Hotel chains and airline websites lost ground versus online travel agencies (OTAs) in the first half of 2010, according to a new report from the travel industry authority PhoCusWright Inc. conducted in partnership with Compete Inc. The supplier share of unique monthly hotel and air bookers declined, as online travel agencies benefited from price-conscious comparison shoppers, Phocis Wright reports.
Hotel websites generally commanded 67 percent to 72 percent of monthly online hotel bookings in 2008-2009 (OTAs represented the balance at 33 percent to 28 percent). In 2Q10, however, hotel website share dropped substantially to 57 percent to 69 percent. A less dramatic shift to the online travel agency channel was also seen among air bookers.
Read the full story at: http://www.travelagentcentral.com/trends-research/online-agents-challenge-suppliers-27076
