:: Travel Weekly ::: "A major agreement under which Expedia was to move some of its transactions from Worldspan to Sabre has yet to be implemented, and Expedia appears to have no plans to put the agreement into practice.
Fourteen months after Expedia agreed to direct some of its business to Sabre, the pipes have not been connected and the contract has not been implemented."
Monday, July 25, 2005
Kayak.com new car hire comparison
:: Travel Weekly - The National Newspaper of the Travel Industry ::: "Kayak.com implemented a car rental feature, where consumers can compare prices from Hertz, Avis, Budget, Dollar and Thrifty.
Kayak also signed a new distribution agreement with the Houston Chronicle, adding to a roster than includes USA Today, AOL PinPoint Travel, About.com, Smarter Travel and Lonely Planet. "
Kayak also signed a new distribution agreement with the Houston Chronicle, adding to a roster than includes USA Today, AOL PinPoint Travel, About.com, Smarter Travel and Lonely Planet. "
Friday, July 22, 2005
bookbritain.net - ABTA launch one-stop shop for agents selling UK travel product
ABTA has launched BookBritain.net - a new on-line information resource and booking system for travel agents who sell the UK and Ireland.
bookbritain.net - a one-stop shop for agents selling UK travel product: "The aim of this website is to bring together information, e-learning tools and commissionable product to provide a one-stop shop for travel agents selling the UK and Ireland. You will find links to each of the National Tourist Boards and to their online training programmes (where available).
Contents:
1)e-learning tools
2) commissionable UK products: Park Resorts, Bourne Leisure,Blakes, Hoseasons, Superbreak, Grand UK Holidays, Alfa Travel, Interhome, The British Travel Agents' Hotel Register, BookUK/ Active Hotels, Hilton Hotels
3) the ABTA UKTLG
4) resources and information: The UK Tourism Marketplace, Agency Marketing Collateral, Reference Information
5) contact bookbritain.net"
bookbritain.net - a one-stop shop for agents selling UK travel product: "The aim of this website is to bring together information, e-learning tools and commissionable product to provide a one-stop shop for travel agents selling the UK and Ireland. You will find links to each of the National Tourist Boards and to their online training programmes (where available).
Contents:
1)e-learning tools
2) commissionable UK products: Park Resorts, Bourne Leisure,Blakes, Hoseasons, Superbreak, Grand UK Holidays, Alfa Travel, Interhome, The British Travel Agents' Hotel Register, BookUK/ Active Hotels, Hilton Hotels
3) the ABTA UKTLG
4) resources and information: The UK Tourism Marketplace, Agency Marketing Collateral, Reference Information
5) contact bookbritain.net"
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
travmedia.com
travmedia.com: "The .travel Registry, in cooperation with the World Tourism Organization, has affirmed a priority right to the nations of the world to register their respective country, cities, and place names in the .travel Registry.
Each country and city destination, as well as UNESCO Word Heritage Sites, will now be able to register their valuable place names in the .travel Registry, which will commence registrations in the fall of 2005.
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) will communicate this information to its Member States and Organizations within the UN System, such as UNESCO.
The priority right provides individual nations with the ability to register their domain names with the .travel Registry before other legitimate travel or tourism entities, which may share the same names, have access to those names. The prioritization will overcome the frustration felt by governments that characterized earlier Top Level Domain introductions, wherein many nations were pre-empted from registering domain names for their countries, cities, heritage and sacred sites."
Each country and city destination, as well as UNESCO Word Heritage Sites, will now be able to register their valuable place names in the .travel Registry, which will commence registrations in the fall of 2005.
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) will communicate this information to its Member States and Organizations within the UN System, such as UNESCO.
The priority right provides individual nations with the ability to register their domain names with the .travel Registry before other legitimate travel or tourism entities, which may share the same names, have access to those names. The prioritization will overcome the frustration felt by governments that characterized earlier Top Level Domain introductions, wherein many nations were pre-empted from registering domain names for their countries, cities, heritage and sacred sites."
Sabre Holdings Completes Acquisition of lastminute.com
Internet Travel News - Breaking News: Sabre Holdings Completes Acquisition of lastminute.com: "Sabre Holdings Corporation has completed the acquisition of lastminute.com plc in a deal which values the company at GBP577 million ($1.41 billion).
