Online (ho, hum) up again
More than 35 million Americans purchased travel online in 2003, five million more than the previous year, according to PhoCusWright. Their Consumer Travel Trends Survey, Sixth Edition, revealed that the US online travel market is not yet near the saturation point. However, the company made the point that competition between channels is more intense than ever for several reasons: consumers are taking fewer trips overall; purchase decisions are more complex; and hybrid (online/offline) shopping is more prevalent. Online travel buyers are as likely to purchase from a supplier, online and offline, as an online agency. Suppliers now represent more than one-third of the airline and nearly one-fourth of the hotel web sites that are most often used for online travel buying, according to PhoCusWright. The report said dynamic packaging options and tools, as well as other segmented marketing approaches, will the keys to future successful marketing approaches. The report also found that more than three-quarters of those who made a combination purchase online created their own air, car and hotel packages by selecting the components separately, rather than choosing more convenient pre-packaged options. However, in what the company called an “open invitation” to up-selling and cross-selling strategies, 59% of those in the survey report said they are interested in purchasing packages online in the future. 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
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive