Hotel Reviews Ireland News

August 20th: The size of the UK online travel market is reported to have grown 18% on the previous year, trailed by Germany and France and all together these three markets make up about 62% of all online expenditure in Europe.
The UK remains the single strongest performing market in terms of online travel expenditure achieving nearly double the online sales of its closest contender Germany, according to the new European Online Travel Report 2008 recently published by EyeforTravel. The online travel market has grown in Germany by 24% but still only accounts for 15% of overall travel sales and EyeforTravel suggest the figures here indicate enormous room for expansion. The French online travel market is third largest in Europe and has been growing at a faster pace than Germany and the UK, though values are lower.



24th July: According to a new PhoCusWright study, just over half of the top 200 travel Web sites in February 2008 were booking Web sites. The remaining were referral and media sites, which attract travel shoppers with expert and traveler-generated reviews, metasearch capabilities, and maps of travel destinations.
Travel bookings are no longer the whole story as advertising and referral-based business models gain ground.
Just over half of the top 200 travel Web sites in February 2008 were booking Web sites.
The remaining were referral and media sites, which attract travel shoppers with expert and traveler-generated reviews, metasearch capabilities, and maps of travel destinations.
Travel industry research authority PhoCusWright and Hitwise partnered to track and analyze the online travel space.
The resulting report, Search, Shop, Buy: Inside The Tangled Web of Online Travel uses traffic data from Hitwise to determine how Travel 2.0, the Long Tail and search are affecting the online travel space, tracing the trends that are emerging throughout the travel search, shopping and buying processes.

“Search and shopping sites are having a major impact on the travel category, and their power is expected to grow as the slowing economy prompts travelers to spend even more time searching for travel deals,” said Cathy Schetzina, technology analyst for PhoCusWright. “This trend underlines the need for travel suppliers and intermediaries to target search marketing and online advertising efforts based on a clear understanding of online travel shopping patterns."



30 June: Social networks target business travelers
Researching a business trip once involved guidebooks and the advice of a handful of friends. But if corporate travel companies have their way, executives will soon be consulting social networking sites and an endless stream of strangers for the secrets of the road.

http://www.hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/social_networks_target_business_travelers

STUDY REINFORCES ONLINE REVIEWS' IMPACT ON HOTEL BOOKINGS.....

A new study conducted by comScore and The Kelsey Group found that online, consumer-created reviews have a big impact on prospective buyers. The researchers said 24% of those who eventually pay for local services - such as restaurants and hotels - read online reviews before making a choice.

The study showed consumers ere so trusting of online reviewss, they were willing to pay at least 20% and up to 99% more if a company was rated excellent or five-star than if a business received a good, or four-star rating. The study was based on 2,078 survey respondents, including 508 who used online consumer reviews.

AND AGAIN
Recent figures from the American Express Hospitality Monitor UK came up with:-

83% of UK consumers are now researching online before booking a hotel.

48% said they have decided not to book a hotel because of a negative online review.


THE ANSWER FOR HOTELS IS TO EMBRACE CUSTOMER REVIEWS.



NEW WORKSHOPS COMING UP FOR THE HOTEL INDUSTRY IN IRELAND
Dublin, July 1 - Strategic Revenue Management Descissions workshop - Best Western Acadamy Plaza
Dublin, October 2, - Conference, Banquet & Group Revenue Management - Best Western Acadamy Plaza
As you can see many interesting topics you should not miss out on. And as we are true revenue managemers we offer an Early Bird discount:

Register 60 days in advance and get 10% off, 20% off for 120 days in advance.

For more information see: www.xotels.com