The proposal to redeem lastminute.coms bonds is now unconditional and the bonds will be redeemed on 3 August 2005.
The acquisition price of 165 pence per lastminute.com share values lastminute.com`s Diluted Share Capital at approximately 577 million, including gross debt of approximately 72 million"
The proposal to redeem lastminute.coms bonds is now unconditional and the bonds will be redeemed on 3 August 2005.
The acquisition price of 165 pence per lastminute.com share values lastminute.com`s Diluted Share Capital at approximately 577 million, including gross debt of approximately 72 million"
Friday, July 15, 2005
Search Marketing Association Delivers Message of Intent
Internet Travel News : "
The Search Marketing Association (SMA), announces its formal launch with the confirmation of its Executive Committee. SMA President Andy Atkins-Krüger (MD of Web Certain Europe) and Vice President Mike Grehan (CEO of Smart Interactive) will head the committee, which comprises of the industry’s leading search experts.
Atkins-Krüger and Grehan were elected in a poll overseen by the Electoral Reform Society. Members cast votes to choose the President of the Association from the 8 members who had won seats on the Executive Committee in the previous election round.
The key objectives of the SMA are as follows:
• Improve search engine relationships
• Build a knowledge bank
• Apply best practice and standards
• Consider legal issues
• Stimulate training provision
• Improve liaison with Government
• Promote the search marketing industry
• Build and maintain the SMA web site
“Each member of the Executive Committee is to take responsibility for one of these objectives and develop a programme to address it,” said Atkins-Krüger. “The whole programme has been submitted to members for comment and feedback,” he added.
The SMA Executive Committee members are:
• Jim Banks - Web Diversity
• Jason Cartright - GCDM
• Simon Collingridge - Netsposure
• Teddie Cowell - Neutralize
• Shakil Khan - Active Med
• Barry Lloyd - MakeMeTop"
The Search Marketing Association (SMA), announces its formal launch with the confirmation of its Executive Committee. SMA President Andy Atkins-Krüger (MD of Web Certain Europe) and Vice President Mike Grehan (CEO of Smart Interactive) will head the committee, which comprises of the industry’s leading search experts.
Atkins-Krüger and Grehan were elected in a poll overseen by the Electoral Reform Society. Members cast votes to choose the President of the Association from the 8 members who had won seats on the Executive Committee in the previous election round.
The key objectives of the SMA are as follows:
• Improve search engine relationships
• Build a knowledge bank
• Apply best practice and standards
• Consider legal issues
• Stimulate training provision
• Improve liaison with Government
• Promote the search marketing industry
• Build and maintain the SMA web site
“Each member of the Executive Committee is to take responsibility for one of these objectives and develop a programme to address it,” said Atkins-Krüger. “The whole programme has been submitted to members for comment and feedback,” he added.
The SMA Executive Committee members are:
• Jim Banks - Web Diversity
• Jason Cartright - GCDM
• Simon Collingridge - Netsposure
• Teddie Cowell - Neutralize
• Shakil Khan - Active Med
• Barry Lloyd - MakeMeTop"
Major Acquisition for Priceline.com
Internet Travel News: "Major Acquisition for Priceline.com
Priceline.com has acquired Bookings B.V. in a cash transaction valued at approximately €110 million, or US$133 million. The deal follows priceline.com’s recent acquisition of Cambridge-based Active Hotels in September 2004.
In total, Bookings B.V. and Active Hotels have negotiated exclusive rates with almost 18,000 properties, which the companies believe is more than any other European Internet hotel reservation service.
Bookings’ gross travel bookings for the 12 months ended June 30, 2005 are expected to be approximately US$225 million, up approximately 110% year-over-year. Bookings’ revenues for the 12 months ended June 30, 2005 are expected to be approximately US$25 million, up approximately 100% year over year. Gross bookings refer to the total dollar value, inclusive of taxes and fees, of all hotel room nights purchased by consumers, based on current foreign exchange rates. Priceline.com said that it expected the acquisition to be accretive to its earnings (before non-cash amortization expense associated with the acquisition) for the 2nd half of 2005 and for calendar year 2006."
