) The Booking Process: Staying online –Finding and Booking Hotel Accommodation
3rd party channels vs. on-line direct – Partners or enemies? What is the latest in the e-distribution battle? Why did Intercontinental Hotels Group discontinue its relationship with Expedia and Hotels.com? What is Expedia’s reaction? Can hoteliers work successfully with on-line distributors and maintain control of their price and brand?
Available as PDF also: The Booking Process: Staying Online | Finding and Booking Hotel Accommodation | Presentation by Peter O’Connor | Professor, Hospitality Information Technology: Hotel Distribution is in chaos. The Chinese ideogram for chaos is a combination of one for “danger” and one for “opportunity”.
3) The Travel Professionals: Getting It Together – the Changing Role of Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Airlines
Hotels and Tour Operators – A love-hate relationship? Beyond low-cost vs. full-service carriers – A win/win for hotels? Is vertical integration of tour operating, accommodation, transport and other services inevitable? How can hotels best work with tour operators, travel agents and airlines in the changing world of distribution? Is consumer-driven dynamic packaging the way of the future? As low-cost carriers challenge the full-service airlines, what are the implications for the hospitality industry? What can new destinations (and their hotels) do to “get on the map”?
4) Travel Trends: Getting the Picture
What is the state of the travel & tourism industry today? What are the key economic, social and geo-political drivers of change? What are the current trends in business and leisure travel across the world? How is this affecting hotels and restaurants? Mr. Shifflet is a Marketing Psychologist with over 30 years' experience as a counselor in marketing and planning, with specialization in applied market research.
Available as PDF also:
Four recommended presentations:
1) The Travellers: Getting Them in Focus
Today’s consumer - Babyboomer, Gen X- or both? Who are today’s consumers? Have they really changed? As retiring Babyboomers move out of business travel, what does the new Gen X business - and leisure - traveller expect? Who are today’s high-end luxury travellers? What do they want and what are they willing to pay to get it?
2) The Booking Process: Staying online –Finding and Booking Hotel Accommodation
3rd party channels vs. on-line direct – Partners or enemies? What is the latest in the e-distribution battle? Why did Intercontinental Hotels Group discontinue its relationship with Expedia and Hotels.com? What is Expedia’s reaction? Can hoteliers work successfully with on-line distributors and maintain control of their price and brand?
Available as PDF also: The Booking Process: Staying Online | Finding and Booking Hotel Accommodation | Presentation by Peter O’Connor | Professor, Hospitality Information Technology: Hotel Distribution is in chaos. The Chinese ideogram for chaos is a combination of one for “danger” and one for “opportunity”.
3) The Travel Professionals: Getting It Together – the Changing Role of Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Airlines
Hotels and Tour Operators – A love-hate relationship? Beyond low-cost vs. full-service carriers – A win/win for hotels? Is vertical integration of tour operating, accommodation, transport and other services inevitable? How can hotels best work with tour operators, travel agents and airlines in the changing world of distribution? Is consumer-driven dynamic packaging the way of the future? As low-cost carriers challenge the full-service airlines, what are the implications for the hospitality industry? What can new destinations (and their hotels) do to “get on the map”?
4) Travel Trends: Getting the Picture
What is the state of the travel & tourism industry today? What are the key economic, social and geo-political drivers of change? What are the current trends in business and leisure travel across the world? How is this affecting hotels and restaurants? Mr. Shifflet is a Marketing Psychologist with over 30 years' experience as a counselor in marketing and planning, with specialization in applied market research.
Available as PDF also:
:: Travel Weekly - The National Newspaper of the Travel Industry ::
:: Travel Weekly ::
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reports that: "the European Travel Commission (ETC) in New York predicts record numbers of U.S. vacationers will visit Europe next year, matching levels not seen since 2000, when 12.8 million Yanks crossed the Atlantic...But this rosy status quo could end if the bottom falls out of the long-beleaguered dollar. "
Market to target?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reports that: "the European Travel Commission (ETC) in New York predicts record numbers of U.S. vacationers will visit Europe next year, matching levels not seen since 2000, when 12.8 million Yanks crossed the Atlantic...But this rosy status quo could end if the bottom falls out of the long-beleaguered dollar. "
Market to target?
Monday, November 29, 2004
Travel Update from Hitwise
The newsletter "category spotlight focuses on the Travel - Destinations & Accommodation category, which features travel/holiday accommodation and destinations including resorts, tourist locations, hotels. The data below is taken from Weekly rankings for the week ending November 20.
Local Competitiveness Index
> 70.2% of traffic to this category was directed at domestic sites.
Top 10 Upstream Categories
1. Computers and Internet 53.5%
2. Computers and Internet - Search Engines and Directories 49.6%
3. Travel 26.9%
4. Travel - Destinations and Accommodation 16.8%
5. Travel - Agencies 7.1%
6. News and Media 3.2%
7. Shopping and Classifieds 3.1%
8. Business and Finance 3.1%
9. Travel - Transport 2.7%
10. Entertainment 2.3%
Top 10 Downstream Categories
1. Travel 46.2%
2. Travel - Destinations and Accommodation 27.1%
3. Computers and Internet 18.8%
4. Computers and Internet - Search Engines and Directories 12.3%
5. Travel - Agencies 12.2%
6. Business and Finance 7.7%
7. Shopping and Classifieds 5.4%
8. Entertainment 4.2%
9. News and Media 3.8%
10. Travel - Transport 3.5%
The email also features Traffic Distribution a chart illustrating "the distribution of this category's traffic for the week among sites in various rank ranges." Email if you would like the chart forwarding...
Local Competitiveness Index
> 70.2% of traffic to this category was directed at domestic sites.
Top 10 Upstream Categories
1. Computers and Internet 53.5%
2. Computers and Internet - Search Engines and Directories 49.6%
3. Travel 26.9%
4. Travel - Destinations and Accommodation 16.8%
5. Travel - Agencies 7.1%
6. News and Media 3.2%
7. Shopping and Classifieds 3.1%
8. Business and Finance 3.1%
9. Travel - Transport 2.7%
10. Entertainment 2.3%
Top 10 Downstream Categories
1. Travel 46.2%
2. Travel - Destinations and Accommodation 27.1%
3. Computers and Internet 18.8%
4. Computers and Internet - Search Engines and Directories 12.3%
5. Travel - Agencies 12.2%
6. Business and Finance 7.7%
7. Shopping and Classifieds 5.4%
8. Entertainment 4.2%
9. News and Media 3.8%
10. Travel - Transport 3.5%
The email also features Traffic Distribution a chart illustrating "the distribution of this category's traffic for the week among sites in various rank ranges." Email if you would like the chart forwarding...
Online Travel Marketing and Selling
Emarketer Report
Covers:
> What are the growth prospects for the online travel market?
> What is causing the recent surge in hospitality revenues?
> How are companies using the Internet to effectively reach online travelers?
> Where should marketers concentrate their efforts?
> What types of marketing vehicles have shown the greatest success to date?
> Can the independent agent survive?
> How is consolidation impacting the segment?
> How low can the prices—and margins—go?
Extract covers hotels...
Price $695.00 | Date: Nov 04 | Pages: 19 | Charts: 39
Covers:
> What are the growth prospects for the online travel market?
> What is causing the recent surge in hospitality revenues?
> How are companies using the Internet to effectively reach online travelers?
> Where should marketers concentrate their efforts?
> What types of marketing vehicles have shown the greatest success to date?
> Can the independent agent survive?
> How is consolidation impacting the segment?
> How low can the prices—and margins—go?
Extract covers hotels...
Price $695.00 | Date: Nov 04 | Pages: 19 | Charts: 39
Answering All Travelers' Needs Online
Emarketer
Harris Interactive study states "28% of US adults planning leisure travel within the next 6 months will book their plans using a travel Web site... 22% of those making business trips in the next half-year will do so on travel sites as well, while 31% of those planning combined business/leisure trips say they will also turn to travel sites."
Apart from the perennial issue of price, consumers say they would be more loyal to travel sites if :
> They were designed better (18%)
> They were able to speak to a live agent (22%)
> They provided more travel options and more travel packages (14%)
The article also quotes a recent study by Keynote Systems which focused solely on business travelers which found:
> 48% of business travelers say loyalty programs are an important consideration when choosing where to book online
> 40% of business travelers start search at a particular travel site, with Expedia first, then Travelocity and Orbitz third
> 20% begin their online search directly at a supplier site
>over 35% say they go to multiple sites over the course of their planning and booking process
Harris Interactive study states "28% of US adults planning leisure travel within the next 6 months will book their plans using a travel Web site... 22% of those making business trips in the next half-year will do so on travel sites as well, while 31% of those planning combined business/leisure trips say they will also turn to travel sites."
