EDreams is certainly putting a lot of effort into its Prime subscription offering. The test will be how it goes down in other markets and how it performs over a number of years. Do the numbers stack up over the long term and will people keep renewing?
On the back of an impressive set of first-half results, Lastminute.com is casting the net further afield in the search for new acquisitions. Buying up companies in other parts of the world doesn't always work out, so executives will have to choose wisely.
While traditional tour operators might not offer the flexibility that Lastminute.com does with its package vacations, they do have an advantage in terms of exclusivity.
On the Beach’s careful approach to expansion shows just how difficult it can be to grow in foreign source markets. Europe isn’t one big country and if you don’t make acquisitions, expansion can be a tedious process. But one of those acquisitions might just be the one that pays off in the long term.
Lastminute.com Group's attempt to wean itself off low margin flight-ticket sales gets accelerated with this deal. The relatively low purchase price makes it a relatively risk-free acquisition.
It's clear from his answers that Fabio Cannavale will keep looking to buy more companies. He thinks there are plenty of companies for sale and he's got some cash on hand.
Some of the weaker online travel agencies in Europe and Asia are getting squeezed out. Sabre sold LastMinute.com to Bravofly Rumbo Group for next to nothing, and TUI Group gave up on AsiaRooms.com in the face of stiff competition.
The Roaming Gnome himself whispers to us that he is very happy about the Expedia acquisition of Travelocity. It was touch and go under Sabre ownership for such a long time as Sabre, with priorities elsewhere, totally bungled ownership of Travelocity and Lastminute.com.