Priceline.com has acquired Bookings B.V. in a cash transaction valued at approximately €110 million, or US$133 million. The deal follows priceline.com’s recent acquisition of Cambridge-based Active Hotels in September 2004.
In total, Bookings B.V. and Active Hotels have negotiated exclusive rates with almost 18,000 properties, which the companies believe is more than any other European Internet hotel reservation service.
Bookings’ gross travel bookings for the 12 months ended June 30, 2005 are expected to be approximately US$225 million, up approximately 110% year-over-year. Bookings’ revenues for the 12 months ended June 30, 2005 are expected to be approximately US$25 million, up approximately 100% year over year. Gross bookings refer to the total dollar value, inclusive of taxes and fees, of all hotel room nights purchased by consumers, based on current foreign exchange rates. Priceline.com said that it expected the acquisition to be accretive to its earnings (before non-cash amortization expense associated with the acquisition) for the 2nd half of 2005 and for calendar year 2006."
Orbitz Survey Finds Travelers Prefer To Book With Online Agencies
Hospitality Net - Industry News : "New Orbitz Survey Finds Travelers Prefer To Book With Online Agencies To Comparison Shop Multiple Hotel Brands, Access Lowest Rates
Orbitz the site that makes it easy to find great travel deals, today announced the results of a national survey of travelers with internet access that reveals the majority (91%) want to comparison shop multiple hotel brands when booking a hotel. According to the Orbitz Hotel Survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive, nearly half of consumers (49%) believe web sites like Orbitz offer the lowest hotel rates more than calling hotels directly (25%) or using hotel websites (22%) do. "
Orbitz the site that makes it easy to find great travel deals, today announced the results of a national survey of travelers with internet access that reveals the majority (91%) want to comparison shop multiple hotel brands when booking a hotel. According to the Orbitz Hotel Survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive, nearly half of consumers (49%) believe web sites like Orbitz offer the lowest hotel rates more than calling hotels directly (25%) or using hotel websites (22%) do. "
Orbitz, priceline.com Sign Travel Marketing Agreement
Hospitality Net - Industry News : "CHICAGO and NORWALK, Conn., Orbitz® and priceline.com® announced today a multi-service travel marketing agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, priceline.com will be Orbitz's exclusive partner for opaque travel services effective January 1, 2006. The agreement also restructures the hotel marketing contract between Orbitz and priceline.com's Travelweb hotel business unit to allow Orbitz to establish direct relationships with hotel chains and properties...
"This agreement aligns two of travel's best-known brands in their respective fields," said Mitch Truwit, President and Chief Executive Officer of Orbitz. "Our opaque partnership with priceline.com will give Orbitz customers access to a broad inventory of their Name Your Own Price® travel services, so customers who are flexible in their travel plans can maximize savings. By directly negotiating with hotels, such as Marriott, Starwood, Hyatt, Hilton, and Intercontinental, Orbitz will have the flexibility to provide our customers with even more hotel options.""
"This agreement aligns two of travel's best-known brands in their respective fields," said Mitch Truwit, President and Chief Executive Officer of Orbitz. "Our opaque partnership with priceline.com will give Orbitz customers access to a broad inventory of their Name Your Own Price® travel services, so customers who are flexible in their travel plans can maximize savings. By directly negotiating with hotels, such as Marriott, Starwood, Hyatt, Hilton, and Intercontinental, Orbitz will have the flexibility to provide our customers with even more hotel options.""
Hotels Flock to Free Internet Bookings
Hospitality Net - Industry News - Hotels Flock to Free Internet Bookings: "When hoteliers in Virginia Beach, Virginia were offered free internet bookings via the Convention and Visitors Bureau's website, www.VBFun.com, they signed up for the service in unprecedented numbers.
The CVB made the exceptional offer after it licensed Trav-Elements' online reservation and dynamic packaging technology on behalf of its hospitality constituents and website visitors. The idea to take control of the resort's e-commerce was generated by the Virginia Beach Hotel and Motel Association.
