Sunday, May 16, 2004
Brand Republic
Brand Republic: "Visits to travel-related websites have increased by over a quarter in the last 12 months with the future outlook looking buoyant as more and more consumers turn to the web to organise their travel, according to Hitwise. "
Loyalty is about relationships, not transactions
Loyalty is about relationships, not transactions: "- Continuous monitoring of all customer data enables companies to shift to a subscription-based model and transform themselves into truly customer-focused organisations. Most companies do not have the strategic, technological and analytical expertise to make the transition on their own, and will need a partner to support the transition through marketing strategy and analytics. "
Friday, May 14, 2004
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
England Travel | Guide to travelling England | Travellerspoint
TravelMole announces 2004 web awards winner online agency cat: England Travel | Guide to travelling England | Travellerspoint: "Online Travel Guide > England"
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Consumers' Travel Plans Include Visit to Net
Consumers' Travel Plans Include Visit to Net: "Consumers in the US are increasingly using the Internet to plan trips, and the number of people using the Web to actually book their trips is growing at an even faster rate."
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "Despite recent reports that intensifying fare wars and mounting competition have put pressure on the airline industry, the latest figures from Hitwise provide an extremely positive outlook for the online travel market in the UK." Online Travel Sector up 27% in 12 Months
Hitwise today reports that visits to travel related websites have increased by over a quarter in the 12 months to April 2004, reflecting the continued strength of this sector online.
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "Low cost carrier EasyJet sent its share price into a tailspin yesterday after it warned it was suffering the impact of fierce competition from full service airlines and budget start-ups."
Hitwise today reports that visits to travel related websites have increased by over a quarter in the 12 months to April 2004, reflecting the continued strength of this sector online.
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "Low cost carrier EasyJet sent its share price into a tailspin yesterday after it warned it was suffering the impact of fierce competition from full service airlines and budget start-ups."
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Web Awards 2004
Web Awards 2004:
"Web-based Technology
* http://www.skyscanner.net
* http://www.gazetteers.com
* http://www.netizen.co.uk
* http://www.hotels-direct-uk.com
Online-only Agency
* http://www.travelocity.co.uk
* http://www.travellerspoint.com
* http://www.opodo.co.uk
* http://www.experiencenz.com"
See link for further cats...
"Web-based Technology
* http://www.skyscanner.net
* http://www.gazetteers.com
* http://www.netizen.co.uk
* http://www.hotels-direct-uk.com
Online-only Agency
* http://www.travelocity.co.uk
* http://www.travellerspoint.com
* http://www.opodo.co.uk
* http://www.experiencenz.com"
See link for further cats...
DMNews.com | News | Article
DMNews.com | News | Article: "SideStep Moves Straight Into the Online Travel Battle"
SideStep Inc., a travel search engine, is sharpening its positioning and awareness efforts to compete better with more aggressive online travel agencies like Travelocity and Expedia. After narrowing 225 prospective tag lines to eight, the company soon will dump the current generic-sounding tag line, "The travel search engine," in favor of "The traveler's search engine." "The change seems slight -- the addition of four extra characters," said Phil Carpenter, vice president of corporate marketing at SideStep. "But the difference in interpretation was dramatic. "Consumers saw this line, and SideStep, as a product designed for them, a service they felt they owned," he said.
Cheap Airline Tickets, Discount Hotels, Travel Deals - SideStep: "Find travel deals from dozens of sites � with one search!
Search dozens of sites at once for flight, hotel, and rental car bargains
Automatically compare prices side-by-side with sites like Expedia and Travelocity.
Discover deals from travel providers that other sites miss like JetBlue"
SideStep Inc., a travel search engine, is sharpening its positioning and awareness efforts to compete better with more aggressive online travel agencies like Travelocity and Expedia. After narrowing 225 prospective tag lines to eight, the company soon will dump the current generic-sounding tag line, "The travel search engine," in favor of "The traveler's search engine." "The change seems slight -- the addition of four extra characters," said Phil Carpenter, vice president of corporate marketing at SideStep. "But the difference in interpretation was dramatic. "Consumers saw this line, and SideStep, as a product designed for them, a service they felt they owned," he said.
Cheap Airline Tickets, Discount Hotels, Travel Deals - SideStep: "Find travel deals from dozens of sites � with one search!
