Comments on: Loss of Online Bookers? Really? http://www.tourismtide.com/2007/10/loss-of-online-bookers-really.html Connecting The Travel Industry with the latest in Technology Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:52:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Philip Caines http://www.tourismtide.com/2007/10/loss-of-online-bookers-really.html/comment-page-1#comment-10 Philip Caines Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:18:00 +0000 http://www.tourismtide.com/2007/10/16/loss-of-online-bookers-really.html#comment-10 A quick follow up with this article. There has been reports that support my price concerns about online booking: <br/><br/>ONLINE NOT ALWAYS LEAST EXPENSIVE FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL , STUDY SAYS<br/> <br/>Business travel itineraries booked on public Internet sites such as Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, and the airlines' direct sites have been found to average $75 more per itinerary than those booked by a corporate travel agency, according to a study conducted by Topaz International.<br/><br/>The independent research firm serving the corporate travel industry has provided comparative studies since 2001, and in each year, found that agency fares were equal to or lower than those offered through online sites in over 91% of itineraries.<br/><br/>"The five years of comparative airline purchasing patterns indicates that the online alternatives are not always cheaper, but in fact have been higher over the past few years," said Bradley Seitz, President and CEO of Topaz International.<br/><br/>According to an official release, there are two primary drivers in the purchase of business travel today: price and service. And, in both differentials, corporations that use a travel management company are coming out on top, reported Eyefortravel.com.<br/><br/>Report by David Wilkening A quick follow up with this article. There has been reports that support my price concerns about online booking:

ONLINE NOT ALWAYS LEAST EXPENSIVE FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL , STUDY SAYS

Business travel itineraries booked on public Internet sites such as Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, and the airlines’ direct sites have been found to average $75 more per itinerary than those booked by a corporate travel agency, according to a study conducted by Topaz International.

The independent research firm serving the corporate travel industry has provided comparative studies since 2001, and in each year, found that agency fares were equal to or lower than those offered through online sites in over 91% of itineraries.

“The five years of comparative airline purchasing patterns indicates that the online alternatives are not always cheaper, but in fact have been higher over the past few years,” said Bradley Seitz, President and CEO of Topaz International.

According to an official release, there are two primary drivers in the purchase of business travel today: price and service. And, in both differentials, corporations that use a travel management company are coming out on top, reported Eyefortravel.com.

Report by David Wilkening

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