Over sixty hotels and six major attractions are selling together via the Virginia Beach website. Trav-Elements unique architecture enables each property and activity to control its own rates and its own service and fulfillment. Because there are no mark-ups or commissions and package rates are opaque, hotels can manage rates to comply with brand and other distribution agreements. Willcox says the profit potential of free bookings had GMs overriding the reluctance of revenue managers" to take on another distribution channel.
The CVB did not have to mount a central reservation operation because Trav-Elements technology automates the process with no middleman and minimal oversight from the CVB. The Virginia Beach program is online only with no call center sales because "the high cost of call center infrastructure is often not worth the additional revenue," according to Willcox.
Trav-Elements" dynamic activity and lodging packaging has proved most valuable in shoulder and off-seasons when special activities and events drive visits to destinations such as Virginia Beach. The Beach program launched in January with a "build your own" whale watching and lodging package that was highly successful. The CVB was able to place media with an online call to action and track results instantly via Trav-Elements extranet. Virginia Beach has also used Trav-Elements for housing booking of citywide conventions via private linkage to the convention organizer"s website and email.
Trav-Elements technology currently powers destination style websites for more than thirty major attractions, destinations, and hotel management groups. The system is licensed for a fixed monthly fee scaled to the number of participating hotel and activity properties."
The CVB made the exceptional offer after it licensed Trav-Elements' online reservation and dynamic packaging technology on behalf of its hospitality constituents and website visitors. The idea to take control of the resort's e-commerce was generated by the Virginia Beach Hotel and Motel Association.
Over sixty hotels and six major attractions are selling together via the Virginia Beach website. Trav-Elements unique architecture enables each property and activity to control its own rates and its own service and fulfillment. Because there are no mark-ups or commissions and package rates are opaque, hotels can manage rates to comply with brand and other distribution agreements. Willcox says the profit potential of free bookings had GMs overriding the reluctance of revenue managers" to take on another distribution channel.
The CVB did not have to mount a central reservation operation because Trav-Elements technology automates the process with no middleman and minimal oversight from the CVB. The Virginia Beach program is online only with no call center sales because "the high cost of call center infrastructure is often not worth the additional revenue," according to Willcox.
Trav-Elements" dynamic activity and lodging packaging has proved most valuable in shoulder and off-seasons when special activities and events drive visits to destinations such as Virginia Beach. The Beach program launched in January with a "build your own" whale watching and lodging package that was highly successful. The CVB was able to place media with an online call to action and track results instantly via Trav-Elements extranet. Virginia Beach has also used Trav-Elements for housing booking of citywide conventions via private linkage to the convention organizer"s website and email.
Trav-Elements technology currently powers destination style websites for more than thirty major attractions, destinations, and hotel management groups. The system is licensed for a fixed monthly fee scaled to the number of participating hotel and activity properties."
Hotel Web Basics That Really Work�Content is King | By Neil Salerno
Hospitality Net - Industry News - Hotel Web Basics That Really Work Content is King | By Neil Salerno: "There are some simple tactics which promote success in web marketing. Don’t be fooled by those huge numbers of “hits” on your site. The true measure of your site’s success is the number of reservations it generates.
The most important first step is to make sure your web site is designed for success. What is success? Success means attracting people to your site, then converting lookers to bookers
The design of an effective hotel site involves much more than how it looks; and herein lays the problem. There are basic “rules-of-the-road” so to speak, which greatly affect how well a site performs. The first is its search ability. Techies love movement and flashy design; unfortunately, search engines do not. Savvy designers know how to fool search engines, but they spend more time trying to get around search engine parameters than they spend on the site’s content; and content is king. Search spiders read copy, yet designers devote less time and effort to the “words” and concentrate on making a site pretty with photography
Make sure good basic principles of hotel sales are being utilized.
Selling rooms is not like selling widgets or designing technical web tools. "
The most important first step is to make sure your web site is designed for success. What is success? Success means attracting people to your site, then converting lookers to bookers
The design of an effective hotel site involves much more than how it looks; and herein lays the problem. There are basic “rules-of-the-road” so to speak, which greatly affect how well a site performs. The first is its search ability. Techies love movement and flashy design; unfortunately, search engines do not. Savvy designers know how to fool search engines, but they spend more time trying to get around search engine parameters than they spend on the site’s content; and content is king. Search spiders read copy, yet designers devote less time and effort to the “words” and concentrate on making a site pretty with photography
Make sure good basic principles of hotel sales are being utilized.