Search dozens of sites at once for flight, hotel, and rental car bargains
Automatically compare prices side-by-side with sites like Expedia and Travelocity.
Discover deals from travel providers that other sites miss like JetBlue"
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
This is applicable to all three blog topics......Bad news for "landing pages, doorways whatever you call them...
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "The world's largest hotel chain has been accused of misleading customers searching for hotels by setting up dozens of websites that look like independent travel agents but, in reality, direct customers to its own products. (5/4/2004)"
Telegraph | News | Top hotel 'is behind misleading internet sites': "Customers visiting the sites are invited to look for hotels in their city of choice. Those who do so might think that they are carrying out a comprehensive search of all available accommodation, as can be done on genuinely independent travel websites. In fact, all inquiries are directed to InterContinental's own named search facility and the only results given to the customer are hotels belonging to the group.
The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said that its lawyers had looked at the sites, which InterContinental calls 'destination portals', and concluded that they were 'pretty misleading'.
A spokesman said: 'If you were a consumer you would think that it was a generic website. We would always advocate complete transparency which this does not appear to have. It does not say InterContinental anywhere on the top of the screen.'He suggested that the issue might be pursued by the Office of Fair Trading. Last night a spokesman for the OFT said that it would examine the sites."
Peter Gowers, the executive vice-president of global brand services for the hotelier, said: "I don't think it is misleading. I think it is very clear and we guard our reputation for trust and confidence as tightly as we can and we think these sites are absolutely in line with that reputation.
"We find that customers who are searching on the web do it in a number of ways. Some put in the name of the hotel, some the name and location and some just the destination. We have to find a way to reach people who just search by destination.
If you look you will see that not only does it have the usual source information at the bottom but right next to the search button it says 'powered by InterContinental Hotels'.
In fact, of the 10 sites viewed by The Sunday Telegraph, only one site, dealson-hotels.com, said "powered by InterContinental" next to the search button.
When this was pointed out to Mr Gowers he said: "It may be as the sites get rotated it hasn't come up on all of them. I'm not that familiar with all the sites. We take our reputation as the hotel company you can trust very seriously.
The competition for hotels to draw in customers on the internet has become fierce in recent months. The move by InterContinental is being seen within the industry as an attempt to circumvent the independent hotel search sites that buy cheap rooms from the hoteliers before selling them on to customers with a 20-30 per cent mark-up added on.
Last week the hotel chain threatened to stop offering its rooms through the sites unless they improved their operating terms. Its rival Hilton has, meanwhile, pledged to pay $50 (£28.20) to anyone able to book rooms cheaper at independent sites rather than through the company itself."
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "The world's largest hotel chain has been accused of misleading customers searching for hotels by setting up dozens of websites that look like independent travel agents but, in reality, direct customers to its own products. (5/4/2004)"
Telegraph | News | Top hotel 'is behind misleading internet sites': "Customers visiting the sites are invited to look for hotels in their city of choice. Those who do so might think that they are carrying out a comprehensive search of all available accommodation, as can be done on genuinely independent travel websites. In fact, all inquiries are directed to InterContinental's own named search facility and the only results given to the customer are hotels belonging to the group.
The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said that its lawyers had looked at the sites, which InterContinental calls 'destination portals', and concluded that they were 'pretty misleading'.
A spokesman said: 'If you were a consumer you would think that it was a generic website. We would always advocate complete transparency which this does not appear to have. It does not say InterContinental anywhere on the top of the screen.'He suggested that the issue might be pursued by the Office of Fair Trading. Last night a spokesman for the OFT said that it would examine the sites."
Peter Gowers, the executive vice-president of global brand services for the hotelier, said: "I don't think it is misleading. I think it is very clear and we guard our reputation for trust and confidence as tightly as we can and we think these sites are absolutely in line with that reputation.
"We find that customers who are searching on the web do it in a number of ways. Some put in the name of the hotel, some the name and location and some just the destination. We have to find a way to reach people who just search by destination.
If you look you will see that not only does it have the usual source information at the bottom but right next to the search button it says 'powered by InterContinental Hotels'.
In fact, of the 10 sites viewed by The Sunday Telegraph, only one site, dealson-hotels.com, said "powered by InterContinental" next to the search button.
When this was pointed out to Mr Gowers he said: "It may be as the sites get rotated it hasn't come up on all of them. I'm not that familiar with all the sites. We take our reputation as the hotel company you can trust very seriously.
