This is weird – counter-trends. After years of booking lead times contracting in our "just in time" world, the Wotif.com results for the last six months of 2009 reveal that the number of days between reservation and check-in blew out by almost 100% over the corresponding period in 2008 …. 13.35 days compared with 7.93 days.
Why? Perhaps it's because people, stung by the new financial and social reality created by the GFC, are becoming more considered in their decision-making. Or maybe the deals were so good, and time-sensitive, they couldn't wait. Time will tell. (Update March 1: Or it could be something as simple as Wotif extending its booking window – see comments…)
Also had a laugh at yesterday's news from Qantas it is increasing flights between Australia and Japan after years of cut backs. The reason is increased Australian leisure visitors to the Land of the Rising Sun, tourism payback after all the business Japanese visitors have given Australia over the years. Who knows, one day they may even return in large numbers. After all, a trend is only a trend until it ends (when it becomes a new trend)…
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I'm definitely no expert Martin – but this may have something to do with Wotif.com's movement from a 28 day window to 3 month…
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Events
BUSINESS STRANGE? IT'S THE NEW NORMAL...
Sydney, August 31, 2010
Book now for this year's TRAVELtech, which features a fantastic program headlined by Barney Harford, the global boss of Orbitz.com, one of the world's largest online travel companies.
He joins an excellent speaking lineup also featuring Andy Owen-Jones, CEO of TravelTainment, and a great array of Australian industry leaders, including:
- Justin Baird, Innovationist, Google Australia
- Shelley Beasley, Managing Director Pacific, Travelport
- Jeremy Bellinghausen, President, HotelClub.com
- Peter Beveridge, Chief Information Officer, Stella Travel Services
- John Bolakis, Director, SEO.com
- Andrew Burnes, CEO, AOT Travel
- Chris Chambers, Director - Digital Marketing, Tourism Queensland
- Ian Cumming, Founder, Travellr.com
- Barney Harford, President and CEO, Orbitz
- Mark Higginson, Director of Analytics, Nielsen Online
- Martin Kelly, Director, Travel Trends
- Kevin Lippy, co-Founder, Brokepacker.com
- Alan Long, Research Director, Experian Hitwise Asia Pacific
- Dan Lynn, Managing Director, Expedia Asia Pacific
- Rohan Lund, CEO, Yahoo!7
- Warren Livingstone, Founder, TheFanatics.com
- Andy Owen-Jones, CEO, TravelTainment, Amadeus Leisure Group
- Darrell Wade. Co-Founder and CEO, Intrepid Travel
The theme for TRAVELtech 2010 is New Kind of Normal.
It means that thanks to the collision between economic reality and technology, things have changed, finally, forever.
There can be no going back. And existing patterns will be exaggerated.
Also returning is the TRAVELtech Website Awards. Little different this year, more categories.
Stay Tuned.
Meanwhile, see below for images from TRAVELtech 2009.
If you have any queries about TRAVELtech, please call Martin Kelly on (02) 9882-1575.
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