Travel Ebusiness Models - Expedia

Sabre and competitors Cendant and Expedia, owned by Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp, are carving up the Internet travel industry as more people buy airline tickets and hotel rooms over the Web. A third of bookings may be made on line by 2009 compared with 23 percent in 2004, according to forecasts by JupiterMedia Corp. [Bloomberg.com]

Expedia Overview

Expedia is the most popular website brand in the Internet travel marketplace. Expedia.com is the 245th most popular website in the world, Expedia.co.uk is the 1981st most popular website in the world whilst Expedia.ca is the 4361st most popular. [Alexa.com September 2006]

Offering services such as fare tracker and fare compare, Expedia encourages its customers to focus on cost and at least offer then the perception that they are getting the best deal.

Founded in 1994 as a division of Microsoft, Expedia was spun off on 1999 and purchased by IAC / InterActiveCorp in 2001. The brand itself hasnt changed a great deal since 2000 which is unusual with a website led business. This emphasises that Expedia focus on efficiency rather than image.

Expedia Position

An efficient, logical, knowledgeable yet cold looking website and brand, Expedia focus on offering best value Internet travel deals.

Expedia's $50 coupon for all-inclusive bookings and its recent focus on all-inclusive getaways is the thinly veiled fear among online agencies that consumers will shop around. [USAToday.com]

Whilst focusing on the all-inclusive travel deal, Expedia have decided to use this method to try and ensure that customers stay with them. Diminishing airline ticket margins have encouraged them to focus on the bundle.

Expedias strengths include its history of operating underneath the Microsoft net. This has not only enabled Expedia to maximise its technological know-how, but also offered it the opportunity to capitalise being part of one of the most trustworthy software brands in the world. Although efficient in manner, because Expedia hasnt undergone any image reinvention since 2000, it could be argued that it has allowed Travelocity to overtake it in terms of being visually appealing.

The fact however remains that Expedia have now held the number one position in the online travel marketplace for a number of years? Will this change in the near future? It doesnt look too likely.

Expedia Core Competences

Expedias core competency is the superior understanding of technology within the Internet travel marketplace. This has enabled for them to gain first mover advantage in the sector by forming appropriate strategic alliances.

Expedia Competitive Advantage

Expedia have decided to go down a dangerous route by choosing a cost advantage as their competitive advantage. They have chosen to do this because they know that they already have the most popular Internet travel portal. Time will tell whether or not other companies such as Travelocity will be able to ensure that online travel customers are willing to spend more to receive greater service, facilities or perceived brand value.

However, in addition, Expedia have an extensive affiliate marketing portfolio of partners. Through CJ.com (Commission Junction) Expedia are continually offering other websites the opportunity to market their services in exchange for a percentage of the final booking fee. (Commonly around 5%) Compared with their nearest competitor, Travelocity, Expedia have been much more aggressive with their use of affiliate marketing.

The fact however remains that Expedia have now held the number one position in the online travel marketplace for a number of years? Will this change in the near future? It doesnt look too likely.
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
By: David Bain

David Bain is founder of the UK travel website www.TREKtheUK.com. TREKtheUK is a comprehensive UK travel guide featuring lots of places to go and things to do.

Google

Keep Looking For The Low Cost Business Class Airfare

Business class is always the way to go. You do not have to settle for economy class airfare. You will feel much better through the trip and once you arrive than if you chose the economy side where you could be stuck to a group a kids or babies. You receive more room to stretch, better service, food, and drinks. The goal is to always find a low price ticket for business class airfare. In the past, this was much more difficult. These days, most airlines will give you a special price on these airfares. If you happen to be with a company that has made a deal with an airline, then you are one of the lucky few with permanent discounted fare.

Those are the lucky ones because they do not have to do any searching, but you can still get a ticket for a low price without much trouble. Check all the airlines' sites first. Be sure to visit them from time to time so you will become familiar with the prices and what special deals they offer for your destinations.

Next, try using websites such as Expedia and Travelocity. Each of them have made deals with airlines to buy large amounts of tickets and then they are trying to get rid of these tickets as soon as they can. You end up earning a decent chunk of the profits when they are trying to dump all the tickets off to customers at low prices. There are also search engines on travel sites and other sites made just for searching. This will give you many advanced searching options and bring up all the best fares on a certain date, be sure to try different dates.

Always be sure to book your flights early to increase the chances of getting a cheaper flight, and during the correct months prices will be lower. Also, the day and time of your purchase may have a significant impact on ticket price. Every night at midnight airlines reloading their reservation databases with new available seats that was reserved but were not paid for. For this reason, it is best to do your search in the hours of the morning. This are the reasons that, in the past, all travel agents had access to much better airfares than all general public. But today you can search for these tickets yourself at any of the major travel sites.

Finally, sign up for all the notifications that sites offer so you are always up to date on the latest airfare deals and offers.
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
By: George Wood

George has published a variety of fascinating articles about lowest price airfare & travel on a shoestring budget. Check out his airfare website that the airlines DON'T want you to see. Stop the big airline companies from fleecing you of your hard earned money, and discover lowest air fares to wherever your imagination takes you!

Google

12 Critical Tips To Saving On Airport Parking

Off-site airport parking is a boon for travelers. Often they prove to be cheaper than parking lots run by airports and online discounts and other conveniences make the option even more attractive.

Satellite parking lots face competition and so it is easy for those in the know to save big.

Here are a few insights:

1.Keep a tab on offers. As the race for success becomes intense, all sites run attractive offers giving away coupons or web only deals. Many offer an e-coupon that entitles the user to a days free parking at selected parking lots. This means a saving of US$ 18. Other offers give away a day if you park for two days or 50% off on the first days parking fee.

2.If you are a frequent user of parking lots check for offers where a parking operator with a major presence near airports you use offers a 50% discount if you purchase a certain number of parking vouchers online or on the phone using your credit card.

3.Many parking sites have a different rate for different parking positions. Check on the kinds of parking and rate differences. You could save up to $ 55 for a seven day parking.

4.Ask for rates depending on the length of stay. Rates vary so if you are going to need parking for a week then you could get a higher discount than the daily rate on offer.

5.Many run a frequent user program where repeat customers are offered many facilities. This is similar to frequent flier programs.

6.Find out if the lots you use offer special discounts to members of AARP, AAA, or other such organizations. In fact, AA members save between 10-20% on parking. Some sites even offer the service of picking up and dropping your car from the airport terminal.

7.Do your research well compare providers, the rates on offer, as well as facilities at the place you need to park. If you are clever you can get more for less.

8.Before you travel use the internet to check on daily and weekly parking offers. There are free days, discounted weekly rates, and guaranteed rates on offer at various times. You can avail the offer by making a booking online or printing out the page with a code and presenting it to the cashier at the parking lot.
9.Keep track of promotions especially during holiday seasons. Many lots accept coupons and give away discounts offered by consumer products

10.Often pre-booking parking can get you a saving of even 60% and more.

11.Hotels often offer parking specials, so make use of the extra facility being offered by the hotel you plan to stay in.

12.Some travel agents who book flight tickets offer advice or coupons for parking at the point of exit and entry. Ask you agent when you book your flight.

Off site parking is not just fast and convenient it can be a saving too.
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
By: paul wilson1

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for www.1888discuss.com/airport-parking, the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Airport Parking including topics on secured parking, gate parking, discounted parking, traveling, and more. He also freelances for the premier Airport Parking Site www.1888AirportParking.com.

Google