»»Online Travel Agencies Outperforming Other Business Travel Distribution Channels
According to the report produced by PhoCusWright, Inc — “PhoCusWright’s U.S. Online Travel Overview” — the online leisure/unmanaged business travel market is significantly outperforming every other distribution channel in the U.S. in 2009.
The report shows that while the total U.S. travel market will post a 16% drop, online leisure/unmanaged business bookings will decline 7% . The report indicates that in recession times travelers are increasingly turning to the Web to shop and purchase travel.
It also predicts online travel’s share of the total travel market will increase from 35% in 2008 to 39% in 2009.
Online travel agencies (OTAs), by heavily promoting deals and last-minute special offers and eliminating many booking and customer service fees, are outperforming every other distribution channel and proving far more recession-resistant than supplier Web sites.
PhoCusWright’s report projects very modest growth for the travel industry in 2010, but the outlook varies for travel segments and distribution channels. (source)