Selling rooms is not like selling widgets or designing technical web tools. "
World Travel & Tourism Council Issues Estimate of London Bombing Impact
Hospitality Net - Industry News : "World Travel & Tourism Council Issues Estimate of London Bombing Impact"
The Committee commended the highly efficient reaction of the rescue services and underscored the seriousness with which the UK authorities had prepared for such an event. The Committee unanimously agreed that early indications showed that the impact on the UK"s Travel & Tourism industry would be limited. Travel & Tourism companies have recovered their stock value within 24 hours of the attacks, reflecting the confidence in the industry.
The Committee concluded that:
The intensity of the event"s affect on international arrivals, residents" Travel & Tourism consumption confidence and Business Travel confidence should be minor.
The duration of the event"s affect on International arrivals, residents" Travel & Tourism consumption confidence and Business Travel confidence should be limited.
The geographical reach of the event should be limited to the UK.
The damage to the Travel & Tourism infrastructure was none.
The UK government spending response to the event should and would be strong.
In light of these factors, the WTTC Crisis Event Forecasting Model developed by Oxford Economic Forecasting was engaged for the first time since it"s launch at the WTTC Global Tourism Summit in Delhi in May 2005. The Crisis Event Forecasting Model suggested that in 2005:
UK visitor arrivals may decline by approximately 588,000 from previously forecast levels (30,947,368), a decline of 1.9 per cent.
Personal Travel & Tourism by UK residents may decline by GBP2.3 billion, a loss of 2.3 per cent from previously forecast levels (GBP102 billion).
Business Travel & Tourism by UK companies may decline by GBP523 million, representing a loss of 2.3 per cent previously forecast levels (GBP 22.7 billion).
Government Travel & Tourism expenditures may increase* by GBP470 million, representing a gain of 6.3 per cent over previous forecast levels (GBP 12.6 billion).
Visitor Exports may decrease 1.9 per cent or GBP386 million from previously forecast levels (GBP 34.9 billion).
Travel & Tourism Industry GDP may decrease 2.0 per cent or GBP927 million from previously forecast levels (GBP46.8 billion).
Travel & Tourism Economy GDP may decrease 1.5 per cent or GBP1.9 billion from previously forecast levels (GBP122.5 billion)
Travel & Tourism Industry employment may shrink by 0.49 per cent.
Travel & Tourism Economy employment may reduce by 0.55 per cent."
The Committee commended the highly efficient reaction of the rescue services and underscored the seriousness with which the UK authorities had prepared for such an event. The Committee unanimously agreed that early indications showed that the impact on the UK"s Travel & Tourism industry would be limited. Travel & Tourism companies have recovered their stock value within 24 hours of the attacks, reflecting the confidence in the industry.
The Committee concluded that:
The intensity of the event"s affect on international arrivals, residents" Travel & Tourism consumption confidence and Business Travel confidence should be minor.
The duration of the event"s affect on International arrivals, residents" Travel & Tourism consumption confidence and Business Travel confidence should be limited.
The geographical reach of the event should be limited to the UK.
The damage to the Travel & Tourism infrastructure was none.
The UK government spending response to the event should and would be strong.
In light of these factors, the WTTC Crisis Event Forecasting Model developed by Oxford Economic Forecasting was engaged for the first time since it"s launch at the WTTC Global Tourism Summit in Delhi in May 2005. The Crisis Event Forecasting Model suggested that in 2005:
UK visitor arrivals may decline by approximately 588,000 from previously forecast levels (30,947,368), a decline of 1.9 per cent.
Personal Travel & Tourism by UK residents may decline by GBP2.3 billion, a loss of 2.3 per cent from previously forecast levels (GBP102 billion).
Business Travel & Tourism by UK companies may decline by GBP523 million, representing a loss of 2.3 per cent previously forecast levels (GBP 22.7 billion).
Government Travel & Tourism expenditures may increase* by GBP470 million, representing a gain of 6.3 per cent over previous forecast levels (GBP 12.6 billion).
