And did you know TripAdvisor was only spun off from Expedia in ? To its credit, TripAdvisor pretty much seems to leave most of these acquired properties to their own devices, and most continue to run largely independently. For my money, Booking. However, it is chilling to think about how rampant consolidation has lead to what amounts to a triopoly controlling so many of the most recognized brands in online travel booking and search services.
Not that those three corporations have hoovered up everything. There are still some feisty independent OTAs and aggregators out there going it alone and doing quite well. I challenge anyone to find a better flight search engine than Danish-based Momondo.
How long can they stay independent and un-acquired in this era of rampant consolidation? That remains to be seen. The company is nearing the end of that transition and will soon have a common platform for serving up results on all its websites, as well as its mobile applications for smartphones and tablet computers.
Harford said everyone at Orbitz is looking forward to the end of that project, which should be in the coming weeks. Now, we can really focus so much more of our attention on the question of, how do we optimize the customer experience?
Key to that optimization is Orbitz. Orton said he came to Orbitz to bring more of "an algorithmic, quantitative discipline to the stuff we're doing on the marketing side. Harford points to new management hires like Orton as fundamental steps in helping Orbitz succeed. Harteveldt, the industry expert, said Harford himself is an asset, with experience as an executive at Expedia and a passion for the travel business.
There's simply more profit in hotel rooms than airline flights, and online bookings of hotels are growing much faster. It was created in by the five largest U. Its origin with airlines didn't help last year when a contract dispute with American Airlines resulted in the carrier pulling its fares from Orbitz for six months. An Illinois court forced American to reinstate its fares on Orbitz in the summer. Orbitz officials downplay the impact, but the company's U.
Online Travel Overview. For Orbitz, increasing its hotel share has been slow. The company wants half its revenue to come from hotel bookings, but in the share was 34 percent and last year it was 36 percent, according to numbers through the third quarter of Still, Harford said he's excited about the hotel business, not only because it's big but also because it's an offering where Orbitz can add value for consumers. International sales are growing and will also be a focus for the company, as well as expanding its private-label business.
Private label refers to Orbitz powering other companies' booking websites. Meanwhile, Expedia Inc. EXPE, For consumers, the choice between booking directly with an airline or hotel and going through a third-party remains a generational one, said Mark Blutstein, a research analyst with travel research firm Phocuswright. Older travelers and those who have racked up loyalty or reward points are more likely to buy airline tickets or reserve a hotel room directly.
Younger travelers, meanwhile, are obsessed about price. As a result, they tend to flock to sites like Kayak or Travelocity in order to comparison shop. In many cases, booking directly with an airline or hotel can yield significant benefits over booking with a third-party site like Orbitz. But the latter can remain an important tool for all types of travelers, when used properly.
MarketWatch breaks it down:. When booking with a hotel directly, consumers often choose from among three different rates, said Bjorn Hanson, a professor with the New York University Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism.
These include a public rate with no discounts, a discounted rate for members of loyalty programs, and a discounted non-refundable rate. Expedia would not disclose its commission. A spokeswoman for Priceline Group said that Booking. Similarly with air travel, travelers will usually save by booking directly with an airline.
0コメント