The competition for hotels to draw in customers on the internet has become fierce in recent months. The move by InterContinental is being seen within the industry as an attempt to circumvent the independent hotel search sites that buy cheap rooms from the hoteliers before selling them on to customers with a 20-30 per cent mark-up added on.
Last week the hotel chain threatened to stop offering its rooms through the sites unless they improved their operating terms. Its rival Hilton has, meanwhile, pledged to pay $50 (£28.20) to anyone able to book rooms cheaper at independent sites rather than through the company itself."
Friday, April 30, 2004
Tiscover and its partners have won the contract to power the new VisitEurope.com
VisitEurope.com: "Tiscover and its partners have won the contract to power the new VisitEurope.com, the EU's official tourism website."
Monday, April 26, 2004
Amazon.com
Industry online but not travel...Amazon.com
Amazon.com opens jewelry store
By Frank Barnako, CBS.MarketWatch.com WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Amazon.com announced Thursday it has launched an online jewelry and watches outlet and promised "significant savings" for customers. Breaking from the company's normal practice, however, Amazon will sell product from its own inventory.
While half a dozen other jewelers, including Ice.com, are "featured sellers" in the store, CEO Jeff Bezos told the Wall Street Journal Amazon (AMZN) itself will stock "millions of dollars of jewelry in a secure warehouse," giving it the ability to price the goods, rather than rely on selling partners to do so. "The margins in a typical jewelry retailer are so high you can save people a significant amount of money," Bezos said.
Amazon.com opens jewelry store
By Frank Barnako, CBS.MarketWatch.com WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Amazon.com announced Thursday it has launched an online jewelry and watches outlet and promised "significant savings" for customers. Breaking from the company's normal practice, however, Amazon will sell product from its own inventory.
While half a dozen other jewelers, including Ice.com, are "featured sellers" in the store, CEO Jeff Bezos told the Wall Street Journal Amazon (AMZN) itself will stock "millions of dollars of jewelry in a secure warehouse," giving it the ability to price the goods, rather than rely on selling partners to do so. "The margins in a typical jewelry retailer are so high you can save people a significant amount of money," Bezos said.
Hospitality Net - Industry News - London Hotels Full Again - Deloitte Reports
Hospitality Net - Industry News - London Hotels Full Again - Deloitte Reports: "London Hotels Full Again - Deloitte Reports
London hotel occupancies have returned to boom levels, according to preliminary data from Deloitte. The HotelBenchmark Survey shows that occupancies averaged 74 percent in the first quarter of 2004, up eight percent on the same period last year. This level beats the 73 percent recorded in quarter one of 2001, before the downturn began eroding hotel performance"
London hotel occupancies have returned to boom levels, according to preliminary data from Deloitte. The HotelBenchmark Survey shows that occupancies averaged 74 percent in the first quarter of 2004, up eight percent on the same period last year. This level beats the 73 percent recorded in quarter one of 2001, before the downturn began eroding hotel performance"
Friday, April 23, 2004
The pride of Britain
Features: "All this means that, from an investment perspective, things are indeed looking up. New funding rounds by TMT businesses are no longer welcomed by titters and pointing. Indeed, some are even pleading for internet IPOs (well, one IPO in particular). And, the perceptional integration of 'internet' with 'business' is nearing completion. Technology and the Internet itself still warrants 'treatment' of its own - but it's getting harder and harder to tell what is and isn't an 'internet business'."
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Ryanair: ‘One low-cost carrier will fail this year’
Article
Ryanair has predicted that at least one European no-frills carrier would go bust this year because of an ongoing price war.
The Irish airline said it is expecting its fares to drop by between five and 20 per cent this year, which in turn is likely to reduce its post-tax profits by some 10 per cent.
He reportedly singled out bmibaby, MyTravel Lite, FlyBe, Germania, German Wings and Hapag Lloyd Express as those carriers “most exposed”, adding: “They won’t all go bust but there will be consolidations, acquisitions and mergers.”
'GDSs are not user-friendly interfaces' - 21-Apr-04.: "'GDSs are not user-friendly interfaces' Agents should turn to web-based booking systems like Octopus, says its managing director, Ray Mason, because GDSs are too complex...Despite maintaining its branding on third party websites, rather than white-labelling the product, Octopus bosses say the company is unlikely to start pursuing direct consumer bookings and start competing with websites like lastminute and Expedia. Mr Mason said that the company doesn’t have the advertising spend of B2C websites like Expedia – less than 10% of bookings are direct from consumers, he said."
