Watch out for the quiet ones. Choice didn't run any U.S. national TV ads in 2021 and Virgin Voyages was absent during the first seven months of last year. Yet both brands surged to leadership positions in 2022.
Whether it’s via Whimstay or others, the Hotwire-like selling of last-minute inventory for vacation rentals is destined to find a role in this very hot sector.
It's not just all about Amazon Web Services anymore when Amazon reaches out to travel industry customers. It is still early days but Amazon Ads may one day crimp travel brands' spending on Google and Facebook.
Shifting consumer tastes in travel booking apps recently gave Hopper a boost over Booking.com and other rivals. But can the challenger brand sustain its lead?
While travel management companies have battled over the years for government travel contracts, Priceline seems to have found a solid niche in a less lucrative leisure travel business for members of the U.S. military and their families. Priceline isn't looking for a big return from the effort while executives and employees feel proud to be a part of it.
At a time when some big hotel brands seek to increase average daily rates, Booking Holdings' expansion of its Genius loyalty and discounting program could hurt that effort. Some individual properties, hungry for increased exposure as they compete with vacation rentals and other hotels, will welcome the move.
Both Airbnb and Expedia.com are leaning into U.S. TV advertising in their biggest campaigns in years. Many millennials may not watch traditional TV these days, but the medium is still an important part of brands' advertising mix.