Apart from the perennial issue of price, consumers say they would be more loyal to travel sites if :
> They were designed better (18%)
> They were able to speak to a live agent (22%)
> They provided more travel options and more travel packages (14%)
The article also quotes a recent study by Keynote Systems which focused solely on business travelers which found:
> 48% of business travelers say loyalty programs are an important consideration when choosing where to book online
> 40% of business travelers start search at a particular travel site, with Expedia first, then Travelocity and Orbitz third
> 20% begin their online search directly at a supplier site
>over 35% say they go to multiple sites over the course of their planning and booking process
Valuair ties up with Wotif.com
eyefortravel.com
:: "Valuair, six-month old Singapore-based value-for-money budget airline, has tied up with last-minute global accommodation specialist Wotif.com"
:: "Valuair, six-month old Singapore-based value-for-money budget airline, has tied up with last-minute global accommodation specialist Wotif.com"
ABTA 2004 Reports: Inbound tourism heads for record year
Travelmole Reports that:
:: "Regional cities in the UK have done particularly well, with overseas tourism to Birmingham up 60 per cent; Manchester up 35 per cent and Brighton up 12 per cent"
::"Inbound tourism is expected to hit record levels this year with an estimated 26.4m people visiting Britain"
::"Tourism was now worth 76bn pounds and predicted it would rise to 100bn pounds in 2010. However, spending by tourists had yet to reach 2000 levels"
:: "Regional cities in the UK have done particularly well, with overseas tourism to Birmingham up 60 per cent; Manchester up 35 per cent and Brighton up 12 per cent"
::"Inbound tourism is expected to hit record levels this year with an estimated 26.4m people visiting Britain"
::"Tourism was now worth 76bn pounds and predicted it would rise to 100bn pounds in 2010. However, spending by tourists had yet to reach 2000 levels"
Last Minute buddies up to travel agents
Times Online - Sunday Times
"Lastminute.com’s boss and the last of the internet musketeers" Brent Hoberman, "is launching a new Lastminute service called Holiday and More. It will let travel agents do dynamic packaging - the latest industry buzzword for an old-fashioned package holiday assembled not from the products of one travel group, but several."...The Times points out that the amount Lastminute "pays in commission to agencies has gone up from £45m to £69.5m," and that it has lost most of it's top talent plus it has "a weakening balance sheet"...
"Lastminute.com’s boss and the last of the internet musketeers" Brent Hoberman, "is launching a new Lastminute service called Holiday and More. It will let travel agents do dynamic packaging - the latest industry buzzword for an old-fashioned package holiday assembled not from the products of one travel group, but several."...The Times points out that the amount Lastminute "pays in commission to agencies has gone up from £45m to £69.5m," and that it has lost most of it's top talent plus it has "a weakening balance sheet"...
More No-frills air tickets booked by travel agents
Travel Daily News
report that: "Fifty per cent more package holidaymakers are booking no-frills flights through travel agents than in 2002 , the 2004 Holiday Survey by MORI for ABTA has found" for most "financial protection is not in place... Current consumer protection covers customers who have either: booked through an `ATOL` holder, used a credit card and paid more than £100, or taken out insurance through a travel agent.
Thirty-two per cent of package holidaymakers told researchers that they had taken at least one no-frills flight in the last 12 months and of these, 21% had booked them with their travel agent."
report that: "Fifty per cent more package holidaymakers are booking no-frills flights through travel agents than in 2002 , the 2004 Holiday Survey by MORI for ABTA has found" for most "financial protection is not in place... Current consumer protection covers customers who have either: booked through an `ATOL` holder, used a credit card and paid more than £100, or taken out insurance through a travel agent.
Thirty-two per cent of package holidaymakers told researchers that they had taken at least one no-frills flight in the last 12 months and of these, 21% had booked them with their travel agent."
Friday, November 26, 2004
Lastminute.com shares drop 12.5 percent
NewsFinder
CBS MARKETWATCH Steve Goldstein reports: "Lastminute.com tumbles as FY losses widen, below view (UK:LMC) Shares of Lastminute.com (UK:LMC) tumbled 12.5 percent after pre-tax losses for the Sept. 30 ending fiscal year widened to 77.2 million pounds from 47.7 million pounds, which company co-founder Brent Hoberman said fell short of expectations. Revenue rose to 440 million pounds from 190.7 million a year ago. CFO David Howell is looking to leave the group in early 2005, and the online travel group has started a search for a replacement, the group added."
CBS MARKETWATCH Steve Goldstein reports: "Lastminute.com tumbles as FY losses widen, below view (UK:LMC) Shares of Lastminute.com (UK:LMC) tumbled 12.5 percent after pre-tax losses for the Sept. 30 ending fiscal year widened to 77.2 million pounds from 47.7 million pounds, which company co-founder Brent Hoberman said fell short of expectations. Revenue rose to 440 million pounds from 190.7 million a year ago. CFO David Howell is looking to leave the group in early 2005, and the online travel group has started a search for a replacement, the group added."
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Web package holiday sales hit record levels
ABTA Convention Special
"The internet is making further inroads into holiday sales with record numbers booking online. Figures released by ABTA to coincide with its annual convention in Orlando show that 19% of holidaymakers now book their package holiday online six times more than in the year 2000."
"The internet is making further inroads into holiday sales with record numbers booking online. Figures released by ABTA to coincide with its annual convention in Orlando show that 19% of holidaymakers now book their package holiday online six times more than in the year 2000."
Avis in a three-year partnership with The UK's Trainline
eyefortravel.com When "Trainline users book their rail tickets online they can also book their car hire through Avis ... The Trainline has mapped all Avis’ UK rental stations on their website enabling its customers to easily book the next leg of their journey by car. Trainline.com visitors are also able to book flights and hotels in addition to rail travel and car hire."
Spa Industry Stats and Trends
Travel Daily News
" International SPA Association- Study July 2004
The industry study is quantitative and it includes the key numbers- revenues, number of spas and visits." (USA although trends are of interest)
British Spa Study VisitBritain, the authority for tourism in Britain, has joined forces with the Spa Business Association to develop the first national survey to examine in detail all issues to do with spa staffing, facilities, treatments, customers and the quality of services offered.
The Spa Business Association, as the trade association for the UK & Irish Spa Industry, is working closely with VisitBritain with the long-term aim of establishing a national Quality Standard for the spa industry.
Suki Kalirai, Joint Chairman of the Spa Business Association said: “Until now, there has been very little concrete data about our industry which we can use to talk with authority to government, to the media, to our members and to investors in this industry."
" International SPA Association- Study July 2004
The industry study is quantitative and it includes the key numbers- revenues, number of spas and visits." (USA although trends are of interest)
British Spa Study VisitBritain, the authority for tourism in Britain, has joined forces with the Spa Business Association to develop the first national survey to examine in detail all issues to do with spa staffing, facilities, treatments, customers and the quality of services offered.
The Spa Business Association, as the trade association for the UK & Irish Spa Industry, is working closely with VisitBritain with the long-term aim of establishing a national Quality Standard for the spa industry.
Suki Kalirai, Joint Chairman of the Spa Business Association said: “Until now, there has been very little concrete data about our industry which we can use to talk with authority to government, to the media, to our members and to investors in this industry."
lastminute.com plc: Results highlights Full year
Travel Daily News
"79.6 per cent increase in Total Transaction Value to £992.3 million (2003: £552.4 million)
Gross margin 17.6 per cent for year ended 2004 (2003: 18.3 per cent)
60.0 per cent increase in pre exceptional EBITDA to £24.1 million (2003: £15.0 million)
Increase in profit before tax (pre exceptional items and goodwill amortisation) to £4.6 million (2003: £0.2 million)
Overall pre tax loss for the year £77.2 million (2003: loss £47.7 million)
2004 earnings per share (pre exceptional items and goodwill amortisation) of 1.54p (2003: 0.11p)
2004 basic loss per share of 24.56p (2003: loss 17.88p)
Overall net cash balances at 30 September 2004 of £85.9 million (2003: £112.7 million)
Brent Hoberman, co-founder and CEO, said: "The strong consumer adoption of self packaging continues to drive growth and enables us to deliver industry leading gross margins. Through our innovative brand position, leading technology and great product, lastminute.com is becoming increasingly a part of our customers` everyday lives. This, alongside our cost reduction programme, puts the business on a firm footing for profitable growth in the coming year".