Ryanair has predicted that at least one European no-frills carrier would go bust this year because of an ongoing price war.
The Irish airline said it is expecting its fares to drop by between five and 20 per cent this year, which in turn is likely to reduce its post-tax profits by some 10 per cent.
He reportedly singled out bmibaby, MyTravel Lite, FlyBe, Germania, German Wings and Hapag Lloyd Express as those carriers “most exposed”, adding: “They won’t all go bust but there will be consolidations, acquisitions and mergers.”
'GDSs are not user-friendly interfaces' - 21-Apr-04.: "'GDSs are not user-friendly interfaces' Agents should turn to web-based booking systems like Octopus, says its managing director, Ray Mason, because GDSs are too complex...Despite maintaining its branding on third party websites, rather than white-labelling the product, Octopus bosses say the company is unlikely to start pursuing direct consumer bookings and start competing with websites like lastminute and Expedia. Mr Mason said that the company doesn’t have the advertising spend of B2C websites like Expedia – less than 10% of bookings are direct from consumers, he said."
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "TheTrainline today announce the appointment of Ian Chaplin, previously Head of UK Distribution at Eurostar, to the role of Projects and Implementation Manager within TheTrainline's Corporate Sales "
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "Active Hotels has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Advences. (4/21/2004)
Advences acts as a content provider and distributor, powering travel agency and tour operator websites across France and other countries.
Via an extranet developed by Advences, travel agencies and tour operators will download the Active Hotels content database so that the hotel information is automatically branded to each agencys unique requirements."
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis:
European Online Travel Sales Increase by 43%
Online travel sales increased by as much as 43% from 2002 to 2003 and reached EUR 11.2 billion in the European market in 2003 - or 5.2% of the market (up from EUR 7.8 billion. or 3.7% in 2002).
"A further increase of about 29% during 2004 to about EUR 14.4 billion may be expected (6.4% of the market).
The W. European online travel market could reach EUR 20.2 billion or 8.5% of the market by 2006.
The UK accounted for 39% of the European online travel market in 2003, with Germany in second place at 21%.
The intermediaries gained 1.5 percentage points to 36% during 2003, but the direct sellers still account for 64%.
In 2003 the breakdown of the market by type of service was as follows:
� Air travel 57.6%
� Hotels 15.8%
� Package tours 13.3%
� Rail 8.7%
� Rental cars 2.5%
� Other services 2.1%
Air travel dropped its share from 59.2 to 57.6% during 2003, whereas hotels increased their share from 14.4 to 15.8%.
Package tours started slowly regaining online share in 2002, and continued in 2003. "
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "Active Hotels has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Advences. (4/21/2004)
Advences acts as a content provider and distributor, powering travel agency and tour operator websites across France and other countries.
Via an extranet developed by Advences, travel agencies and tour operators will download the Active Hotels content database so that the hotel information is automatically branded to each agencys unique requirements."
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis:
European Online Travel Sales Increase by 43%
Online travel sales increased by as much as 43% from 2002 to 2003 and reached EUR 11.2 billion in the European market in 2003 - or 5.2% of the market (up from EUR 7.8 billion. or 3.7% in 2002).
"A further increase of about 29% during 2004 to about EUR 14.4 billion may be expected (6.4% of the market).
The W. European online travel market could reach EUR 20.2 billion or 8.5% of the market by 2006.
The UK accounted for 39% of the European online travel market in 2003, with Germany in second place at 21%.
The intermediaries gained 1.5 percentage points to 36% during 2003, but the direct sellers still account for 64%.
In 2003 the breakdown of the market by type of service was as follows:
� Air travel 57.6%
� Hotels 15.8%
� Package tours 13.3%
� Rail 8.7%
� Rental cars 2.5%
� Other services 2.1%
Air travel dropped its share from 59.2 to 57.6% during 2003, whereas hotels increased their share from 14.4 to 15.8%.
Package tours started slowly regaining online share in 2002, and continued in 2003. "
Wired News: Flaw Could Cripple Entire Net
Wired News: Flaw Could Cripple Entire Net: "Researchers found a serious security flaw that left core Internet technology vulnerable to hackers, prompting a secretive effort by international governments and industry experts in recent weeks to prevent global disruptions of Web surfing, e-mails and instant messages.