Visitor Exports may decrease 1.9 per cent or GBP386 million from previously forecast levels (GBP 34.9 billion).
Travel & Tourism Industry GDP may decrease 2.0 per cent or GBP927 million from previously forecast levels (GBP46.8 billion).
Travel & Tourism Economy GDP may decrease 1.5 per cent or GBP1.9 billion from previously forecast levels (GBP122.5 billion)
Travel & Tourism Industry employment may shrink by 0.49 per cent.
Travel & Tourism Economy employment may reduce by 0.55 per cent."
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Active Hotels Appoint Brainbox
travmedia.com: "Active Hotels Appoint Brainbox To Develop New CRM Programme
Active Hotels, one of Europe’s leading online hotel reservation providers owned by priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN), has appointed Brainbox, the analytical CRM division of Data Locator Group, to provide it with a detailed understanding of its customers through the creation of ‘Personas’ - a new series of customer groups.
‘Personas’ group individuals depending on their shared characteristics including needs, habits, lifestyles, demographics and behaviours.
The appointment of Brainbox will allow Active Hotels to move towards a more customer-centric business model by gaining a greater insight into customer behaviour and needs. This will support all aspects of the business from product development to customer retention strategies.
Jason Froggett, Managing Director, Brainbox comments: “Active Hotels has a great business model and is becoming truly customer-centric. With this in mind we are very much looking forward to working with them. The development of Personas will help their business fine tune their marketing strategy and make highly informed decisions regarding search and booking functionality.”
Luke Errington, Consumer Manager, Active Hotels comments: “This is a major development in the growth of our B2C business. We will use ‘Personas’ to make informed decisions about the development of new functionality and content, to help customers find great deals at over 10,000 hotels across Europe. We selected Brainbox, an analytical powerhouse, to provide us with a multi-dimensional perspective of our customer base. With their great attention to detail and dedication to understanding our business, the Brainbox team give me enormous confidence that the Personas project will be highly successful.” "
Active Hotels, one of Europe’s leading online hotel reservation providers owned by priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN), has appointed Brainbox, the analytical CRM division of Data Locator Group, to provide it with a detailed understanding of its customers through the creation of ‘Personas’ - a new series of customer groups.
‘Personas’ group individuals depending on their shared characteristics including needs, habits, lifestyles, demographics and behaviours.
The appointment of Brainbox will allow Active Hotels to move towards a more customer-centric business model by gaining a greater insight into customer behaviour and needs. This will support all aspects of the business from product development to customer retention strategies.
Jason Froggett, Managing Director, Brainbox comments: “Active Hotels has a great business model and is becoming truly customer-centric. With this in mind we are very much looking forward to working with them. The development of Personas will help their business fine tune their marketing strategy and make highly informed decisions regarding search and booking functionality.”
Luke Errington, Consumer Manager, Active Hotels comments: “This is a major development in the growth of our B2C business. We will use ‘Personas’ to make informed decisions about the development of new functionality and content, to help customers find great deals at over 10,000 hotels across Europe. We selected Brainbox, an analytical powerhouse, to provide us with a multi-dimensional perspective of our customer base. With their great attention to detail and dedication to understanding our business, the Brainbox team give me enormous confidence that the Personas project will be highly successful.” "
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Metropolitan Police Service - Response to terrorist attack
Metropolitan Police Service - Response to terrorist attack: "Metropolitan Police response to terrorist attack in London
The response to the terrorist attack which hit London on 07 July 2005 is being led by the Metropolitan Police.
News items, links to other relevant web sites and important telephone numbers are listed here.
This homepage will be updated regularly with the latest news and resources."
The response to the terrorist attack which hit London on 07 July 2005 is being led by the Metropolitan Police.
News items, links to other relevant web sites and important telephone numbers are listed here.
This homepage will be updated regularly with the latest news and resources."
Travel Advice - United Kingdom
travmedia.com: "Australians in the United Kingdom are advised to be alert to their own security. As you would in Australia, use common sense and be alert to suspicious activities.
Australians who are concerned for family and friends in London are encouraged to try to contact them directly in the first instance. If you are unable to make contact, you can call the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 1800 002 214 for assistance.
