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Automatic

3021 posts

Rethinking the OTA vs. direct booking battle

📰 In 2023, Online Travel Agents (OTAs) were responsible for 36% of hotel bookings, compared to the 21% generated through hotel's own booking engines. By embracing OTAs, hotels can utilize their marketing power to enhance visibility, attract guests, and focus on converting these customers to direct bookers for future stays. Investing in seamless mobile booking, AI personalization, and data-driven strategies are essential for direct booking success. Collaboration across hotel teams is also crucial to maximize profitability and leverage the on-site experience to build loyalty.
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U.S. Travel warns of tourism crisis as Canadians cancel trips

💰 On Feb 6, 2025, following a 25% tariff on Canadian imports by the 47th U.S. President, thousands of Canadian travelers canceled their U.S. vacations, affecting states like Florida and Texas. Florida sees 38% of its international tourists from Canada, while Texas had $403.3 million in Canadian tourist spending in 2023. The U.S. Travel Association (USTA) forecasts a 10% drop in Canadian travel could lead to a $2.1 billion revenue loss and 140,000 job cuts in related sectors.
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Hotel data experts expect generally steady 2025

🏨 Hotel performance in 2025 is forecasted to have a 1.8% RevPAR growth, with the first half stronger due to disaster-related demand. ADR will rise by 1.6%, and occupancy is expected to reach 63.1%. Luxury RevPAR might see a 2.9% increase, while economy hotels anticipate growth after a decline. Operating profit will go up slightly, but inflation-adjusted GOP will be 1% below 2019 levels. Hotels spend 15-25% on guest acquisition, with brand.com owning a 25% booking share and OTAs expanding. Group and corporate travel is up by 5%, while fLeisure travel continues to drive demand.
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Chinese travel soared during the Lunar New Year holiday

📅 On Feb 6, 2025, a notable upsurge in Chinese travel spending during the Lunar New Year was reported by Alipay and Fliggy, with Alipay outbound transactions growing by 30% and inbound spending via Alipay rising by 150% year-on-year. Singapore's Alipay spending rose 56%, Japan's by 40%, while Alipay transactions in Europe increased by 30%. Cruise bookings through Fliggy spiked by 229%, indicating a boom in international travel, with Hungary, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Iceland, and Austria doubling their order volumes.
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How “Operator” changed the travel shopping game

🌍 AI-driven agents, since late January 2025, are revolutionizing travel planning by handling complex itineraries and personalizing experiences. These agents surpass traditional searches with parallel processing of travel parameters, deep searches including non-distributed accommodations, and real-time negotiation. They maintain efficiency with automation while requiring human oversight. This technology promises to disrupt the industry by cutting intermediary margins and driving demand, signaling a cheaper, faster, and more efficient future for travelers.
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How to use the Booking.com AI Trip Planner

📚 Booking.com introduced an AI Trip Planner, leveraging its vast database of reviews for tailored travel suggestions. Powered by machine-learning and OpenAI's ChatGPT, the planner is free on their mobile app but still in beta. As of Feb 6, 2025, travelers can enhance trip planning with this tool while advised to verify its recommendations for accuracy.
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Sojern’s 2025 State of Destination Marketing Report

📌 In a 2025 report involving nearly 200 global DMOs, 85% are either maintaining or boosting digital ad budgets. A notable 83% utilize programmatic advertising, 97% use display ads, 90% opt for social media, and 80% choose search marketing. AI is used by 63% for content, but only 28% apply it to data analysis. Additionally, 52% favor always-on marketing, 84% leverage data for insights, yet 51% struggle with analysis. Social media remains potent, while CTV and short-form video are on the rise.
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Canadians may soon change their travel plans

🏙 On Feb 5, 2025, President Trump's 25% tariff threat led to potential travel industry losses of $2.1 billion and 140,000 hospitality jobs in the US due to a predicted 10% drop in Canadian visitors. Canadians are canceling vacations, particularly affecting Florida and California. Flight Centre reported increased cancellations of US trips, including vacations over $10,000 CAD since early February.
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Marriott wants 100% of your travel wallet

🏨 Marriott, in 2024, achieved 6.8% net unit growth, adding 123,000 rooms and signing for 162,000 more. A corporate reorganization streamlined decision-making. The luxury segment now includes 658 hotels with 266 in development. Bonvoy's 219 million members enjoy enhanced rewards. Marriott's CEO Capuano credits a team-driven approach for the company's efficiency and success. 📍 At the Americas Lodging Investment Summit, Marriott outlined plans to broaden its market reach.
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How ‘extended reality’ will transform travel for the next generation

🌍 On February 5, 2025, Extended Reality (XR)—including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR)—is changing the travel industry. Through these technologies, travelers can preview destinations, plan itineraries interactively with programs like Google's pilot with Singapore, and receive personalized recommendations via platforms such as Apple Vision Pro. XR enables immersive 3D recreations of travel memories, providing a new dimension to reliving past experiences.
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