Allan Leighton, Chairman said: "These results show that lastminute.com has performed solidly in a difficult trading environment for the sector in the last quarter and the year as a whole. The further strengthened management team has delivered pre tax profit (pre exceptional items and goodwill amortisation) of £4.6 million and lastminute.com continues to be well positioned to take advantage of current lifestyle and technology trends.
"79.6 per cent increase in Total Transaction Value to £992.3 million (2003: £552.4 million)
Gross margin 17.6 per cent for year ended 2004 (2003: 18.3 per cent)
60.0 per cent increase in pre exceptional EBITDA to £24.1 million (2003: £15.0 million)
Increase in profit before tax (pre exceptional items and goodwill amortisation) to £4.6 million (2003: £0.2 million)
Overall pre tax loss for the year £77.2 million (2003: loss £47.7 million)
2004 earnings per share (pre exceptional items and goodwill amortisation) of 1.54p (2003: 0.11p)
2004 basic loss per share of 24.56p (2003: loss 17.88p)
Overall net cash balances at 30 September 2004 of £85.9 million (2003: £112.7 million)
Brent Hoberman, co-founder and CEO, said: "The strong consumer adoption of self packaging continues to drive growth and enables us to deliver industry leading gross margins. Through our innovative brand position, leading technology and great product, lastminute.com is becoming increasingly a part of our customers` everyday lives. This, alongside our cost reduction programme, puts the business on a firm footing for profitable growth in the coming year".
Allan Leighton, Chairman said: "These results show that lastminute.com has performed solidly in a difficult trading environment for the sector in the last quarter and the year as a whole. The further strengthened management team has delivered pre tax profit (pre exceptional items and goodwill amortisation) of £4.6 million and lastminute.com continues to be well positioned to take advantage of current lifestyle and technology trends.
Cendant Hotel Group signs franchise deal for Russia
Travel Daily News
"announced the signing of a deal with Hermitage Hospitality Ltd. to franchise Days Inn® hotels in Russia and the other 14 countries of the former Soviet Union."
"announced the signing of a deal with Hermitage Hospitality Ltd. to franchise Days Inn® hotels in Russia and the other 14 countries of the former Soviet Union."
OctopusTravel.com celebrates success in prestigious travel industry awards
Travel Daily News
"OctopusTravel.com... has been voted one of the top three online holiday companies in a poll of 25,000 readers of Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper...the Telegraph Travel Awards are firmly established as the most important independent study of British travel habits. Other regional travel industry organizations recognized in the awards were Dubai International Airport, voted third best airport, and Emirates, voted second best scheduled airline."
"OctopusTravel.com... has been voted one of the top three online holiday companies in a poll of 25,000 readers of Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper...the Telegraph Travel Awards are firmly established as the most important independent study of British travel habits. Other regional travel industry organizations recognized in the awards were Dubai International Airport, voted third best airport, and Emirates, voted second best scheduled airline."
Orbitz voted best web site for booking travel
Travel Daily News
Orbitz "was voted the best Web site for booking business travel by the readers of Business Traveler magazine. Orbitz received the "Best in Business Travel Award" today for the third consecutive year in the publication`s 16th annual reader survey."
Orbitz "was voted the best Web site for booking business travel by the readers of Business Traveler magazine. Orbitz received the "Best in Business Travel Award" today for the third consecutive year in the publication`s 16th annual reader survey."
easyJet Announces Major Expansion In Italy
Travel Daily News
"easyjet, is expanding its Italian operations with four new routes connecting the UK and Germany with some of Italys most attractive destinations.
The new routes are:
London Gatwick to Olbia commence 27th May 2005
London Luton to Cagliari commence 21st April 2005
Berlin to Olbia commence 8th April 2005
Berlin to Pisa commence 8th April 2005
All services are once daily "
"easyjet, is expanding its Italian operations with four new routes connecting the UK and Germany with some of Italys most attractive destinations.
The new routes are:
London Gatwick to Olbia commence 27th May 2005
London Luton to Cagliari commence 21st April 2005
Berlin to Olbia commence 8th April 2005
Berlin to Pisa commence 8th April 2005
All services are once daily "
MyTravel Group wins High Court support
Travel Daily News - MyTravel Group wins High Court support: "MyTravel Group plc welcomes yesterday`s decision by the High Court that the company is able to restructure through a scheme of arrangement without the approval of the convertible bondholders, who have no economic interest in the company."
Flights: New e-Travel Planitgo Flex Pricer [Calendar]
Amadeus flexible flight planner
In 2003 e-Travel Planitgo Flex Pricer asused by major airlines Iberia, Qantas, Spanair, Maersk, bmi, and Air France included:
one-way pricing
clear color-coding of each fare family
combinable fare families into a single itinerary
clear explanation of fare rules and restrictions in plain and understandable language
transparent pricing: cheapest available fare displayed for each flight
2004 added features include:
A calendar display of lowest prices over a period of up to 15 days
Multiple fares per flight
The ability to create a journey from combinable one-way flights and classes or directly with round-trips.
example matrix
In 2003 e-Travel Planitgo Flex Pricer asused by major airlines Iberia, Qantas, Spanair, Maersk, bmi, and Air France included:
one-way pricing
clear color-coding of each fare family
combinable fare families into a single itinerary
clear explanation of fare rules and restrictions in plain and understandable language
transparent pricing: cheapest available fare displayed for each flight
2004 added features include:
A calendar display of lowest prices over a period of up to 15 days
Multiple fares per flight
The ability to create a journey from combinable one-way flights and classes or directly with round-trips.
example matrix
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Expedia and Hotels.com update to direct connect for hotels
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
Expedia and Hotels.com have launched the next phase of implementation for their pioneering direct connect technology, which they claim currently saves more than a thousand hotel properties time and money, by enabling the automatic delivery of bookings made on the two travel sites. (11/24/2004)
The second phase will enable hoteliers to manage the room inventory they offer on Expedia.com directly from the hotel’s central reservation systems (CRS), eliminating the need to manually update the Expedia extranet.
Expedia and Hotels.com have launched the next phase of implementation for their pioneering direct connect technology, which they claim currently saves more than a thousand hotel properties time and money, by enabling the automatic delivery of bookings made on the two travel sites. (11/24/2004)
The second phase will enable hoteliers to manage the room inventory they offer on Expedia.com directly from the hotel’s central reservation systems (CRS), eliminating the need to manually update the Expedia extranet.
UK launch of travel comparison service
Comparison shopping comes to travel
A US online comparison shopping service is to expand into the UK travel sector with a hotel price search system. NexTag UK’s Travel Meta Search claims to offer consumers the ability to search and compare room rates across individual hotels and online travel agencies.
The company, part of California-based NexTag Inc., provides real-time availability allowing consumers to find the best price for hotels based on destination, room preference and arrival and departure date.
A US online comparison shopping service is to expand into the UK travel sector with a hotel price search system. NexTag UK’s Travel Meta Search claims to offer consumers the ability to search and compare room rates across individual hotels and online travel agencies.
The company, part of California-based NexTag Inc., provides real-time availability allowing consumers to find the best price for hotels based on destination, room preference and arrival and departure date.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
eyefortravel.com - Tiscover takes tourism into the mobile era
eyefortravel.com: "Tiscover, global destination system provider, has unveiled Tiscover05, the latest generation system of its online marketing platform, which features one of the world's first tourism content solutions for PDAs and mobile phones...
Through Tiscover05's Tiscover Mobile technology, tourism boards and their local partners can apparently stream information on everything from attraction opening hours to local weather to PDAs and mobiles, thereby maximising interaction with consumers both before they book and during their holiday itself.
Evidently, the new platform also combines state-of-the-art navigation and usability principles to set new speed standards in web-based tourism for both providers and consumers.
Improvements to the Tiscover user extranet introduced by Tiscover05 includes simplified pull-down menus, an 'Occupancy Gaps' page for last-minute availability, and a context-sensitive online help tool.
"Tiscover-powered websites achieved 256 million page views during 2003,” claims Karsten Kärcher, Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Finance at Tiscover"
Through Tiscover05's Tiscover Mobile technology, tourism boards and their local partners can apparently stream information on everything from attraction opening hours to local weather to PDAs and mobiles, thereby maximising interaction with consumers both before they book and during their holiday itself.
Evidently, the new platform also combines state-of-the-art navigation and usability principles to set new speed standards in web-based tourism for both providers and consumers.
Improvements to the Tiscover user extranet introduced by Tiscover05 includes simplified pull-down menus, an 'Occupancy Gaps' page for last-minute availability, and a context-sensitive online help tool.