We encourage all Australians in the UK to notify the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that they are safe via email - london@dfat.gov.au. People who have contacted DFAT via phone to enquire about the whereabouts and welfare of Australian relatives and friends in the UK are encouraged to email london@dfat.gov.au to notify us if they have subsequently confirmed their safety.
The British government Civil Contingencies Secretariat and the Home Office provides advice on public safety issues."
Australians who are concerned for family and friends in London are encouraged to try to contact them directly in the first instance. If you are unable to make contact, you can call the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 1800 002 214 for assistance.
We encourage all Australians in the UK to notify the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that they are safe via email - london@dfat.gov.au. People who have contacted DFAT via phone to enquire about the whereabouts and welfare of Australian relatives and friends in the UK are encouraged to email london@dfat.gov.au to notify us if they have subsequently confirmed their safety.
The British government Civil Contingencies Secretariat and the Home Office provides advice on public safety issues."
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Casualties on London's underground after 'blast'
Google Search: explosions on the London transport system this morning.
Reuters AlertNet - Chronology of attacks in Europe: " A series of explosions ripped through London's underground rail system on Thursday morning, killing several people, in what appeared to be co-ordinated attacks, police and transport officials said."
Reuters AlertNet - Chronology of attacks in Europe: " A series of explosions ripped through London's underground rail system on Thursday morning, killing several people, in what appeared to be co-ordinated attacks, police and transport officials said."
Olympics win worth £2 billion to British tourism
VisitBritain- (Travel Daily News): "Britain`s tourism industry has welcomed yesterday`s announcement that the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in London, proclaiming it the biggest ever opportunity for UK tourism.
Industry leaders believe that between 50 - 75% of Britain`s net benefit of staging the Games, measured over a 7-10 year period, will accrue through tourism. Based on Sydney`s example, the Games could be worth well over £2 billion to our visitor economy.
"
Industry leaders believe that between 50 - 75% of Britain`s net benefit of staging the Games, measured over a 7-10 year period, will accrue through tourism. Based on Sydney`s example, the Games could be worth well over £2 billion to our visitor economy.
"
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Fare.Net and Bezurk.com...two more online tools
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "Travellers now have two more online tools at their disposal to help them hunt down the best air fares and hotel rooms, reports Travel Magazine, which explains that those behind Fare.Net and Bezurk.com call them the travel equivalent of search engine, Google."
Cheapflights Announces Record Marketshare and New Appointment
Internet Travel News - Cheapflights Announces Record Marketshare and New Appointment: "According to Hitwise, of the 552 online travel sites in the travel agent category, Cheapflights ranked #16 with a .53% market share for the month of May. For the week ending 4th June Cheapflights.com market share was 5% below Kayak. In addition, Cheapflights.com reports that unique visitors to the site have climbed to over 1 million unique users for the month of May, 2005. (Source: Webtrends).
Cheapflights.com has a proven, profitable and scaleable business model that, without any external funding, has grown from 70 travel 'advertising partners' and traffic of 300,000 unique users a month in early 2000, to currently over 900 'partners' worldwide and a combined monthly traffic of 4 million users, one million of which are US users."
Cheapflights.com has a proven, profitable and scaleable business model that, without any external funding, has grown from 70 travel 'advertising partners' and traffic of 300,000 unique users a month in early 2000, to currently over 900 'partners' worldwide and a combined monthly traffic of 4 million users, one million of which are US users."
British consumers vote yes for online travel
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "New global consumer research shows the British are among the worlds most satisfied online travellers. The results of a poll conducted by GMIPoll reveal how online travel booking is beginning to develop faster in some markets than others.
When asked how much of their travel they booked online, British respondents had the highest rate of consumers who booked all of their travel online – 22% compared to only 9% of French and 11% of German respondents. Globally, only 9% of online consumers polled by GMI book all of their travel online, whilst 43% evidently book less than a quarter of their travel online."
When asked how much of their travel they booked online, British respondents had the highest rate of consumers who booked all of their travel online – 22% compared to only 9% of French and 11% of German respondents. Globally, only 9% of online consumers polled by GMI book all of their travel online, whilst 43% evidently book less than a quarter of their travel online."
