expedia

You are currently browsing articles tagged expedia.

No Booking Fees Gain Traction In Mainstream Media

15 September, 2009 by Martin Kelly | Comments closed

Let the fun begin. The booking fees charged by the Online Travel Agents are now mainstream news. A story on news.com.au attracted plenty of comment yesterday while the Today Show followed up this morning. The issue has been brought into focus by Zuji and Expedia dropping their surcharge on airline bookings. Market leader Webjet, which charges up to $49.90 to process airfare bookings, has gone on the front foot with Managing Director David Clarke saying they are justified and that clients are happy to pay.

But clearly the dynamic has changed. Meanwhile travel.com.au, which has a focus on international flights and charges a $14.95 booking fee, has produced a comparison chart claiming it offers the best prices across a range of specific fares. Flight Centre has said it will examine its fee regime. Nothing like a little diversity, lacking in the OTA space until this point, to shake things up.

Tags: booking fees, expedia, flight centre, travel.com.au, webjet, zuji

Pressure On Webjet As Zuji and Expedia Drop Fees

3 September, 2009 by Martin Kelly | Comments closed

The pressure is now on market leader Webjet following announcements today by Zuji and Expedia that they are scrapping all airline booking fees, effective immediately. The move will be heavily supported by advertising campaigns.

Webjet now charges up to $49.90 in fees per airline booking ($29.95 international booking fee plus a $19.95 “price guarantee”).

Domestic airfares booked through Webjet attract a $29.90 additional charge ($19.95 processing, $9.95 price guarantee), almost the total cost of a Tiger Airways one-way fare between Sydney and Adelaide.

The majority of Webjet’s revenue comes from fees. Clearly that is under threat. No way can Webjet, with virtually no hotel income or any kind of diversity, afford to match. It would go broke very quickly.

CEO David Clarke said Webjet will not cut or reduce its fees and believes the company's technology is worth paying extra. Interesting times ahead for Webjet with its one-dimensional business model – not to mention consumer tolerance – set to be tested like never before.

Tags: booking fees, expedia, webjet, zuji

TRAVELtech Top 25 – Journey Through The Oz Travel Web

18 August, 2009 by Martin Kelly | 1 comment

The past few months have been quite an experience, a long rambling journey through the Australian travel web. It’s been a roundabout route on my way to choosing the TRAVELtech Top 25 Australian Websites, from which TRAVELtech Website of The Year will emerge.

I have seen sites I didn’t know existed, and others that shouldn’t. In the end I had to choose 25. It wasn’t easy and I’m still not convinced. There are so many sites that could so easily have been there but aren’t.

Accommodation aggregation sites are by far the most competitive category. No coincidence that’s where the money is to be made. A ready supply of inventory through the massive online databases (ultimately) controlled by the likes of Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia also helps. Popular sites such as www.lastminute.com.au, www.roamfree.com.au, www.quickbeds.com.au and others came so close to making the Top 25 it’s ridiculous. But, right or wrong, decisions had to be made. More …

Tags: drive now, expedia, flight centre, hitwise, oodles, orbitz, qantas, quickbeds, roamfree, travelocity, TRAVELtech Top 25 Australian Websites, TRAVELtech Web Awards, virgin blue

Events

'REAL TIME - Sydney, March 30'

When: March 30, 2012
Where: Amora Hotel Jamison
Program: Real Time
Bookings: $499 + gst Early Bird

BOOK now to get the Early Bird rate for the No Vacancy accommodation industry conference in Sydney.

Real Time is the theme of No Vacancy 2012, reflecting the fact that we live in a world where everything happens now, or not at all.

In no business is this more obvious than tourism. Booking lead times are now measured in hours not days or weeks.

To succeed requires a new way of doing business, a fresh mentality and a fair amount of nerve.

The program is packed with the information you'll need to thrive in today's just-in-time world with a focus on distribution, marketing, innovation, consumers and technology.

Speakers confirmed so far include the following, and there are a few more on the way...

Rachel Argaman, CEO, Toga Hospitality
Dave Audley, Heading of Consulting, Experian Hitwise
Quentin Briard, GM Australia & NZ, Club Med
Daniel Bridges, Head of Travel, Trade Me (NZ)
Julio Bruno, Global Vice President Sales, TripAdvisor
James Cassidy, HomeAway.com.au
Robbie Cooke, CEO, Wotif.com
Will Deague, CEO, Art Series Hotels
Dean Dransfield, Director, Dransfield Hotels and Resorts
Bob East, CEO, Mantra Resorts
Leah Lipman, Area Director Reveneue Management Australasia, IHG
Simon McGrath, CEO, Accor Australia
Bryon Merzeo, Analyst, STR Global
Bernard O’Keefe, Group Online Marketing Manager, Hamilton Island
Todd Parker, Founder, Parker Travel Collection
Nikolai Pitchforth, Head of Online Travel, Google
Brett Pointon, Founder, Oaks Hotels and Resorts
Anton Stanish, GM, The Stayz Group
Janet Wilson, Managing Director, Nationwide Hospitality

It'll be a great day. As usual, the focus will be on distribution, marketing, sales, innovation and technology for both hoteliers and Online Travel Agents.

Sponsors:

Program and Speakers
Bookings

Returning September 17, 2012

The date has been set for TRAVELtech 2012 - Monday, September 17.

Meanwhile, thanks to everyone who attended TRAVELtech: Best of Enemies in Sydney recently.

It was a fantastic event, lots of fun with a touch of controversy.

Please check out the photographs or use this link to see great 360 degree panorama shots of the conference from Panedia.

TRAVELtech is Australia's original web travel, marketing and distribution event, featuring a compelling program, great speakers and fantastic networking.

Program and Event Info