Expedia Australia today announced it is spending millions of dollars on a new campaign highlighting the fact that, unlike other Online Travel Agencies such as Webjet, it does not charge airline booking fees. One observation is that when Expedia (and Zuji) dropped their air booking fees in September 2009 the move appeared to have no impact on market share based on Hitwise web figures. Why should it be any different this time?
Nicolas Chu, General Manager, Expedia Australia and New Zealand, says "it takes time to build momentum" and that the company has recorded "very high double digit" growth in its business over the past 18 months. He declined to break down the respective performance of air and hotels. He says consumer research shows that the average traveller does not like paying fees and the campaign aims to take advantage of that.
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Events
Just one week until No Vacancy SEA, Asia's most dynamic hotel event, in Bangkok on June 25.
The issues-based, info-packed conference is unique in the way it mixes the online and offline worlds.
This year's Southeast Asian conference is based around the concept of 'Beyond Price' and is full of relevant topics, speakers and information.
Marketing, distribution, consumers, pricing, internet, design, innovation, market analysis, technology and mobile are, as always, key themes.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Scott Blume, CEO, Wotif Group
- Bill Barnett, Director, C9 Hotelworks
- Javier Cedillo-Espin, VP Comms and Loyalty, Accor Asia Pacific
- Daniel Fraser, Director, Smiling Albino
- Anthony Green, Digital Director, QUO Global
- Nalin Kalayanamitr, Marketing & Sales Strategies Manager, Lub d Bangkok Hostel
- Bambos Kaisharis, Industry Head, Travel, Southeast Asia, Google
- Tomas Laboutka, CEO & Co-Founder, HotelQuickly
- Max Lambert, Co-Owner, Vietnam Backpacker’s Hostels
- Andrew Langston, VP Hotels Operations APAC, Banyan Tree
- Vikram Malhi, GM, Expedia South Asia
- Clint Nagata, Founder and Creative Director, BLINK Design Group
- Stephen O'Dell, Director, SODA
- Lothar Pehl, SVP Operations and Global Initiatives, Starwood Hotels and Resorts AP
- Rob Rosenstein, CEO, Agoda
- Nikki Scott, Publisher, SEA Backpacker
- Tejinder Sidhu, VP Sales & Marketing, Compass Hospitality
- Tarandeep Singh, Director Revenue Management For Hire - AMEA, InterContental Hotels Group
- Karthik Siva, Chairman, Global Brand Forum
- Brendan Sobie, Chief Analyst SEA, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation
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This is quick shout out for ideas, speakers, sponsors and feedback for TRAVELtech, which was founded way back in 1999.
That would be the decade before last. A long time ago. Prehistoric in tech and travel terms, so time to change things up.
The big news is that TRAVELtech 2013 will be staged over two days - September 12 & 13 - instead of the traditional one.
The first day - the new day - will be all about travel technology with the content aimed at those working in the industry's growing IT sector.
Day two will address online travel, e-commerce, distribution, digital marketing, mobile, social media, web trends and other key issues.
In other words, day two is the "traditional" TRAVELtech program which has worked so well over the past few years.
The idea is to reboot TRAVELtech and broaden its appeal without losing program focus,which we'll be able to do by having two distinct days.
This modular approach will also be reflected in tickets and pricing.
Delegates can buy individual day tickets or a two day pass at a reduced rate, depending on what they interested in, and details on that will be available in early June.
Meanwhile, we are seeking speakers, sponsors, supporters and program ideas - or variations on all of those themes.
So please get in contact, let me know your thoughts, no matter how random they may be.
You can call on (02) 9882-1575 or shoot through an email: martin.kelly@traveltrends.biz
Thanks for your time and hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Martin Kelly
Founder, TRAVELtech
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