44-45 INDUSTRY hotels 2/12/08 15:04 Page 44
44 industry report – hotels
Hotel bookings move
away from the GDS
Bookings in the accommodation sector are buoyant – more than half of all
respondents claim they’ve booked more hotel rooms this year than last. And
serviced apartments are increasingly popular as corporate purse-strings tighten
Bookings: hotels
usiness travel consultants are slowly turning
7:1. Has the number of hotel bookings you have made e distribution channels.
increased or decreased in the past 12 months? The survey found that 21% of respondents
increased 2007: 83% 2008: 60% B
away from booking hotel rooms on the GDS
in favour of alternativ
use travel websites (including hotel booking
decreased 2007: 2% 2008: 6% agents) to reserve rooms, while another 21% book
stayed the same 2007: 15% 2008: 34% direct on the hotel website.
Although the GDS remains the most popular tool, the
7:2. What percentage of your overall business travel number of respondents who say they use the GDS to
bookings is made up of hotel bookings? book hotels has fallen from 78% last year to 58% this
DEMAND IS
less than 10% 2007: 32% 2008: 17% year (7:5).
11-25% 2007: 37% 2008: 49% Guillaume Thevenot, a business development
GROWING FOR
26-50% 2007: 23% 2008: 29% manager with technology company Amadeus and a LOW-COST
51%+ 2007: 8% 2008: 5% full-time hotel blogger, believes the recent rise in
HOTEL CHAINS,
demand for budget hotels that do not feature on the
7:3. In the past 12 months, has that percentage increased GDS may be part of the reason for the fall in numbers.
BUT THEY’RE
or decreased? The economic downturn has prompted increasing
NOT ON THE
increased 2007: 95% 2008: 54% numbers of business travellers to downgrade from four
and five-star hotels to budget brands. “Low-cost hotel
GDS SO AGENTS
decreased 2007: 5% 2008: 8%
stayed the same 38% chains such as Premier Inn do not distribute content via
MUST CONTACT
the GDS,” he said. “While there has been an increase in
THEM DIRECTLY
7:4. Do you find it easy to book hotels? demand for these types of hotel, business travel agents
Yes 2007: 99% 2008: 94% are being forced to contact the hotels directly.”
No 2007: 1% 2008: 6% Thevenot thought agents may be looking at alternatives,
such as serviced apartments or small independent
7:5. How do you book hotels? properties, to find better deals. The survey found that
GDS 2007: 78% 2008: 58% 46% of respondents book serviced apartments (7:7).
a travel website 2007: 18% 2008: 21% Julie Janzen, relationship manager with Worldwide
hotel’s own website 2007: 4% 2008: 21% Independent Travel Network, said: “The survey’s
7:6. When booking a hotel, what is the priority
7:5. How do you book hotels – and how has it changed from last year
for the client?
Upper figures are last year; lower figures this year
price 2007: 20% 2008: 26%
location 2007: 68% 2008: 63%
2007
78%
■ GDS
trusted brand 2007: 5% 2008: 4%
2008 58%
■ A travel website
supplier deal 2007: 4% 2008: 4% ■ Hotel’s own website
loyalty points 2007: 0% 2008: 1%
2007
18%
facilities 2007: 3% 2008: 2%
2008 21%
2007
4%
2008 21%
ttgbusiness.com ❖ industry report 2008
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56