How much will online travel slow?

November 13, 2008 |

If numbers PhoCusWright and eMarketer prove true, this will be the first year of mere single-digit growth for US online leisure/unmanaged business travel. However, online growth will still be twice as high as that of the total travel market.

Online travel bookings will total $98.2 billion in 2008, up just 9% over 2007, according to PhoCusWright. The company said that some online travel providers would fare better than others, with rail sales growing by 28%, while hotel bookings would rise only 8%.

eMarketer?s most recent online travel sales estimates for the US were created in August 2008, in the midst of the economic slowdown but prior to the financial industry crisis. At the time, online leisure and unmanaged business travel sales (including airline, hotel, rental car, vacation package, intercity rail and cruise) were predicted to grow 12% this year to reach $105.1 billion.

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