Experts said the flaw, disclosed Tuesday by the British government, affects the underlying technology for nearly all Internet traffic. Left unaddressed, they said, it could allow hackers to knock computers offline and broadly disrupt vital traffic-directing devices, called routers, that coordinate the flow of data among distant groups of computers. "
Experts said the flaw, disclosed Tuesday by the British government, affects the underlying technology for nearly all Internet traffic. Left unaddressed, they said, it could allow hackers to knock computers offline and broadly disrupt vital traffic-directing devices, called routers, that coordinate the flow of data among distant groups of computers. "
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
The introduction of FlightScanner Internet Booking Engine (IBE), an XML-based search and booking engine, will at last enable third party websites and applications to seamlessly sell “no frills” flights and web fares directly to their customers and as part of dynamic packages. (4/20/2004)
London, 24 February 2004: Dolphin Dynamics Ltd, developers of FlightScanner, the easiest way to book low cost carriers, has announced the availability of FlightScanner Internet Booking Engine (IBE). FlightScanner IBE allows users to book selected “no frills” flights and web fares from a single booking engine without ever having to see the suppliers’ website. Travel Agencies can now offer their customers access to a range of low cost airlines and web-based fares all under their own brand look and feel, without having to develop an interface for each carrier site. For full story click here
Travel Agency Software and Backoffice Systems - Travel Accounting - Dolphin Dynamics Ltd.
: "FlightScanner is a web-based search and booking engine, offered exclusively to travel agents, that allows the user to enter search criteria in a single screen and returns real-time fares and availability from the websites of over 40 low cost, charter and traditional airlines.
FlightScanner goes further than simply searching for fares and can provide a fully automated end-to-end solution for web fares, making booking flights via the web as easy and fast as via the GDS."
The introduction of FlightScanner Internet Booking Engine (IBE), an XML-based search and booking engine, will at last enable third party websites and applications to seamlessly sell “no frills” flights and web fares directly to their customers and as part of dynamic packages. (4/20/2004)
London, 24 February 2004: Dolphin Dynamics Ltd, developers of FlightScanner, the easiest way to book low cost carriers, has announced the availability of FlightScanner Internet Booking Engine (IBE). FlightScanner IBE allows users to book selected “no frills” flights and web fares from a single booking engine without ever having to see the suppliers’ website. Travel Agencies can now offer their customers access to a range of low cost airlines and web-based fares all under their own brand look and feel, without having to develop an interface for each carrier site. For full story click here
Travel Agency Software and Backoffice Systems - Travel Accounting - Dolphin Dynamics Ltd.
: "FlightScanner is a web-based search and booking engine, offered exclusively to travel agents, that allows the user to enter search criteria in a single screen and returns real-time fares and availability from the websites of over 40 low cost, charter and traditional airlines.
FlightScanner goes further than simply searching for fares and can provide a fully automated end-to-end solution for web fares, making booking flights via the web as easy and fast as via the GDS."
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis: "OctopusTravel.com allows retail agents to book chauffeur-driven cars, limousines, minibuses or even a coach to transfer clients to and from the airport, railway station or port, in over 250 cities worldwide."
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
eyefortravel.com - Travel Distribution News, Events and Analysis
Galileo International Inc has announced the introduction of Galileo Optimal Shopping, a robust, new, fare-shopping tool available to Galileo-connected travel agencies in the US and Canada. (4/20/2004)
This new search tool identifies as many as 150 alternative itineraries at a time; includes fares from low-cost carriers and many airlines' Web fares; and uses an intelligent search logic to allow agents to tailor fare searches and solutions to fit the preferences of individual customers, such as focusing a search on the cheapest fare, fastest route or most convenient travel time.
Galileo International Inc has announced the introduction of Galileo Optimal Shopping, a robust, new, fare-shopping tool available to Galileo-connected travel agencies in the US and Canada. (4/20/2004)
This new search tool identifies as many as 150 alternative itineraries at a time; includes fares from low-cost carriers and many airlines' Web fares; and uses an intelligent search logic to allow agents to tailor fare searches and solutions to fit the preferences of individual customers, such as focusing a search on the cheapest fare, fastest route or most convenient travel time.
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