Online Insights…
You’re well aware by now how much I appreciate the internet and the information that flows on this puppy. I can find information on just about any subject I care to look into. This technology has become so ingrained into our culture we’re tweeting about subjects we find interesting and important to us. We’re able to communicate with people from all over the world instantly at all hours of the day and night.
We hook up with “tribes” on the internet, and share our experience and knowledge. We read blogs, newspapers, and even prefer to watch news and sports clips on the internet rather than TV.
I was an early adopter of the internet and have been using this medium as a source to gather information and educate myself on a variety of subjects. Today, one of the first places most people go to research is the internet.
There are a number of companies that specialize in gathering information about internet use and combine statistical data based on what they find. I’ve written about PhoCusWright a number of times on this blog, and love how it corrects the many many myths and misconceptions that others put out there. I don’t know why a few stragglers spend thier time twisting and spinning, or why they’re so afraid of the truth. Some do spend a considerable amount of time trying to distract you with thier own perception and opinions rather than sticking with the facts. I guess it works for them.
Me, I like facts from independent sources. Travel Weekly has done a terrific job in documenting for us the last couple of years. I found another company yesterday while reading the trades that has once again corrected the myths about self service travel. Travel Agent Central did a piece on Burst Media who publishes Online Insights which highlights emerging trends in online media and eCommerce. One of the most recent being summers travel plans.
Would it surprise anyone in YTB that 80.3% of “summer travelers” say they will use the Internet to help plan their summer vacation? Maybe because that’s a lot higher than what we’ve discovered in the past. (Even from PhoCusWright) But once again, we find statistical data from independent companies who don’t have any motives to bend or twist the truth for personal gain.
I also find in rather interesting that the higher the income, the more likely they are to use the internet for research. (As depicted in the graphic in the article.) Right or wrong, many correlate income with how smart someone is, and based on that belief, (or meme) the smarter someone is the more likely they are to use the internet for planning their summer vacation. The most popular features among the respondents was destination information and the ability to check flight, hotel and car rates and availability.
Respondents were asked what features and content of a travel website make them return they specified destination information (46.3%), the ability to check flight, hotel and car rental rates/availability (45.2%), and travel promotions and specials (44%) as reasons. Quite honestly, I can see this as a huge benefit for most consumers who are planning because a good portion of the Traditional Travel Agents are spending more time posting on blogs and message board forums than they are answering phone calls or talking with walk-ins who visit thier establishments.
You also have to wonder, with so many “consumers” researching rates, promotions, and destination information on thier own quite comfortably, why there’s a need for all the specialized training we wrote about Monday. Based on this report, most consumers don’t need no stinkin’ Travel Agent because they’ve been able to find all the information they need on thier own via the internet.
Which brings us back to the beauty of YTB. For someone like me who’s been a pied piper of sorts on the features, advantages and benefits of cruising for over a decade now, YTB gave me the opportunity to get paid when I told someone about why “a cruise was the best vacation money could buy”. It’s not rocket science folks, it’s travel and vacations. Travel is something that everyone does, and vacations are something that everyone loves.
All I have to do is open my mouth and tell someone that I we own an Online Travel Agency and the very next thing out of thier mouth is “Really, can you get me a deal too ______________?” We would more than likely talk about it what we have to offer, but the vast majority of the time, I simply hand them a business card with my website address, and if they find my prices competitive, I’ll find a booking in my back office without doing anything further.
Why, for the very same reasons Burst Media pointed out in their report.
Consumers are actively using the Internet as an information resource and a place to make travel purchases. Take advantage of the Web’s ability to target specific travel audiences – such as families and the affluent – with content that is highly meaningful and engaging to the viewer. Also, take advantage of the Web’s ability to deliver information by utilizing advertising creative the user can interact with, draw information from, and possibly complete a travel transaction.
There you have it. Another independent source with practical information and data you can use to build your business that documents stats and facts, not a bunch of hype and spin. It’s rather simple to implement if you know how to do it.
PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.
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Tags: BurstMedia, MLM Myths, Online Travel, PhoCusWright, Travel MLM
June 17th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Hey Doug, your old buddy Ainsworth here. Thought you were rid of me, didn’t you!
Onto to days blog entry. You’re right, people do research on the internet. I did some myself just today, and was wondering if you could explain the disparity I found.