"Tiscover-powered websites achieved 256 million page views during 2003,” claims Karsten Kärcher, Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Finance at Tiscover"
Scam warning over travel guide
Scam warning over travel guide - 23-Nov-04.: "Scam warning over "free directory" listings and travel guide"
Wotif.com Tops Hitwise 'User Rankings' Category in Australia
Internet Travel News
Wotif.com has announced that it has ranked as the number one visited site in the ‘Travel – Destinations and Accommodation’ category according to leading Internet intelligence service Hitwise*.
The number one ranking is based on ‘user visits’ to the site for the quarter ending September 2004 measured against other Australian websites within the category, and has qualified Wotif.com for a Hitwise No.1 Award.
Wotif.com has announced that it has ranked as the number one visited site in the ‘Travel – Destinations and Accommodation’ category according to leading Internet intelligence service Hitwise*.
The number one ranking is based on ‘user visits’ to the site for the quarter ending September 2004 measured against other Australian websites within the category, and has qualified Wotif.com for a Hitwise No.1 Award.
Consolidation trends in the online travel industry PhoCusWright
PhoCusWright independent travel, tourism and hospitality research firm.
"* Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz represent nearly one-third of all Internet-driven hotel sales
* Consolidation trends continued for online travel agencies, with five companies now controlling half of the entire U.S. online travel industry "
"* Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz represent nearly one-third of all Internet-driven hotel sales
* Consolidation trends continued for online travel agencies, with five companies now controlling half of the entire U.S. online travel industry "
eyefortravel.com - discuss travel search buzz
eyefortravel.com
The contentious debate about the next generation of travel search engines and their competition with online agencies continues unabated...
The contentious debate about the next generation of travel search engines and their competition with online agencies continues unabated...
SideStep Expands Relationship With InterContinental Hotels Group
SideStep and IHG
"Travel Search Leader Drives Customer Acquisition, Brand Development for International Hotelier
In addition to featuring inventory from IHG's seven hotel brands within its search results, SideStep will now promote IHG in a multi-faceted marketing campaign, connecting consumers directly to the hotelier's Web site -- www.ichotelsgroup. com -- to book their travel...
marketing programs include:
-- Targeted advertising -- SideStep will feature in-product offers within its search results for select cities in which IHG operates
-- Featured specials -- SideStep will detail IHG brand hotels' best deals on the SideStep TravelFinds site ( http://travelfinds.sidestep. com ),
which showcases notable travel bargains
-- Email marketing -- SideStep will highlight IHG brand hotel promotions via TravelFinds Specials, SideStep's weekly email newsletter"
"Travel Search Leader Drives Customer Acquisition, Brand Development for International Hotelier
In addition to featuring inventory from IHG's seven hotel brands within its search results, SideStep will now promote IHG in a multi-faceted marketing campaign, connecting consumers directly to the hotelier's Web site -- www.ichotelsgroup. com -- to book their travel...
marketing programs include:
-- Targeted advertising -- SideStep will feature in-product offers within its search results for select cities in which IHG operates
-- Featured specials -- SideStep will detail IHG brand hotels' best deals on the SideStep TravelFinds site ( http://travelfinds.sidestep. com ),
which showcases notable travel bargains
-- Email marketing -- SideStep will highlight IHG brand hotel promotions via TravelFinds Specials, SideStep's weekly email newsletter"
Monday, November 22, 2004
New bonding rules by end of 2005?
New financial protection rules
NEW rules to broaden the financial protection for holidaymakers could become law by the end of next year, it has emerged.
Parliament’s Transport Committee chairwoman Gwyneth Dunwoody predicted a voluntary bonding scheme for airlines could be introduced next summer with legislation following by Christmas.
She said the issue had become “terribly important” as increasing numbers of consumers book “bits” of packages – such as flights and hotels - which offer consumers no financial safeguards whatsoever.
New legislation would expand protection to include scheduled airline seats and, in all probability, accommodation only.
NEW rules to broaden the financial protection for holidaymakers could become law by the end of next year, it has emerged.
Parliament’s Transport Committee chairwoman Gwyneth Dunwoody predicted a voluntary bonding scheme for airlines could be introduced next summer with legislation following by Christmas.
She said the issue had become “terribly important” as increasing numbers of consumers book “bits” of packages – such as flights and hotels - which offer consumers no financial safeguards whatsoever.
New legislation would expand protection to include scheduled airline seats and, in all probability, accommodation only.
Travel Conference 2005 : Why Credibility is The Killer App for Online Travel
A must watch for reports of conference:
Event Overview
"CONSUMER REPORTS WEBWATCH: TRUST OR CONSEQUENCE: Why Credibility is The Killer App for Online Travel
Join Bill McGee, one of the most respected names in travel journalism, in a no-holds-barred presentation and open forum among industry leaders and consumer groups on insights and data you can't find anywhere else:
Exclusive preview of new WebWatch research on booking first- and business-class airfares
Future trends in online travel, the biggest market force on the Web
The impact of 'zillion-dollar' marketing competition among the 10 leading independent sites
Suppliers, such as hotel chains, 'buying back' their distribution systems and promising exclusive deals
Online marketing practices that are confusing at best, deceptive at worst
The latest on WebWatch�s joint research venture with European consumer groups in the U.K., France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Denmark
Cutting through the advertising haze to determine what really rings true at the online cash register
How five little Web site guidelines can make a big difference in consumer trust "
Event Overview
"CONSUMER REPORTS WEBWATCH: TRUST OR CONSEQUENCE: Why Credibility is The Killer App for Online Travel
Join Bill McGee, one of the most respected names in travel journalism, in a no-holds-barred presentation and open forum among industry leaders and consumer groups on insights and data you can't find anywhere else:
Exclusive preview of new WebWatch research on booking first- and business-class airfares
Future trends in online travel, the biggest market force on the Web
The impact of 'zillion-dollar' marketing competition among the 10 leading independent sites
Suppliers, such as hotel chains, 'buying back' their distribution systems and promising exclusive deals
Online marketing practices that are confusing at best, deceptive at worst
The latest on WebWatch�s joint research venture with European consumer groups in the U.K., France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Denmark
Cutting through the advertising haze to determine what really rings true at the online cash register
How five little Web site guidelines can make a big difference in consumer trust "
European travel sites offer lower fares than U.S.-based sites ; Consumer WebWatch:
Spotlight on Internet Credibility: "YONKERS, N.Y., November 12, 2004A first-of-its-kind international investigation of cross-border shopping for online airfares led by Consumer Reports WebWatch reveals that European travel sites are much more adept at providing lower fares than U.S.-based sites."
Complete findings can be found at http://www.consumerwebwatch.org/news/globalairfare/index.html
PDF at PDF
Complete findings can be found at http://www.consumerwebwatch.org/news/globalairfare/index.html
PDF at PDF
Consumer WebWatch: Travel Web Sites researched
Consumer WebWatch: An Examination of Opaque Travel Web Sites Priceline and Hotwire
Summary:
The "project was conceived to answer two fundamental questions:
1) Are the fares and rates provided by either or both of the leading opaque travel Web sites — Hotwire and Priceline — truly lower than fares and rates provided by leading transparent travel Web sites when tested under real-time, apples-to-apples conditions?
2) If the fares and rates provided by either or both Hotwire and Priceline truly are lower than fares and rates provided by leading transparent travel Web sites, are the trade-offs required by the opaque sites worth the savings?
"A Brief Overview of Opaque Travel Web Sites"
In this study, Consumer WebWatch directly addressed this question by querying fares and rates side-by-side from Hotwire and Priceline, as well as Sabre, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, and the hotel-booking site Quikbook.
Priceline and Hotwire used as examples of opaque sites which are defined as :
INTEGRATED OPAQUE SITES: these sites may or may not be owned by travel suppliers but they offer multiple products from competing companies at varying fares and rates and the identities of the travel suppliers are not provided to the consumer prior to booking (e.g., Hotwire, Priceline). In addition, the consumer may be required to bid for a fare or rate prior to booking (e.g., Priceline).
Compared to Expedia and Orbitz as the main 2 integrated travel Web sites, which are defined as :
INTEGRATED TRANSPARENT SITES: these sites may or may not be owned by travel suppliers but they act as online travel agencies offering multiple products from competing companies at varying fares and rates (e.g., Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity); the identities of the travel suppliers as well as the fares and rates are provided to the consumer prior to booking.
BRANDED SITES: these sites are owned by one or more travel suppliers and are basically dealerships selling a single line of products (e.g., American Airlines) or consortia of partner products (e.g., Northwest Airlines-KLM Royal Dutch Airlines).
In this study, Consumer WebWatch directly addressed this question by querying fares and rates side-by-side from Hotwire and Priceline, as well as Sabre, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, and the hotel-booking site Quikbook..
