07 May 2003
Web services' ability to link disparate operating platforms and applications quickly and at a relatively low cost makes them critical technologies for travel. Forrester views Cendant Corp. as travel's most comprehensive Web services provider. Cendant uses Web services to link various business units like Cheap Tickets to content and functionality within the Galileo GDS and beyond.
Record Sales At Two Web Sites
Kudos to America West Airlines and Continental Airlines -- both announced record one-day Web sales within the past two weeks.
"You've Got To Be Kidding"
Travel sure is wacky. In just the last month:
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Delta Air Lines' new summer-season policies allow pet owners to carry on their guinea pigs -- but not their pot-bellied pigs. |
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87 people signed up for a clothing-optional charter flight to Cancun. No hot beverages were served. |
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Can We Help You With A Custom Project?
Forrester analysts are available to provide custom consumer survey work, competitive assessments, and technology selection services. A recent project for a travel supplier helped it refocus its pricing and distribution strategies. Inquire with khorwitz@forrester.com.
Top Findings From TravelCom
More than 1,000 industry execs attended TravelCom 2003 in New York last month. Here's what created the buzz:
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Merchant-rate selling is here to stay for hotels. |
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Orbitz will become a GDS. |
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There is no difference between the three top Web agencies, except their names. |
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Clients Question Travel Management Companies
Organizations of all sizes today rely on travel management companies (TMCs) for their business travel arrangements. TMCs' hold is at risk, though. Few travel managers see them as engaged in advising them about travel technology issues. Without change, TMCs risk losing to Web agencies like Travelocity.com that are now doing business travel, as well as new-generation providers like Sapient ClearTravel.
Do You Use A Travel Management Company?
Hello everyone, Email: Travel's Most Important Tool Email marketing is very much in the news these days. So what do consumers think about travel-related email? Well, nearly four in 10 US Web travelers are fed up with travel email -- but even so, they're 44% less likely to get ticked off by travel email compared with the general US online population's attitude about marketing email in general. And, more important, one in four Web travelers reads most of the travel email she receives to see if something catches her eye. So whether it's part of your post-war recovery plans or other marketing initiatives, make email your primary marcom tool. |
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USA Interactive: Representation As Well As Distribution
EMAIL: Email this issue to a colleague.
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