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New Developments
6.3% Increase in Electronic Hotel Room Nights Worldwide in Q4
Worldwide hotel room nights booked electronically through the Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and key Internet sites grew 6.3% in the fourth quarter of 2003, illustrating the importance of hotel internet marketing in the hotel sales and marketing mix. The Internet component displayed the highest growth in room nights with an increase of 34.7% over the full year of 2003. At the same time, average rate increased slightly at 1.1%, and revenue from this channel increased by 36.2% for the year.
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Yahoo rolls out a brand new search engine
Yahoo has rolled out a brand new search engine, with its own index and ranking mechanisms, casting aside its long-standing use of Google-powered search results. Yahoo!'s share of searches will now increase to a massive 33% of the U.S. market. Industry experts believe that by March, Yahoo!
will power 43% of U.S. searches, including Yahoo!, MSN and AltaVista search results, all important in hospitality internet marketing. (ComScore Media Metrix) more
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Local search now 25% of Internet commercial activity
The findings of a new survey of more than 5,000 online buyers conducted by The Kelsey Group and BizRate.com reveal that local commercial searches – those seeking merchants "near my home or work" – represent 25.1% of all searches being performed by online buyers, more than double the amount previously estimated by analysts. The new findings bring a new and local dimension to online hotel marketing. more
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Airlines Stand Up to Internet Discounters
Airlines are continuing to stand up to online discounters as US Airways pulls out of top Internet travel site, Expedia following a $3.99 increase in booking charges. Other airlines that have stopped using intermediary travel sites recently include Northwest, Southwest and JetBlue. This move reinforces the trend away from Internet Discounters and increased awareness of the importance of direct channels in hospitality and resort marketing. more
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Hilton offers best rate web guarantee
Hilton Hotels have announced a new guarantee whereby consumers who book confirmed reservations for a Hilton Family hotel stay within the U.S. through any of the Hilton Family booking channels are guaranteed the lowest rates. If a consumer finds a lower publicly available rate on some other booking channel within 24 hours of making the reservation, the Hilton Family of Hotels will match it, and give the guest a $50 Gift Cheque. The move is aimed at regaining control of prices from intermediaries, a move that is one of the more important global trends in hotel marketing.more
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Online Travel Sites Fight to Build Brand Loyalty
InterActiveCorp, owner of the No. 1 travel site Expedia, said earlier this month it would spend $100 million more on operating expenses and $50 million in capital expenditures on marketing and branding next year to confront growing competition. Expedia's move is designed to reinforce global trends in hotel marketing favouring travel intermediaries.more
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Marriott counters global trends in hotel marketing with best rate web guarantee
Marriott International, Inc. has announced that the company will launch Marriott’s Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee on Jan. 1, 2004. The guarantee will ensure that customers receive the best available room rate at approximately 2,500 hotels when booking through any Marriott reservations channel: Marriott Worldwide Reservations, Marriott.com or directly with the hotel. more
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