Rail Europe Group puts live inventory ticketing on agent site
:: Travel Weekly ::: "Rail Europe Group launched a new point-to-point rail ticket booking engine featuring live inventory of European and U.K. trains at its trade-exclusive Web site at http://agent.raileurope.com.
Dispensing with the timetable-based approach previously used by Rail Europe Group companies Rail Europe and DER, as well as other North American distributors, the new booking engine mimics airline booking engines, showing 'available trains at available fares,' according to the company.
'Because we give agents access to live inventory on the revamped site, this streamlines the booking process, eliminating the need to go back to their client when the schedule they requested is not available,' said Fabrice Morel, President and CEO of Rail Europe Group, in a statement.
New functionality includes: incorporation of seat reservations in overall ticket fares; online, side-by-side comparison of first- and second-class fares; and immediate confirmation of ticket purchase and seat reservations.
Agent commission on point-to-point rail tickets ranges from 4% to 7%.
For more information on the individual Rail Europe Group companies, call Rail Europe at (888) 382-7245 or DER at (800) 782-2424"
Dispensing with the timetable-based approach previously used by Rail Europe Group companies Rail Europe and DER, as well as other North American distributors, the new booking engine mimics airline booking engines, showing 'available trains at available fares,' according to the company.
'Because we give agents access to live inventory on the revamped site, this streamlines the booking process, eliminating the need to go back to their client when the schedule they requested is not available,' said Fabrice Morel, President and CEO of Rail Europe Group, in a statement.
New functionality includes: incorporation of seat reservations in overall ticket fares; online, side-by-side comparison of first- and second-class fares; and immediate confirmation of ticket purchase and seat reservations.
Agent commission on point-to-point rail tickets ranges from 4% to 7%.
For more information on the individual Rail Europe Group companies, call Rail Europe at (888) 382-7245 or DER at (800) 782-2424"
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Top ten UK travel players hide in the shadow of US giants
eyefortravel.com : "According to travel and hospitality industry digest, e-tid, the CAAs latest ATOL business report shows that US giants Cendant, InterActive and Sabre, when it completes its purchase of lastminute.com later this month, are among the ten largest travel companies."
Travel technology must adapt to meet demanding customer requirements
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "Travel technology today is customer-centric, as opposed to supplier-centric, and travellers worldwide expect, and in fact demand, that travel technology is designed to suit their exact requirements...
Christou predicts that the online arena is set for a decade of consolidation. “Within this arena however, flexibility is vital, and it is imperative that the travel industry is able to adapt to a volatile world.”
Bullard remarked on the pace at which international IP connectivity is expanding, and foresees a 300% increase in e-commerce over the next five years."
Christou predicts that the online arena is set for a decade of consolidation. “Within this arena however, flexibility is vital, and it is imperative that the travel industry is able to adapt to a volatile world.”
Bullard remarked on the pace at which international IP connectivity is expanding, and foresees a 300% increase in e-commerce over the next five years."
Monday, July 04, 2005
Opodo Aggressive Growth Continues with Latest Acquisition
Internet Travel News - Opodo Continues Aggressive Growth Strategy with Latest Acquisition: "Opodo has strengthened its presence in the French marketplace with its latest acquisition of French Internet travel agency Vivacances.
Vivacances launched in 2002 and offers the full range of travel products including flights, hotels, car hire, trains and package holidays.
France is the second largest and one of the fastest growing European markets for online travel with Euro 7 billion gross sales forecast to be sold in 2005. The Opodo companies in France reflect this growth as they continue to go from strength to strength. In the first quarter of 2005, Opodo.fr experienced a 96% growth compared to Q1 2004, whilst Karavel increased by 75% year on year."
Vivacances launched in 2002 and offers the full range of travel products including flights, hotels, car hire, trains and package holidays.
France is the second largest and one of the fastest growing European markets for online travel with Euro 7 billion gross sales forecast to be sold in 2005. The Opodo companies in France reflect this growth as they continue to go from strength to strength. In the first quarter of 2005, Opodo.fr experienced a 96% growth compared to Q1 2004, whilst Karavel increased by 75% year on year."
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