Online travelers shift to package deals
May 26, 2006 |
According to a new study from Jupiter Research, online travelers started buying travel packages this year, following two years of little change in their online buying habits, and that general search engines continued to outperform their highly publicized travel meta search engine competitors.
Online travelers started buying travel packages this year, following two years of little change in their online buying habits, says JupiterResearch. The Internet/consumer analysts also report that general search engines continued to outperform their highly publicized travel meta search engine competitors—a situation that may change due to alliances with the likes of Yahoo! and AOL.
“In 2005, 29 percent of travelers requiring multiple travel products purchased a package; in 2006, this increased to 41 percent,” said Diane Clarkson, Analyst at JupiterResearch and author of the report. “This growth is largely influenced by strong packaging promotions implemented by major online travel agencies, where virtually all of these sales are occurring.”
The research also finds the likelihood that online air travelers will book their flights through an online travel agency increases with the number of Web sites they research. Among online air travelers who visited four or more Web sites while researching their most recent trip, 56 percent purchased their flights through an online travel agency, while only 32 percent purchased on an airline Web site. At the same time, frequent travelers show a preference for supplier Web sites.
General search engines remain the most important media prompt among online travel researchers, at 17 percent. Despite garnering extensive media attention during the past year, travel meta search engines have not yet attracted a significant proportion of online travel buyers. Only four percent of online travelers say a travel search engine impelled them to plan or purchase their most recent trip.
“Travel meta search engines are now offering expanded products and several have relationships with major distribution partners such as Yahoo!, AOL and Amazon,” said David Schatsky, President of JupiterKagan. “With this, travel meta search engines are poised to grow.”
The JupiterResearch report, “US Travel Consumer Survey, 2006” (May 2, 2006) finds that as competition for channel share between online travel agencies and suppliers increases, online travelers continue to research on multiple Web sites. Online travel providers must meet consumers’ expectations for best prices and high functionality. The report answers key questions including: How are travelers’ decisions to purchase at online travel agencies versus suppliers’ Web sites affected by research intensity and travel frequency? What Web site features appeal to online air and accommodation researchers? How are online travelers using search engines?
Related Articles
The incredible shrinking airline
02 Jul, 2009 | Online Travel
Amadeus unveils new mobile solutions
02 Jul, 2009 | Online Travel
Kayak to Bing: Stop copying us!
30 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
Booking business trips directly from Microsoft Outlook
30 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
Information key feature for tourism social networking
25 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
Tech, price, family drive US vacationers
25 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
Hotel reviews and objectivity
25 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
Summer travel trends according to hotels.com
23 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
S.F. 1 Expedia 0
23 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
U.S. spending on travel, tourism dropped 5.9% in first quarter
18 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
Most Popular Articles
How to maximize your hotel’s GDS distribution
30 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
PKF sees hotel rates continuing to fall in 2010
17 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
If you discount, do so carefully
18 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
Summer travel trends according to hotels.com
23 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
Luxury brands waking to a new reality
18 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
New hotel review site launches with independent, expert reviews
24 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
Destination marketing in the age of Web 2.0 and beyond
16 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
Hotel technology moving into the cloud
24 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
Information key feature for tourism social networking
25 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
“Thriving” not just “surviving” in a depressed economy: Tips for the independents
17 Jun, 2009 |
Economic Downturn
Rate integrity in a down market
02 Jul, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
The incredible shrinking airline
02 Jul, 2009 | Online Travel
U.S. spending on travel, tourism dropped 5.9% in first quarter
18 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
If you discount, do so carefully
18 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
Luxury brands waking to a new reality
18 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
Travelocity says book now
17 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
LHW courting guests discreetly with sweet deals
16 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
The new normal, according to McKinsey
11 Jun, 2009 | Internet Marketing
Pressure on hotel rates not likely to go away soon
04 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
Travelocity issues ‘Traveler Confidence’ report
03 Jun, 2009 | Online Travel
New study reveals changes in leisure travelers’ online search behavior
02 Jun, 2009 |
Marriott launches ‘Deal of the Day’, exclusively on Twitter
02 Jun, 2009 | Hospitality Industry
Expedia makes airline no-fee policy permanent, eliminates hotel cancel/change fees
28 May, 2009 | Online Travel
The new high-end consumer
28 May, 2009 | Internet Marketing
Hoteliers most concerned with marketing ROI
26 May, 2009 |














