Distribution costs becoming more direct
Travelers and intermediaries in the future will more directly bear the cost of distribution, according to Henry H. Hartveldt, vice president of travel research at Forrester Research.
He calls it the “dawn of a new era in travel distribution.”
“What’s behind this? Margins, of course. But also the internet,” he said.
Third-party travel intermediaries increasingly have more access to GDSs to access travel content, he said, such as availability, rates and other information.
“Right now, no alternative distribution solution is as extensive or comprehensive as GDS. But 40 years ago, the GDSs weren’t the powerhouses they are today, either,” he said.
He added a recent Forrester study found:
• Nearly half of 49% of all US leisure travelers are Web-oriented. They account for 55% of all leisure travel spending.
• Six in 10 consumers say their concerns about online privacy and security inhibit them from sharing credit card information online.
• Forty-six percent of US leisure hotel bookers research on a Web agency site such as Orbitz but book their stay on a hotel supplier’s site.
• Web travelers continue to use portal sites to research leisure trips, but not to book them. In 2004, research showed 26.5% of bookers used online research, but only 6.4% booked travel online.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025