Comments on: Thoughts on the drop in internet flight searches http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/09/thoughts-on-the-drop-in-internet-flight-searches/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:52:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pete Meyers http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/09/thoughts-on-the-drop-in-internet-flight-searches/#comment-134891 Pete Meyers Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:16:46 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2822#comment-134891 There's an interesting post in today's HotelMarketing.com that contrasts the Hitwise data with Skyscanners' internal research, which shows a year to year growth of 32%. Here's the link - http://www.hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/skyscanner_sees_no_drop_in_online_flight_searches/ Interesting data, although I think neither report really paints an accurate picture. The Hitwise numbers are clearly skewed by seasonality and an absurd date range, yet one company's growth clearly doesn't reflect an entire industry. There’s an interesting post in today’s HotelMarketing.com that contrasts the Hitwise data with Skyscanners’ internal research, which shows a year to year growth of 32%. Here’s the link – http://www.hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/skyscanner_sees_no_drop_in_online_flight_searches/

Interesting data, although I think neither report really paints an accurate picture. The Hitwise numbers are clearly skewed by seasonality and an absurd date range, yet one company’s growth clearly doesn’t reflect an entire industry.

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]]> By: Nick http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/09/thoughts-on-the-drop-in-internet-flight-searches/#comment-134879 Nick Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:04:32 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2822#comment-134879 Darren, for us up... for others that I spoken to up or the same as last year. Darren, for us up… for others that I spoken to up or the same as last year.

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]]> By: Murray H http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/09/thoughts-on-the-drop-in-internet-flight-searches/#comment-134803 Murray H Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:48:36 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2822#comment-134803 .... wow! .... thanks for reminding me about XL - Guess who forgot to take the XL affiliate marketing bits off their website (er..... and a few Silverjet ones....) :-( The general theme from Travel Agents is that a) they expected this year to be bad b) Have been wholly surprised by the number of people/ bookings coming through their doors c) don't know what to make of it and d) too disbelieving to trust that it can last. I admit I am one who belongs in these categories - not too sure what to expect, frankly, and totally bemused by what is happening. I think (and it is a thought) that the theme (? sales pitch?) to look for is "value for money" - which is not the same as "cheap". People will pay; they do not weant to give up their holiday, but they want tangible security, which a high street, with real humans, may be what Jo Public seeks, Further, they want value for what they are going to spend, rather than just "cheapness". (Haven't really developed this thought , yet.) Could be popular - Tunisia springs to mind, where you get a lot of hotel for your pound - possibly Turkey (also out of Euro-zone) also Tabor Heights (Egypt). I believe countries in the Eurozone will suffer and over-priced ones (sorry, but Italy - places such as Venice, spring to mind) and/ or hotels where you pay for the name rather than real service (Amathus Beach, perhaps?) ... so, important, perhaps, for a hotel to make sure that it's profile on Trip advisor et alia, is good! …. wow! …. thanks for reminding me about XL – Guess who forgot to take the XL affiliate marketing bits off their website (er….. and a few Silverjet ones….) :-(

The general theme from Travel Agents is that a) they expected this year to be bad b) Have been wholly surprised by the number of people/ bookings coming through their doors c) don’t know what to make of it and d) too disbelieving to trust that it can last.

I admit I am one who belongs in these categories – not too sure what to expect, frankly, and totally bemused by what is happening. I think (and it is a thought) that the theme (? sales pitch?) to look for is “value for money” – which is not the same as “cheap”.

People will pay; they do not weant to give up their holiday, but they want tangible security, which a high street, with real humans, may be what Jo Public seeks, Further, they want value for what they are going to spend, rather than just “cheapness”.

(Haven’t really developed this thought , yet.) Could be popular – Tunisia springs to mind, where you get a lot of hotel for your pound – possibly Turkey (also out of Euro-zone) also Tabor Heights (Egypt).

I believe countries in the Eurozone will suffer and over-priced ones (sorry, but Italy – places such as Venice, spring to mind) and/ or hotels where you pay for the name rather than real service (Amathus Beach, perhaps?) … so, important, perhaps, for a hotel to make sure that it’s profile on Trip advisor et alia, is good!

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]]> By: Darren Cronian http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/09/thoughts-on-the-drop-in-internet-flight-searches/#comment-134757 Darren Cronian Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:40:41 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2822#comment-134757 There's some great points / thoughts here, keep them coming. I think its very difficult to narrow down to one thing. I'd be interested to hear travel agencies and what sales are like in 2009, to see if this is having an impact on flight searches, i.e. people opting ATOL rather than DIY holidays. Interesting times ahead. There’s some great points / thoughts here, keep them coming. I think its very difficult to narrow down to one thing. I’d be interested to hear travel agencies and what sales are like in 2009, to see if this is having an impact on flight searches, i.e. people opting ATOL rather than DIY holidays. Interesting times ahead.

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]]> By: Darren Cronian http://www.travel-rants.com/2009/01/09/thoughts-on-the-drop-in-internet-flight-searches/#comment-134753 Darren Cronian Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:33:47 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=2822#comment-134753 @ Nick & Murray So would you say that business is up on 2008, or up on what you expected in 2009? It's encouraging to hear that consumers are thinking about financial protection, but I think this has negative aspects for other areas of the industry, outside of travel agencies. Will be writing more about that. @ Nick & Murray

So would you say that business is up on 2008, or up on what you expected in 2009? It’s encouraging to hear that consumers are thinking about financial protection, but I think this has negative aspects for other areas of the industry, outside of travel agencies.

Will be writing more about that.

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