Articles tagged “online travel agencies”

When it comes to Marriott and Hilton pushing customers to book directly on their own websites, hell hath no fury like an online travel agency scorned. This could eventually get rough.

The direct booking wars are heating up.

Expedia seems to be on a sensible course in 2016 as it seeks to make good on its 2015 buying binge. Acquisitions are the sexy part; now Expedia has to make the marriages work behind closed doors.

I remain employed as a journalist because of the countless stories I've written in the past -- and will likely write in the future -- about the harrowing (to some) prospect of Google becoming an online travel agency. I wouldn't bet on that scenario in the next couple of years. On the other hand, nothing in life or business stays the same.

Expedia's moves to lower commissions, tack on a tactical bidding program for hotel displays, and make itself friendlier to hotels and consumers by offering a pay-at-the-hotel option are all designed to ramp up Expedia's business and to make Booking.com's so-called "competitive moat" a little less imposing.

Hilton’s newest campaign—its largest ever—shows to what lengths hotel companies will use low rates and loyalty programs to take back their market share from online travel agencies, and get more customers to book direct.

Priceline's and Expedia's respective selling and marketing spend on a global scale shows why Priceline remains on top despite all of Expedia's acquisitions. Priceline does it much more efficiently, getting a lot more bang for a buck.

Priceline's CEO says its "competitive moat is deep and wide." His counterpart at Expedia believes his company needs to get more international. And TripAdvisor's new CFO says it has ample resources for acquisitions. This all should make for an interesting 2016.

Many travelers prefer mobile browsing because they don't feel constrained by app experiences that are sometimes limiting. But as Criteo's data show, mobile apps are still a powerful way to win customers and conversions if they're constructed in ways that build trust and promote simplicity.

TripAdvisor CEO Stephen Kaufer gets mystical about the company following "our North Star, navigating our path toward creating the best user experience in travel." Investors could care less about TripAdvisor journey toward the North Star as long as it means great returns on their investments, which ultimately is Kaufer's goal, as well.