The breakdown of those who cited the importance of obtaining the lowest price according to Forrester was as follows:
26% of Hotwire users
19% of Priceline users
18% of Orbitz users
15% of Travelocity users
13% of Expedia users
Consumer WebWatch: concludes from figures that Hotwire and Priceline have found market niches for certain types of consumers.
Henry Harteveldt, a principal analyst for Forrester, says "Most people are not using an opaque site to plan the vacation of a lifetime, . These sites are, however, perfectly good ways to find a quality hotel room and to stretch your travel dollars."
The report covers the history of the websites tested and give interesting facts and stats:
Consumer WebWatch point out that Orbitz and Expedia "dominate the opaque travel market, collectively accounting for $1.547 billion in travel bookings in the U.S. in 2002, according to PhoCusWright...and both of the leading opaque travel Web sites have ties to non-opaque travel sites"
HIstory and relationships:
"Priceline acquired Lowestfare an integrated transparent travel Web site in 2002
Priceline also operates the non-booking travel site,RentalCars.com
Hotwire is now a sister company of Expedia and Hotels.com, Hotwire was acquired in November 2003 by IAC/InterActiveCorp (USA Interactive)
Interestingly, at press time Hotwire still maintained a marketing partnership with Orbitz, an integrated transparent travel Web site and a direct competitor of Expedia."
Conclusion:
"For travel suppliers, opaque Web sites provide yet another sales strategy as they seek to continually lower their distribution costs. Opaque Web sites undoubtedly help travel companies unload inventory that would have remained unsold, without cannibalizing existing distribution and retail sales channels. This point is made even more compelling by another piece of Forrester data: More than 10 million U.S. households reported taking at least one unplanned, unbudgeted trip in the last year. It seems certain that many of them have turned to opaque travel Web sites to help plan those trips."
Other Consumer WebWatch travel Web site projects:
Consumer WebWatch teamed with Consumer Reports Travel Letter (which ceased publication in December 2002) to extensively test travel Web sites providing domestic airfares and released the results in June 2002.
"Booking Hotels Online: An In-Depth Examination of Leading Hotel Web Sites," was a research report that was released in April 2003.
"An Analysis of the Potential Benefits and Dangers of Booking Through a Car Rental Web Site," was a research report that was released in October 2003.
"Booking and Bidding in the Blind: An In-Depth Examination of Opaque Travel Web Sites," a research report that examined alternative "opaque" travel booking Web sites, was released on December 8, 2003.
Consumer WebWatch will continue to test and evaluate travel Web sites throughout 2004. A minimum of three projects will be undertaken.
Summary:
The "project was conceived to answer two fundamental questions:
1) Are the fares and rates provided by either or both of the leading opaque travel Web sites — Hotwire and Priceline — truly lower than fares and rates provided by leading transparent travel Web sites when tested under real-time, apples-to-apples conditions?
2) If the fares and rates provided by either or both Hotwire and Priceline truly are lower than fares and rates provided by leading transparent travel Web sites, are the trade-offs required by the opaque sites worth the savings?
"A Brief Overview of Opaque Travel Web Sites"
In this study, Consumer WebWatch directly addressed this question by querying fares and rates side-by-side from Hotwire and Priceline, as well as Sabre, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, and the hotel-booking site Quikbook.
Priceline and Hotwire used as examples of opaque sites which are defined as :
INTEGRATED OPAQUE SITES: these sites may or may not be owned by travel suppliers but they offer multiple products from competing companies at varying fares and rates and the identities of the travel suppliers are not provided to the consumer prior to booking (e.g., Hotwire, Priceline). In addition, the consumer may be required to bid for a fare or rate prior to booking (e.g., Priceline).
Compared to Expedia and Orbitz as the main 2 integrated travel Web sites, which are defined as :
INTEGRATED TRANSPARENT SITES: these sites may or may not be owned by travel suppliers but they act as online travel agencies offering multiple products from competing companies at varying fares and rates (e.g., Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity); the identities of the travel suppliers as well as the fares and rates are provided to the consumer prior to booking.
BRANDED SITES: these sites are owned by one or more travel suppliers and are basically dealerships selling a single line of products (e.g., American Airlines) or consortia of partner products (e.g., Northwest Airlines-KLM Royal Dutch Airlines).
In this study, Consumer WebWatch directly addressed this question by querying fares and rates side-by-side from Hotwire and Priceline, as well as Sabre, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, and the hotel-booking site Quikbook..
The breakdown of those who cited the importance of obtaining the lowest price according to Forrester was as follows:
26% of Hotwire users
19% of Priceline users
18% of Orbitz users
15% of Travelocity users
13% of Expedia users
Consumer WebWatch: concludes from figures that Hotwire and Priceline have found market niches for certain types of consumers.
Henry Harteveldt, a principal analyst for Forrester, says "Most people are not using an opaque site to plan the vacation of a lifetime, . These sites are, however, perfectly good ways to find a quality hotel room and to stretch your travel dollars."
The report covers the history of the websites tested and give interesting facts and stats:
Consumer WebWatch point out that Orbitz and Expedia "dominate the opaque travel market, collectively accounting for $1.547 billion in travel bookings in the U.S. in 2002, according to PhoCusWright...and both of the leading opaque travel Web sites have ties to non-opaque travel sites"
HIstory and relationships:
"Priceline acquired Lowestfare an integrated transparent travel Web site in 2002
Priceline also operates the non-booking travel site,RentalCars.com
Hotwire is now a sister company of Expedia and Hotels.com, Hotwire was acquired in November 2003 by IAC/InterActiveCorp (USA Interactive)
Interestingly, at press time Hotwire still maintained a marketing partnership with Orbitz, an integrated transparent travel Web site and a direct competitor of Expedia."
Conclusion:
"For travel suppliers, opaque Web sites provide yet another sales strategy as they seek to continually lower their distribution costs. Opaque Web sites undoubtedly help travel companies unload inventory that would have remained unsold, without cannibalizing existing distribution and retail sales channels. This point is made even more compelling by another piece of Forrester data: More than 10 million U.S. households reported taking at least one unplanned, unbudgeted trip in the last year. It seems certain that many of them have turned to opaque travel Web sites to help plan those trips."
Other Consumer WebWatch travel Web site projects:
Consumer WebWatch teamed with Consumer Reports Travel Letter (which ceased publication in December 2002) to extensively test travel Web sites providing domestic airfares and released the results in June 2002.
"Booking Hotels Online: An In-Depth Examination of Leading Hotel Web Sites," was a research report that was released in April 2003.
"An Analysis of the Potential Benefits and Dangers of Booking Through a Car Rental Web Site," was a research report that was released in October 2003.
"Booking and Bidding in the Blind: An In-Depth Examination of Opaque Travel Web Sites," a research report that examined alternative "opaque" travel booking Web sites, was released on December 8, 2003.
Consumer WebWatch will continue to test and evaluate travel Web sites throughout 2004. A minimum of three projects will be undertaken.
Travel search-engine buzz :: important or just a fad?
:: Travel Weekly - The National Newspaper of the Travel Industry ::
Is the travel "search-engine buzz important or just a fad."
There was much talk about whether the search engines can be comprehensive if online agencies like Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz shun the meta-searchers. For example, Orbitz works with SideStep and Kayak but has boycotted others; Travelocity dropped out of FareChase and Kayak but uses Mobissimo; and Expedia says it will not play ball with any "screen-scraper" for now....
Interestingly "Yahoo Chief Operating Officer Daniel Rosensweig told the more than 800 attendees that Yahoo’s upcoming introduction of the FareChase travel search engine and similar products by competitors will not displace online agencies -- such as Yahoo’s partner, Travelocity -- because consumers shop for travel in multiple ways and travel will continue to be sold in numerous ways."
Also much discussion as to how comprehensive the travel search engines can be i"f online agencies like Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz shun the meta-searchers."
At present:
Orbitz works with SideStep and Kayak but has boycotted others
Travelocity dropped out of FareChase and Kayak but uses Mobissimo
Expedia says it will not play ball with any "screen-scraper" for now.
Opinions:
"Outgoing Orbitz CEO Jeffrey Katz told attendees that "the scraper model is dumb. I love the chutzpa, but I don’t think this dog hunts."He said the challenge for online agencies is to find value for customers and suppliers, but he noted there is "shockingly little" consumer loyalty on the Web
Priceline CEO Jeffery Boyd told attendees that Yahoo’s purchase of FareChase and AOL’s minority investment in Kayak were among the key events in online travel this year. Kayak CEO Stephen Hafner asked Boyd why Priceline, which has a retail operation along with its opaque business, and other online sellers should be afraid of the pricing transparency that the travel search engines bring.
