http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000 PhoCusWright Research Subscriptions: European Edition - releases http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright’s Destination Marketing: Understanding the Role and Impact of Destination Marketers Destination marketers play a unique role in the leisure travel marketplace, positioned as they are at the crossroads betweens travelers and travel suppliers. At the heart of leisure travel lies the destination, which drives the itinerary and all of the components purchased along the way. At the heart of each destination lie destination marketers. Thousands at the national, state, regional and local levels play a vital role in stimulating travel demand. This largely untapped sector represents an enormous Long Tail opportunity for travel suppliers and intermediaries, technology vendors and service providers. For destination marketers, the explosion of online consumer tools and technologies provide unprecedented potential to connect with travelers and promote their destinations in new and effective ways. At the same time, destination marketers face challenges ranging from funding constraints to navigating social media that are forcing many to take a close look at what they need to do to remain competitive and relevant. PhoCusWright’s Destination Marketing: Understanding the Role and Impact of Destination Marketers represents a major research effort to analyze this important segment, with the goal of identifying key trends and capabilities and understanding the role of destination marketing in the global travel market. This report presents key findings and recommendations from the larger research project. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list European Online Distribution – Part Two: Managing European Hotel Online Intermediaries Hotel chains and individual hotels alike cannot neglect the importance of online intermediaries, an essential component to maximizing revenue and market share. Online intermediaries contribute heavily to the development of the total European online travel market, accounting for about one third of Europe’s total online gross bookings and almost 45% of 2008’s market growth. Online travel agencies (OTAs) specializing in hotel distribution have pulled ahead of the pack and remain the growth leaders among European OTAs. Despite the continued increase in supplier direct Web site bookings, collaborations with online intermediaries are – and will remain – essential for a hotel’s competitive online performance. The most fundamental benefit of collaborating with online travel agencies is undoubtedly incremental hotel sales, but OTAs also provide improved global reach to a huge traveler audience, supported by refined usability and advanced functionality, as well as sophisticated technological features ranging from videos to avatars. The “billboard effect,” when consumers shop on OTAs but book on hotel Web sites, should be considered an additional benefit for hoteliers. This is the second part of a two-part report and focuses on providing hoteliers with more insight on how to reap the benefits of partnerships with online travel agencies. The analysis illustrates that an optimal intermediary distribution strategy requires a profitable business model (OTA channels for targeted consumer groups) and efficient technologies and connectivity. Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright's Mobile: The Next Platform for Travel As mobile technology has evolved and mobile phone adoption has gradually increased over the last two decades, travel companies have speculated about when mobile will begin to have a significant impact on the travel industry. Recent handset innovations and the introduction of 3G (third-generation) mobile networks indicate that worldwide adoption numbers will continue to soar, creating a marketplace that is ripe for the introduction of mobile travel applications. The mobile platform has the potential to enable innovative personal interactions with travel customers, enhance the travel experience and enable travel companies to reach new levels of operational efficiency. Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Going Green: The Business Impact of Environmental Awareness on Travel There is little doubt that environmental awareness has gained mainstream status in the U.S., as evidenced by the plethora of “green” consumer products and media attention to the topic. In this setting, American companies can no longer operate without acknowledging perhaps their oldest – but most recently recognized – stakeholder: the environment.Travel, as one of the country’s largest industries, is certainly no exception. Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright's European Consumer Travel Trends Survey For the most part, the European travel market is following in the footsteps of the online U.S. travel market, though there are a few important differences. As a market, Europe is not “united” and consists of individual markets with unique cultural, technological, regulatory, travel, demographic and buying dynamics. These differences need to be embraced for travel providers to realize success. Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Ten Things to Expect (Including the Unexpected) in Online Travel in 2009 Early in the year is an important time to both look back and think ahead. It is imbued with hope and expectation and – perhaps this year more than most – a good dose of uncertainty. Each year PhoCusWright analysts brainstorm to divine the major trends that will shape travel distribution and marketing over the next 12 months. Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list European Hotel Online Distribution―Part One: European Hotel Websites All hotels – from large hotel chains to small individual properties – have one thing in common: Th eir brand Web site is normally their lowest-cost distribution channel. Low cost isn’t the only benefi t of this channel; brand Web sites also foster consumer confi dence(e.g., through best-price guarantees) and build loyalty via customer retention programs. But improved technology and the experience of users mean that hotel Web sites must now live up to higher standards. New development techniques – such as Ajax, which supports interactive animation – have emerged and are changing the game, in addition to easily implemented Web applications, and more sophisticated search engines and travel Web sites such as Expedia and Kayak.com. Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Fourth Edition Electronic Market Data Sheet Here are the hard facts about the world's largest travel market, in easy-to-use charts. Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Europe has the largest hotel capacity in the world, making the region attractive for online businesses despite the challenges of operating in such a highly fragmented market. In recent years, major European hotel chains pursued aggressive growth strategies through consolidation and the building of new properties, which reduced the share of independent hotels. As hotel chains scaled their businesses in sync with expanded marketing reach, hotel Web site sales increased apace with chain penetration, continuously keeping the pressure high for online travel agencies. Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list In addition to being the most visited country in the world, France has a strong domestic travel market. French tourism had a very good year in 2007; hotels in particular saw significant growth in occupancy and average daily rates (ADR). While booking levels remained steady (or, in some cases, grew slightly) across all segments through mid-2008, the repercussions of the year’s worldwide financial crises remain to be seen. Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Fourth Edition Germany is the third largest travel market in Europe. As the worldwide leader in outbound tourism spend (only the U.S. is comparable), the travel industry is an important driver of the domestic economy. Similar to the U.K., travel market gross bookings in Germany are not very affected by economic conditions, as Germans spend a considerable amount of their disposable income on holidays regardless of the economy. Corporate travel also remains strong, as many German companies forecasted strong growth for 2009, partially based on high-volume export contracts. Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Fourth Edition Italy is Europe’s fifth largest travel market in 2007. It is one of the world’s largest travel spenders – seventh in outbound tourism spend in 2007, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) – as well as a major world market for inbound tourism. Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Fourth Edition Scandinavia, which includes Denmark, Norway and Sweden, is one of the most important travel markets in Europe. Scandinavia’s market size is in the range of Italy’s – one of the five key European destinations. In 2007, Scandinavia continued to lead the world in Internet penetration. Throughout the year, more than two thirds of the Scandinavian population used the Internet at least once a week, according to the European Statistics Office Database (Eurostat). Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Fourth Edition Spain is the second largest travel market in the world, welcoming more than 59 million international arrivals in 2007, according to the Spanish Tourism Institute (IET). The country ranks 12th worldwide and sixth in Europe in outbound travel. Of the €50 billion spent on tourism in Spain last year, a major portion was on domestic travel. As tourism accounts for approximately 11% of Spain’s gross domestic product (GDP), the industry is hugely important to the country’s overall economy. Exactly how the economic downturn of 2008 will affect the Spanish travel market remains to be seen. Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Inbound visitor numbers to the U.K. remain relatively steady. While initial forecasts for 2008 predicted an increase in 2008, current economic uncertainties call this into question. In particular, the appreciation of the pound against the U.S. dollar is an issue, with visitor numbers from the U.S. expected to drop. However, as the euro has gained strength against the pound, travel to Britain is more affordable for Europeans than it has been in many years. Dwindling demand is also likely to be offset by the continued growth of low-cost airlines, the U.K.’s popularity as a short-break destination, and the enlargement of the European Union (EU) from 15 to 27 countries. Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Fourth Edition The European travel market is the world’s largest regional travel market in gross bookings, and 2007 was a year of healthy growth. Though the full effects of the 2008 global economic crisis remain to be seen, the year will finish strong. The upcoming years will bring both challenges and opportunities; the fallout from financial market meltdowns and the maturation of online travel will depress the lift online travel will receive from consumers seeking the price transparency of Internet channels. PhoCusWright's European Online Travel Overview Fourth Edition showcases the highlights of PhoCusWright’s research findings on the European online travel market in 2007 and 2008, including comprehensive sizing and analysis of the EU15 plus Norway and Switzerland. The report features in-depth analyses of six individual markets – France, Germany, the U.K., Italy, Spain and Scandinavia – and provides trends analysis across all channels and segments. Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Though five major players – Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline.com, Opodo and Orbitz – continue to claim over half of the online travel market space in Europe, the market is still very fragmented and regional players command a significant portion of the segment. The year 2007 and the first half of 2008 featured mixed performance of the major European online players. Competition is bound to intensify with the beginnings of a maturing marketplace, and the next few years will prove to be critical for the major players as they stake their ground. Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list India has a culturally diverse population of 1.4 billion people, a growing middle class and a developing economy in which travel is a commodity in daily use. As regional and local differences can be stark in India, it is best to have at least North- and South-specific strategies. India uses more globally standardized technology than China or Korea, for example, where many technology applications have been localized. However, local culture plays a very big role in the type of applications that are being adopted across the region. The last three years have seen an unprecedented shift in the supply-side dynamics of the travel industry in India. Deregulation of the airline industry – and the absence of government regulation on the distribution side – have unleashed an entrepreneurial energy that strikes at the root of how consumers shop for, research and buy travel. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Fourth Edition indicate continued strong growth for online travel in Europe. Online leisure and unmanaged business travel is projected to nearly double. The forthcoming report, which includes the first 15 EU member states plus Switzerland and Norway, sizes the total travel marketplace in Europe and online share across all major travel categories, including airlines, hotel, car rental, rail and tour operators. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list The Spanish Online Travel Marketplace In Europe, Spain maintains its leading position as a holiday destination. The country was number two (trailing only France) in total international arrivals in 2006. Spain also ranks second in tourism revenues, surpassed only by the U.S. According to the World Tourism Organization and Instituto de Estudios Turísticos, tourist spend in Spain has increased to an average of €857 per stay, but the length of stay is shorter than in the previous years. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list The Irish Online Travel Marketplace After a decade as the best performer in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), Ireland’s economy has started to slow. Past growth has been driven by a booming construction sector, as well as by tax incentives to encourage foreign investment, which have been particularly successful at attracting major pharmaceuticals and high-tech companies such as Microsoft, Dell, Pfizer and Bayer. According to the Irish Economic and Social Research Institute, growth in 2008 has been slowed by both the global credit crisis and the strong euro, which have adversely affected construction and exports. GNP (gross national product) growth is expected to be 1.6%, the lowest since 1988, although the outlook for 2009 is more favorable, as growth is forecasted to be 3.75%. Unemployment is expected to remain low and thus consumer spending is not expected to decline, despite economic uncertainty. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list The U.K. Online Travel Marketplace Benefiting from one of the best-performing economies in the world, tourism in the U.K. is thriving. Even with consumer confidence shaken by the credit crisis, rising inflation and the continuing terror threat, leisure travel continues to grow. U.K. consumers regard their annual vacation as a right rather than a privilege, and while they may be making cutbacks in other discretionary spending, all evidence indicates that outbound travel will grow by 2% to 3% in 2008. Inbound tourism, on the other hand, is more problematic, particularly because of the strength of the British pound against the U.S. dollar. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list The Taiwan Online Travel Market: A Legacy Mindset Inhibits Growth Despite the high penetration of e-commerce enablers such as broadband, credit cards, and overall digital lifestyle – along with the deregulated GDS market in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region – the Taiwanese travel market is still mostly offline. But two major developments hold the potential to propel more of it online: high-speed rail’s stimulation of the domestic travel market and cross-straits deregulation of the China-Taiwan corridor. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list The Air Canada Effect: How to Unbundle Your Commodity Product to Maximize Revenue Air Canada has taken a bold approach to selling air transportation and related services by unbundling the components of air travel. At its inception, five years ago, such a strategy might have been considered risky, but now it appears to be an industry-redefining move. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list The European Car Rental Market Europe is the world’s second largest car rental market following the U.S.In general, the European vehicle rental market is characterized by fierce competition and dominated by only a few large international providers. The consolidation process, which was ongoing for years and was mostly attributed to the acquisition by larger players of smaller regional or local providers,later also took hold in larger international companies. Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list and PhoCusWright’s European Online Travel Overview . Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list German Online Travel Market In 2007, the German tourism industry experienced sustainable growth for both inbound and outbound travel.As the largest European country (geographically) with the biggest population, Germany has traditionally had a very strong outbound travel market, with expenditures abroad reaching €61 billion in 2007, according to a study by Dresdner Bank.On a national scale, the large volume of domestic travelers and international visitors make Germany the seventh largest market in the world. Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Eye On the New Zealand Travel Market The New Zealand travel market, poised to double in the next four years, is dominated by one major airline and one online retailer serving a small, active and primarily urban population. During that time the market will likely see increases in Long Tail products, broadband penetration, and online distribution of trans-Tasman flights. The lodging market, currently quite fragmented, will become more consolidated by both global and local hotel aggregators. Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Multi-Channel Distribution: Focus On European Airlines The European airline market has been undergoing rapid change since the late 1990s, when low-cost carriers (LCCs) entered and significantly reshaped the market. Many network and regional carriers and tour operator airlines have adapted the LCC business model with aggressive pricing strategies in order to compete in the budget traveler sector – with varying results.Although European airlines are expected to show sufficient, and even record, financial results in 2007, competition will intensify due to soaring fuel prices and an uncertain economy. Once again, airline operators will focus on cost reduction measures, especially in online sales and distribution. Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list Key Trends Shaping the Scandinavian Travel Market Key trends shaping the Scandinavian travel market include aging population, differing currencies and languages, booking behavior and other European destinations that rank first. A list of OTAs, traditional travel agencies, airlines, hotels and tour operators preferred by Scandinavians is provided. Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.phocuswright.com/research_subscriptions_european_edition_publication_list PhoCusWright