News from Expedia tells of the OTA’s coming purchase of holiday rental firm HomeAway. In a deal estimated at $3.9 billion, the Texas based startup could punch a hole in the alternative accommodations space for the famous brand.
Orbitz
“We Told You!” The Arrival of Your Mobile Guest
Across the spectrum of travel businesses the paradigm shift to mobile now takes on acute significance. From online travel agencies, hoteliers, travel agents, and the business side of the travel industry, the inevitability of the mobile customer has arrived. Fortunately for a good many travel entities, preparations were made to adapt to this shift. However, the majority of businesses worldwide now find themselves behind the proverbial 8-ball. To all the businesses we’ve suggested convert, that milestone we predicted has arrived. Don’t say we didn’t tell you so.
Q1 Profit and Loss: Weeding Out the OTAs
In a 2014 economy seemingly stagnated OTAs and other travel businesses are feeling some pain. This is not the case for Priceline Group, which just showed a 1st quarter earnings jump of some 36% on international bookings. However, this company’s gain is evidently Orbitz’s and other digital travel business loss. Are we seeing a “weeding out” of good travel entities versus bad ones?
Europeans Proclaim: “Central America or Bust This Summer”
As far as world beaches go, apparently many out there choose Cancun as the choice of beach getaways for Summer 2013. According to Orbitz the No. 1 international Summer beach hotspot is the legendary Spring Break destination in Mexico. Mexico and Central America are not only heating up temperature wise this Summer, but visitation wise.
Big OTAs and Big Hotels in Price Fixing Lawsuit
A federal lawsuit naming the likes of Expedia, Orbitz, Booking.com, Travelocity, Trump International Hotels Management, Intercontinental, Kimpton, Sabre Holdings, Priceline, Marriott, Starwood, and Hilton alleges the companies conspired to fix hotel room prices. According to the news from Reuters, the suit claims the travel giants did so in an effort to fend off competition from smaller online retailers.
Warm Winter Spots: Freeport On A Budget
If your Winter is working out anything like ours here in Germany, it’s about time for a more tropical outlook. Using Atlanta, Georgia as an example starting point, just consider what 19°F with a 23 mph wind will feel like tomorrow morning. Without spending a king’s ransom, next weekend you and a co-conspirator could be warm and toasty, having fun in Freeport in the Bahamas.
Selling Soap, Seats, & Other Hospitality Services In 2012
An article on Tnooz last Friday peaked our interest, Xotels boss Patrick Landman offering up key variables in what will become the biggest online trade war ever. When Google, all the big corporate OTAs, and key independent online travel entities lock horns for a final round, a few will not be left standing.
OTA CEOs: Part III
Continuing our series on decision makers in the online travel world, Argo jumps back in to an interesting Q & A session between reporters from USA Today and leading CEOs. Veronica Gould Stoddart and Roger Yu caught up with 6 top bosses at the recent PhoCusWright conference in Hollywood, Fla. We take up where we left off, analyzing answers to some key tech trend questions.
OTA CEOs: Part II
Yesterday we began a series on online travel agency CEOs, and a recent interview conducted by USA TODAY’s Veronica Gould Stoddart and Roger Yu. We analyzed a bit, some key decision makers’ mindset on the question of whether consumers want (will get) richer content from these industry giants during their travel searches. Expedia, Orbitz, TripAdvisor, parent Expedia, Travelocity, and Priceline bosses all had their views there.
OTA CEOs and Who Has Your Back: Part I
What do you want from information providers? How about service providers that offer information you need to know to make decisions? Where online travel is concerned, there has been a lot of shakeup of late over these questions. Can you trust reviews? Which OTAs can you trust? We decided to micro-analyze some questions and answers already provided by none other than USA Today, and the leading bosses of your online travel agencies.
Nickels & Dimes & Billions: Ancillary Revenue Notes
An article just the other day at Travel Agent Central hints at just how deep the well of ancillary travel revenue may be. According to a cited Amadeus/IdeaWorks report, ancillary revenues could triple from $32 billion to over $100 billion on the heels of electronic miscellaneous documents (EMDs). But, the real story beneath transactions may be the […]
Global Hotel Exchange Utilizes RateTiger Effect
On Tuesday, an new, independent OTA announced a strategical alignment with RateTiger. Global Hotel Exchange, a cost free distrubution channel for hotels to launch in January, will leverage the power of global hospitality technology provider Rate Tager and eRevMax.
As Travel Costs Go Up, So Shall Profits…
So far this year, there have to have been 50,000 news reports suggesting profits and growth are headed upward for the travel industry. And on the other hand, many are asking, “How?” Hotels starting to charge for tidbits of service like the airlines, currencies and countries on the brink, and the other side of news suggesting growth is impossible, what are we to believe?
Billions in Airline Fees – No Laughing Matter
An article by Hugo Martin in the Los Angeles Times yesterday reveals still more bad PR and just bad business for airlines. At a time when any industry can well afford negative news, over $1.5 billion in nickel – dime baggage charges and reservation fees makes America’s biggest air carriers seem anything but transparent.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts: The Luxury You’d Expect
Starwood Hotels’ Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts has released a limited edition US destination guide published by Assouline. Part of a set of bound books, the luxuriously crafted books show off the Luxury Collection’s most exquisite properties around the world.
Travelport & Orbitz Safe for Now – and Tomorrow?
Everyone associated with Travelport has to have breathed a sigh of relief on the news that Travelport Holdings successfully revamped their debt, extending their PIK until December of 2016. Unanimous support from their lenders now ensures the travel giants ongoing operations.
Orbitz Future Hinges on Travelport Debt
In news from Chicago, the state court of appeals there upheld an earlier decision forcing American Airlines (AMR) to allow Orbitz to sell tickets for its flights. Orbritz, the US’s second largest online ticket seller, has for months been embroiled in dispute with AMR.
TripAdvisor Reaches 50 Million Visitors: But For How Long?
TripAdvisor, currently the largest travel portal in the world, yesterday announced via a press release that it had reached a milestone of 50 million unique visitors each month, becoming the first stand-alone travel site to do so, according to statistics provided by comScore.
Orbitz May Finally Be A Best Buy
Orbitz announcements of deals and personnel changes, like most such corporate news fodder, would not ordinarly be a sign of anything big in the offing. However, with a closing price of $2.40 on Friday, and the inherent value underneath, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this stock is on the way up.
Travel Agents and the Status Quo of Extinction
President Obama’s projection about travel agents, and the potential for them becoming obscolete brought on a firestorm of criticism from who else? The ASTA of course. The American Society of Travel Agents took great offense and injury at comments that. Comments that. Were effectively accurate, that’s what.