Boyd responded that he would not rule out partnering with a travel-search engine but would rather invest in developing consumer loyalty. Boyd said his concerns about the meta-searchers include brand dilution and the cost of participation, including robotic searches that raise Web sites’ GDS costs."
Other search-related news from the conference includes:
• Kayak said it will give travel agencies free listings in search results so consumers can contact them for bookings. Kayak also said it is working on a corporate-travel application for company intranets. In addition, OneTravel.com recently began participating in Kayak.
• SideStep will introduce a Web-based application, eliminating the need for consumers to download its comparative shopping engine.
• Mobissimo will soon unveil several international sites.
Is the travel "search-engine buzz important or just a fad."
There was much talk about whether the search engines can be comprehensive if online agencies like Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz shun the meta-searchers. For example, Orbitz works with SideStep and Kayak but has boycotted others; Travelocity dropped out of FareChase and Kayak but uses Mobissimo; and Expedia says it will not play ball with any "screen-scraper" for now....
Interestingly "Yahoo Chief Operating Officer Daniel Rosensweig told the more than 800 attendees that Yahoo’s upcoming introduction of the FareChase travel search engine and similar products by competitors will not displace online agencies -- such as Yahoo’s partner, Travelocity -- because consumers shop for travel in multiple ways and travel will continue to be sold in numerous ways."
Also much discussion as to how comprehensive the travel search engines can be i"f online agencies like Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz shun the meta-searchers."
At present:
Orbitz works with SideStep and Kayak but has boycotted others
Travelocity dropped out of FareChase and Kayak but uses Mobissimo
Expedia says it will not play ball with any "screen-scraper" for now.
Opinions:
"Outgoing Orbitz CEO Jeffrey Katz told attendees that "the scraper model is dumb. I love the chutzpa, but I don’t think this dog hunts."He said the challenge for online agencies is to find value for customers and suppliers, but he noted there is "shockingly little" consumer loyalty on the Web
Priceline CEO Jeffery Boyd told attendees that Yahoo’s purchase of FareChase and AOL’s minority investment in Kayak were among the key events in online travel this year. Kayak CEO Stephen Hafner asked Boyd why Priceline, which has a retail operation along with its opaque business, and other online sellers should be afraid of the pricing transparency that the travel search engines bring.
Boyd responded that he would not rule out partnering with a travel-search engine but would rather invest in developing consumer loyalty. Boyd said his concerns about the meta-searchers include brand dilution and the cost of participation, including robotic searches that raise Web sites’ GDS costs."
Other search-related news from the conference includes:
• Kayak said it will give travel agencies free listings in search results so consumers can contact them for bookings. Kayak also said it is working on a corporate-travel application for company intranets. In addition, OneTravel.com recently began participating in Kayak.
• SideStep will introduce a Web-based application, eliminating the need for consumers to download its comparative shopping engine.
• Mobissimo will soon unveil several international sites.
Friday, November 19, 2004
VisitBritain's Discovery event a success for business tourism
Travel Daily News
"VisitBritain has hailed Discovery, the premier event to champion Britain�s business tourism industry to a global audience , as a huge success.
60 UK tourism businesses held 1350 one-one appointments in just six hours with 75 representatives of major global corporations who arrange exhibitions, conferences, meetings and incentive trips. Opportunities discussed included a two-day event for 1,800 people worth nearly �500,000, a four-day visit for 20 people worth �35,000 and private guided tours for Canadians."
"VisitBritain has hailed Discovery, the premier event to champion Britain�s business tourism industry to a global audience , as a huge success.
60 UK tourism businesses held 1350 one-one appointments in just six hours with 75 representatives of major global corporations who arrange exhibitions, conferences, meetings and incentive trips. Opportunities discussed included a two-day event for 1,800 people worth nearly �500,000, a four-day visit for 20 people worth �35,000 and private guided tours for Canadians."
dot-travel domain discussed
TravelMole Fast Conference
"Hitwise UK general manager Simon Chamberlain said brand is more important. Of the top 1000 searches for travel, over 50% are brand specific, he said. But if .travel is there for the taking, then take it. "
"Hitwise UK general manager Simon Chamberlain said brand is more important. Of the top 1000 searches for travel, over 50% are brand specific, he said. But if .travel is there for the taking, then take it. "
Travelocity enters France with Odysia - 19-Nov-04.
Travelmole
"Travelocity has entered France, giving the online travel company a presence in six European countries.
Sabre’s consumer travel website has opened a French version called Odysia offering dynamic packaging direct to the public
Paris-based Odysia is using the slogan ‘everything proposed, nothing imposed’ in its marketing, claiming that consumers can design and package their own trips in five minutes."
"Travelocity has entered France, giving the online travel company a presence in six European countries.
Sabre’s consumer travel website has opened a French version called Odysia offering dynamic packaging direct to the public
Paris-based Odysia is using the slogan ‘everything proposed, nothing imposed’ in its marketing, claiming that consumers can design and package their own trips in five minutes."
travelmole finally reports that AOL and Yahoo to get into travel
travelmole
"Online giants Yahoo and AOL have stated their intentions of moving into the travel search game, saying that such a move would be crucial to development and strategy. "
Old news for search etc sector watchers, maybe the travel sector is paying attention now the big names are moving in...
"Online giants Yahoo and AOL have stated their intentions of moving into the travel search game, saying that such a move would be crucial to development and strategy. "
Old news for search etc sector watchers, maybe the travel sector is paying attention now the big names are moving in...
Tribal Fusion: Travel Sites inc igougo tripadvisor
Tribal Fusion: Site List
A2Z Las Vegas
AARoads.com
Able2Know.com
Airliners.net
asia-hotels.com
Away.com
BostonRoads.com
Boulevards
Buzzle.com
Calculator.com
Cheapflights.com
Chicago Architecture Info
CityLinkz.com
CoasterBuzz
ConsumerAffairs.Com
Cruise Critic
CruiseMates
DesertUSA
Eatability.com.au
eTravelplan.com
euro-hotels.com
EverytingJamaican.com
Exchange Rates
ExchangeRate.com
Fabulous Travel
Family Travel Forum
FindSchedules.com
Flags.net
FlyerTalk
FrequentFlier.com
Glass Steel and Stone
GlobalSurfers
GLOBOsapiens.net
Gorp.com
GoToTravel
Greece.com
Hometown USA
HowStuffWorks.com
IgoUgo
Independant Traveler
InsideFlyer
iTravel
japan-guide.com
Kasbah Travel
KidznSnow.com
LA.com
LVOL
Maps.com
Megan Edwards - Las Vegas
MousePlanet
NYCRoads.com
NYCtourist.com
OANDA
Outside Online
paris-anglo.com
PhillyRoads.com
PlanetRider
Price.com
RealAdventures
RoadTrip America
Rockclimbing.com
RoomsPlus.com
RoughGuides.com
RV-Coach Online
Scotland for Visitors
SeatGuru.com
SkiReport.com
Snowboard.com
SouthernUtah.com
textamerica.com
the MenuPages
ThrillNetwork.com
Trails.com
Trailspace
Travelers Digest
TravelForecast.com
Travelinfo.gr
Traveljournals.net
Travelnotes
TravLang
USATourist.com
VirginFlyer.com
Virtual Tourist
WalkingGo.com
Wayhoo.com - Geographic Coordinates
Weatherunderground.com
webDominicana
WebFlyer
WxUSA
xe.com
1UpTravel
11th Hour
10 Best
Travel Channels list
Accommodations
Adventure
Air
Car
Cruises
Destinations
General
Resources
Vacation Packages
A2Z Las Vegas
AARoads.com
Able2Know.com
Airliners.net
asia-hotels.com
Away.com
BostonRoads.com
Boulevards
Buzzle.com
Calculator.com
Cheapflights.com
Chicago Architecture Info
CityLinkz.com
CoasterBuzz
ConsumerAffairs.Com
Cruise Critic
CruiseMates
DesertUSA
Eatability.com.au
eTravelplan.com
euro-hotels.com
EverytingJamaican.com
Exchange Rates
ExchangeRate.com
Fabulous Travel
Family Travel Forum
FindSchedules.com
Flags.net
FlyerTalk
FrequentFlier.com
Glass Steel and Stone
GlobalSurfers
GLOBOsapiens.net
Gorp.com
GoToTravel
Greece.com
Hometown USA
HowStuffWorks.com
IgoUgo
Independant Traveler
InsideFlyer
iTravel
japan-guide.com
Kasbah Travel
KidznSnow.com
LA.com
LVOL
Maps.com
Megan Edwards - Las Vegas
MousePlanet
NYCRoads.com
NYCtourist.com
OANDA
Outside Online
paris-anglo.com
PhillyRoads.com
PlanetRider
Price.com
RealAdventures
RoadTrip America
Rockclimbing.com
RoomsPlus.com
RoughGuides.com
RV-Coach Online
Scotland for Visitors
SeatGuru.com
SkiReport.com
Snowboard.com
SouthernUtah.com
textamerica.com
the MenuPages
ThrillNetwork.com
Trails.com
Trailspace
Travelers Digest
TravelForecast.com
Travelinfo.gr
Traveljournals.net
Travelnotes
TravLang
USATourist.com
VirginFlyer.com
Virtual Tourist
WalkingGo.com
Wayhoo.com - Geographic Coordinates
Weatherunderground.com
webDominicana
WebFlyer
WxUSA
xe.com
1UpTravel
11th Hour
10 Best
Travel Channels list
Accommodations
Adventure
Air
Car
Cruises
Destinations
General
Resources
Vacation Packages
Branding Boosted By Paid Ads, Research Says
SEW Forum : Overture and IAB research
"The IAB Search Engine Effectiveness Committee commissioned Nielsen//NetRatings' "Internet Search Brand Effectiveness Research," project " to investigate the effect of paid search ads on branding....
