Sunday, 12 August 2007

Are the Online Travel Portals adding value?

There are many travel portals emerging with various business models, from media websites to meta search engines. I guess what they all want to be able to do is replace the outgoing? travel agent on the internet. They do this by providing added value to the customer when they are choosing which travel company to travel with and or what to do when they get there. The outgoing travel agents in most cases are now competing with their traditional suppliers and packaging and selling direct. The big question is are travel portals really adding value and are there now too many for them all to survive? Does it cost more now for a travel company to distribute through an online travel portal now than a traditional travel agent trade channels? Which model will prove to be the best?

The Media

  • Telegraph
  • Times
  • Guardian
  • Lonely Planet

Meta Search Engines

  • Travelsupermarket.com
  • Cheapflights.com
  • Teletext.com
  • Skyscanner.net
  • Travel.co.uk
  • Kayak.com

Social Travel Portals

  • Tripadvisor
  • Boo.com

So Called Outgoing Travel Agents
They are changing their business models to compete with their traditional suppliers they mainly sold. Some might call them tour operators?

  • Holidayhypermarket.co.uk
  • STA Travel
  • Hays Travel
  • Expedia.co.uk
  • Opodo.co.uk

1 comments:

jen cornwall said...

I think they are enabling the consumer to undertsnad more about the travel booking process and to get the best prices. Also, a holiday can now be put together completely specific to the consumers needs.