"Brand advertisers, who are not yet placing search advertising, may be missing out on a share of voice opportunity for keywords relevant to their categories," said Marc Ryan, Senior Director, Analysis, Nielsen//NetRatings. "This research suggests that the optimal media mix includes search and display ads, a combination which allows advertisers to take advantage of the push/pull dynamics of the web while still delivering on core branding metrics."
Danny Sullivan comments: "Haven't done a follow-up yet, but a bit concerned that contextual ads were mised in on what's called a "search branding" study.
I have no doubt that paid ads help branding -- have heard plenty of marketers report examples of this. But then that begs the question -- should we see some of these ads then sold on an impression basis, rather than cost-per-click?"
SEM and Branding Influence Shari Thurow analyses the findings and writes:
"A site can generate higher conversion rates and more qualified sales leads from lower positions. In fact, in a SERP's spidered results, people who are willing to go past the top three positions are often better researchers. They are likely to be more qualified prospects than those not willing to research...Additionally, a top position does not necessarily translate into a closed sale "
"The IAB Search Engine Effectiveness Committee commissioned Nielsen//NetRatings' "Internet Search Brand Effectiveness Research," project " to investigate the effect of paid search ads on branding....
"Brand advertisers, who are not yet placing search advertising, may be missing out on a share of voice opportunity for keywords relevant to their categories," said Marc Ryan, Senior Director, Analysis, Nielsen//NetRatings. "This research suggests that the optimal media mix includes search and display ads, a combination which allows advertisers to take advantage of the push/pull dynamics of the web while still delivering on core branding metrics."
Danny Sullivan comments: "Haven't done a follow-up yet, but a bit concerned that contextual ads were mised in on what's called a "search branding" study.
I have no doubt that paid ads help branding -- have heard plenty of marketers report examples of this. But then that begs the question -- should we see some of these ads then sold on an impression basis, rather than cost-per-click?"
SEM and Branding Influence Shari Thurow analyses the findings and writes:
"A site can generate higher conversion rates and more qualified sales leads from lower positions. In fact, in a SERP's spidered results, people who are willing to go past the top three positions are often better researchers. They are likely to be more qualified prospects than those not willing to research...Additionally, a top position does not necessarily translate into a closed sale "
Nielsen//NetRatings Reveals UK's Top 1,500 Travel Websites | Tekrati Research News
Top 1,500 Travel Websites | Tekrati Research News
"Nielsen//NetRatings revealed the top fifteen hundred travel websites surfed in the UK in July 2004. The exhaustive ranking is included in the firm's debut Travel Sector Spotlight Report. The July 2004 research shows the three leading sites in the sector are online only brands--Multimap, Expedia and Lastminute."
Key Performance Metrics include market share, time spent online, content viewed, and rank as well as key demographic data that allows travel companies to benchmark and improve their performance. Each site analysed includes a detailed report with consumer profile of age, gender and income level supplied on a monthly basis.
David Day, Managing Director says “With over 1500 sites in this report, we are delighted to provide the UK’s most detailed and comprehensive ranking showing the performance for the fast-moving and highly competitive online travel sector. Travel companies, regardless of the size, can see how their performance compares to other players and learn from the strategies of other companies to improve performance.
"Nielsen//NetRatings revealed the top fifteen hundred travel websites surfed in the UK in July 2004. The exhaustive ranking is included in the firm's debut Travel Sector Spotlight Report. The July 2004 research shows the three leading sites in the sector are online only brands--Multimap, Expedia and Lastminute."
Key Performance Metrics include market share, time spent online, content viewed, and rank as well as key demographic data that allows travel companies to benchmark and improve their performance. Each site analysed includes a detailed report with consumer profile of age, gender and income level supplied on a monthly basis.
David Day, Managing Director says “With over 1500 sites in this report, we are delighted to provide the UK’s most detailed and comprehensive ranking showing the performance for the fast-moving and highly competitive online travel sector. Travel companies, regardless of the size, can see how their performance compares to other players and learn from the strategies of other companies to improve performance.
TravelDailyNews -marketing brand Europe
TravelDailyNews
E-marketing, market intelligence, operational excellence are the keys to the success of European tourism in the years ahead
"The ETC is currently engaged in an ambitious project to develop a new European tourism portal visiteurope.com, known officially as the `European Tourism Destinations` portal. The development phase of the project started in April of this year. Development and construction of the portal is being funded by the European Union, through its IDA Programme. ETC will take over operation of the new visiteurope.com site when it goes online in late 2005...
An essential component of ETC`s marketing efforts must be to develop `Brand Europe`. Europe already has an identity - as is reflected in the `Image of Europe in North America` study - but this not the same as being a brand. Developing a brand identity requires defining what makes Europe different from other holiday destinations: what themes or values characterize `Brand Europe`, what Europe`s unique selling proposition (or USP) is. Developing `Brand Europe` goes to the core of motivating and exciting potential guests. And a strong brand identity will imbue ETC marketing efforts with greater impact and consistency."
E-marketing, market intelligence, operational excellence are the keys to the success of European tourism in the years ahead
"The ETC is currently engaged in an ambitious project to develop a new European tourism portal visiteurope.com, known officially as the `European Tourism Destinations` portal. The development phase of the project started in April of this year. Development and construction of the portal is being funded by the European Union, through its IDA Programme. ETC will take over operation of the new visiteurope.com site when it goes online in late 2005...
An essential component of ETC`s marketing efforts must be to develop `Brand Europe`. Europe already has an identity - as is reflected in the `Image of Europe in North America` study - but this not the same as being a brand. Developing a brand identity requires defining what makes Europe different from other holiday destinations: what themes or values characterize `Brand Europe`, what Europe`s unique selling proposition (or USP) is. Developing `Brand Europe` goes to the core of motivating and exciting potential guests. And a strong brand identity will imbue ETC marketing efforts with greater impact and consistency."
Travel Daily News - Global megatrends revolutionizing the tourism industry
Travel Daily News - Tourism Trends by Tourism Control Intelligence
Michael Nowlis, consultant and director for the Tourism Control Intelligence makes predictions for the travel industry:
These two items in particular strike me as offering opportunities:
Consumers will systematically consult travel health sites before checking ticket or room availability.
Consumers will increasingly expect to negotiate hotel and airline rates.
While these two items highlight dangers:
The Internet will become the dominant distribution channel for all travel and tourism products eliminating most intermediaries.
As hotel reservations made through global distribution systems diminish, GDS will exploit communications advances to reduce fees and costs.
Other possible openings and dangers include:
London, New York, Sydney and Dubai will be the leading tourism poles through the end of the decade.
While hotel and cafe guests will increasingly expect wireless Internet access, other factors will encourage hospitality operators to invest in it - serving as a platform for mobile point-of-sales, reducing cable costs and more efficient restaurant table auditing.
Understanding customers as people - their likes, dislikes, habits, interests and hobbies - will become critical to establishing competitive advantage in hospitality marketing.
Customer retention will replace customer acquisition as travel agencies` strategic objective.
Data warehousing and data mining will provide one-to-one and relationship-marketing opportunities never imagined.
Print media advertising will move onto the Web.
Increasingly value-conscious customers will demand more and better product information.
"Rave` tourists will travel further abroad in search of the perfect party (BringItOn! Travel, Like Hiptrips, Experienceibiza, etc.)"
"Travel guidebooks will become highly specialized and more frequently consulted - primarily on the web."
"By the end of the decade, a score of management companies will control the world inventory of branded hotel rooms."
"Franchising will experience explosive growth as hotel companies strategically reposition to get out of the hotel business and into the business of hotels (i.e. Radisson, Choice, Cendant, Holiday Inn, etc.)."
Michael Nowlis, consultant and director for the Tourism Control Intelligence makes predictions for the travel industry:
These two items in particular strike me as offering opportunities:
Consumers will systematically consult travel health sites before checking ticket or room availability.
Consumers will increasingly expect to negotiate hotel and airline rates.
While these two items highlight dangers:
The Internet will become the dominant distribution channel for all travel and tourism products eliminating most intermediaries.
As hotel reservations made through global distribution systems diminish, GDS will exploit communications advances to reduce fees and costs.
Other possible openings and dangers include:
London, New York, Sydney and Dubai will be the leading tourism poles through the end of the decade.
While hotel and cafe guests will increasingly expect wireless Internet access, other factors will encourage hospitality operators to invest in it - serving as a platform for mobile point-of-sales, reducing cable costs and more efficient restaurant table auditing.
Understanding customers as people - their likes, dislikes, habits, interests and hobbies - will become critical to establishing competitive advantage in hospitality marketing.
Customer retention will replace customer acquisition as travel agencies` strategic objective.
Data warehousing and data mining will provide one-to-one and relationship-marketing opportunities never imagined.
Print media advertising will move onto the Web.
Increasingly value-conscious customers will demand more and better product information.
"Rave` tourists will travel further abroad in search of the perfect party (BringItOn! Travel, Like Hiptrips, Experienceibiza, etc.)"
"Travel guidebooks will become highly specialized and more frequently consulted - primarily on the web."
"By the end of the decade, a score of management companies will control the world inventory of branded hotel rooms."
"Franchising will experience explosive growth as hotel companies strategically reposition to get out of the hotel business and into the business of hotels (i.e. Radisson, Choice, Cendant, Holiday Inn, etc.)."
World Travel Market`s Global Travel Report 2004-5 : Brits most likely to book on the Internet
Travel Daily News
"Findings unveiled in the World Travel Market`s Global Travel Report 2004-5 revealed that Brits are more likely to use the Internet to book travel than the French or Germans.According to the European Travel Monitor, which conducted 150,000 interviews in the top ten European countries, some 53 per cent of Brits are likely to book on the Internet, compared with 33 per cent in France and 28 per cent in Germany.
Although the Germans are least likely to book online, they are the most frequent bookers of accommodation online, compared with France and the UK. Meanwhile, the French are more likely to book complete package tours on the Internet than Germans or Brits.
The report revealed 45 per cent of pre-booked trips by Europeans went through travel agents, 30 per cent went through the Internet and 25 per cent by other channels.
Of the 30 per cent who used the Internet, 40 per cent booked airline tickets, 35 per cent accommodation and 25 per cent other travel add-ons.
Throughout Europe, online bookings increased by 39 per cent in the first eight months of 2004. "
"Findings unveiled in the World Travel Market`s Global Travel Report 2004-5 revealed that Brits are more likely to use the Internet to book travel than the French or Germans.According to the European Travel Monitor, which conducted 150,000 interviews in the top ten European countries, some 53 per cent of Brits are likely to book on the Internet, compared with 33 per cent in France and 28 per cent in Germany.
Although the Germans are least likely to book online, they are the most frequent bookers of accommodation online, compared with France and the UK. Meanwhile, the French are more likely to book complete package tours on the Internet than Germans or Brits.
The report revealed 45 per cent of pre-booked trips by Europeans went through travel agents, 30 per cent went through the Internet and 25 per cent by other channels.
Of the 30 per cent who used the Internet, 40 per cent booked airline tickets, 35 per cent accommodation and 25 per cent other travel add-ons.
Throughout Europe, online bookings increased by 39 per cent in the first eight months of 2004. "
Visit Britain Marketing Guide - aimed at SMEs: Travel Daily News
Travel Daily News - New guide will help smaller tourism businesses get on the map
"VisitBritain has published a new marketing guide for British tourism businesses, to introduce the many different low-cost and �no cost� ways it can help them to reach potential British and international visitors."
Of course their success stories feature businesses that have profited by paying to feature in Visit Britain campaigns....
"VisitBritain spends over £50 million each year on promoting Britain to the rest of the world, and England within Britain. Its brochures, guides, marketing campaigns, press coverage and websites are seen by millions of potential visitors, and it works with hundreds of travel agents, tour operators and travel media around the world to help bring more people to Britain."
The article quotes the following "examples of the low cost and ‘no cost’ marketing opportunities that VisitBritain offers tourism businesses:
using e-tourism and e-newsletters to reach millions of ‘Britphiles’ in 31 key markets around the globe, with the help of VisitBritain’s distribution partners such as Wanadoo
reaching the global travel trade through a huge programme of agent sales guides, newsletters and missions
targeting thousands of international travel journalists with news from Britain
free marketing advice, market information, insights and research
production, print and distribution of promotional material, bespoke touring maps and guides, and access to over 25,000 quality images of Britain – all at exceptionally low rates
quality assessment schemes, including invaluable advice from qualified assessors
targeted marketing campaigns, costing from as little as £250 to enter"
"VisitBritain has published a new marketing guide for British tourism businesses, to introduce the many different low-cost and �no cost� ways it can help them to reach potential British and international visitors."
Of course their success stories feature businesses that have profited by paying to feature in Visit Britain campaigns....
"VisitBritain spends over £50 million each year on promoting Britain to the rest of the world, and England within Britain. Its brochures, guides, marketing campaigns, press coverage and websites are seen by millions of potential visitors, and it works with hundreds of travel agents, tour operators and travel media around the world to help bring more people to Britain."
The article quotes the following "examples of the low cost and ‘no cost’ marketing opportunities that VisitBritain offers tourism businesses:
using e-tourism and e-newsletters to reach millions of ‘Britphiles’ in 31 key markets around the globe, with the help of VisitBritain’s distribution partners such as Wanadoo
reaching the global travel trade through a huge programme of agent sales guides, newsletters and missions
targeting thousands of international travel journalists with news from Britain
free marketing advice, market information, insights and research
production, print and distribution of promotional material, bespoke touring maps and guides, and access to over 25,000 quality images of Britain – all at exceptionally low rates
quality assessment schemes, including invaluable advice from qualified assessors
targeted marketing campaigns, costing from as little as £250 to enter"
Seth's Blog: Free Godin ebook
Seth's Blog: Free Godin ebook: "Free Godin ebook
This is a better formatted, limited edition ebook edition of The Bootstrapper's Bible, which used to come free when you bought a copy of Purple Cow."
This is a better formatted, limited edition ebook edition of The Bootstrapper's Bible, which used to come free when you bought a copy of Purple Cow."
Reuters Analysis Travel Search V Expedia and Travelocity,
Reuters | AOL Kayak
America Online is teaming with Kayak Software to create an online travel search site in a bid to offer consumers one-stop shopping, but some observers question whether the goal is attainable...
Jeffrey DeKorte, general manager of AOL Travel, estimated that AOL members look at three to four Web sites before making a travel purchase.
He said the new site would not affect AOL's relationship with Travelocity, which currently provides travel booking for AOL's 23 million subscribers.
Kayak's "travel search engine is not yet up to full speed and traffic is modest...Sidestep, which last month, according to Hitwise, captured 64 percent of online traffic for travel search engine sites, is the most established company in the category."
America Online is teaming with Kayak Software to create an online travel search site in a bid to offer consumers one-stop shopping, but some observers question whether the goal is attainable...
Jeffrey DeKorte, general manager of AOL Travel, estimated that AOL members look at three to four Web sites before making a travel purchase.
He said the new site would not affect AOL's relationship with Travelocity, which currently provides travel booking for AOL's 23 million subscribers.
Kayak's "travel search engine is not yet up to full speed and traffic is modest...Sidestep, which last month, according to Hitwise, captured 64 percent of online traffic for travel search engine sites, is the most established company in the category."
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Sabre GDS to be used at German Rail Stations
Huge breakthrough for Sabre Travel Network in Germany - 18-Nov-04.: "German rail network Deutsche Bahn (DB) has switched 204 of its railway station-based Travel Centres and 57 Reiseland Deutsche Bahn travel agencies to the Sabre global distribution system (GDS). The operation is one of Sabre Travel Network's largest single European conversion exercises and all 261 new outlets are expected to be fully converted by Q3 2005. "
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