I am booking flights for myself. I am leaving New Orleans (MSY) on August 10 going to Ft. Lauderdale (FLL). I am returning on August 19, from State College, PA (SCE). When I look in my GDS, Worldspan, I get a fare of $194.39. When I look on the Delta website, I get a fare of $194.39. When I look on Orbitz and Expedia, I get a fare of $194.39. Yet, when I look on a YTB site, I get a fare of $235.40. You want proof? Here it is:
Worldspan:
1 DL1449U 10AUG MO MSYATL HK1 600A 832A/O $ J01 SK E
2 DL2035U 10AUG MO ATLFLL HK1 1130A 125P/X $ J01 SK E
3 ARNK
4*DL3563T 19AUG WE SCEDTW HK1 630A 750A/O $NW2579K $ J02 SK
E
5*DL2494T 19AUG WE DTWMSY HK1 840A 1005A/X $NW1408K $ J02 SK
FARE QUOTED 17JUN BY AGT-TA/XXX
ADT MSY DL X/ATL DL FLL 58.60/-SCE DL X/DTT DL MSY
82.79USD141.39END DL ZPMSYATLSCEDTW XT10.00AY18.00XF
MSY4.5ATL4.5SCE4.5DTW4.5
BF-141.39 TX-53.00 TTL-194.39 UA14A0NQ*TA10R2SJ
TOTAL BF-141.39 TX-53.00 TTL-194.39 USD
Orbitz:
Review trip details
1 traveler, multi-city (10 days, 9 nights) More flight detailsTotal airfare, taxes and fees: $ 194.39
Please note: At least one airline in this trip charges an additional fee for checked baggage. This fee is not included in your total trip cost. See details
Price Assurance Get our lowest fare or an automatic cash refund.
Mon, Aug 10 Depart: 6:00 am New Orleans, LA (MSY) Delta Air Lines 1449
1 stop
Arrive: 1:25 pm Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) Delta Air Lines 2035
Wed, Aug 19 Depart: 6:30 am State College, PA (SCE) Delta Air Lines 3563
operated by OPERATED BY PINNACLE AIRLINES AS FLT 1408 — 9E 1408
1 stop
Arrive: 10:05 am New Orleans, LA (MSY) Delta Air Lines 2494
operated by OPERATED BY NORTHWEST AIRLINES AS FLT 1408 — NW 1408
Expedia:
Total price for this trip: $194.40
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Your flight could cost $94 instead of $194! Get up to $100 off when you’re approved. See details >
1 Review the flight details
Mon 10-Aug-09
New Orleans (MSY)
Depart 6:00 am to Atlanta (ATL)
Arrive 8:32 am
Terminal SOUTH TERMINAL 419 mi
(674 km)
Duration: 1hr 32mn
DL
Flight: 1449
——————————————————————————–
3 Economy/Coach Class, BOEING (DOUGLAS) MD-88
——————————————————————————–
Atlanta (ATL)
Depart 11:30 am
Terminal SOUTH TERMINAL to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
Arrive 1:25 pm
Terminal 2 582 mi
(937 km)
Duration: 1hr 55mn
DL
Flight: 2035
——————————————————————————–
3 Economy/Coach Class, Boeing 757
——————————————————————————–
Total distance: 1,001 mi (1,611 km)
Total duration: 3hr 27mn (6hr 25mn with connections)
Wed 19-Aug-09
State College (SCE)
Depart 6:30 am to Detroit (DTW)
Arrive 7:50 am
Terminal E.M. MCNAMARA TERMINAL 295 mi
(475 km)
Duration: 1hr 20mn
DL
Flight: 3563
Operated by: PINNACLE DBA NORTHWEST AIRLINK
——————————————————————————–
3 Economy/Coach Class, Canadair RJ
——————————————————————————–
Detroit (DTW)
Depart 8:40 am
Terminal E.M. MCNAMARA TERMINAL to New Orleans (MSY)
Arrive 10:05 am 933 mi
(1,502 km)
Duration: 2hr 25mn
DL
Flight: 2494
Operated by: NORTHWEST AIRLINES
——————————————————————————–
3 Economy/Coach Class, Food For Purchase, DC9-30
——————————————————————————–
Total distance: 1,228 mi (1,976 km)
Total duration: 3hr 45mn (4hr 35mn with connections
YTB:
Flight: 1 Multi-Destination TicketMon, Aug 10, 2009New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) Depart: 06:00am
Arrive: 08:32am
New Orleans, LA (MSY) to
Atlanta, GA (ATL)
Delta Air Lines
Flight 1449 (on McDonnell Douglas MD88)
Adult fare rules
1 Stop – change planes in Atlanta, GA (ATL)
Connection Time: 2 hrs 58 mins
Depart: 11:30am
Arrive: 01:25pm
Atlanta, GA (ATL) to
Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
Delta Air Lines
Flight 2035 (on Boeing 757)
Adult fare rules
Total Travel Time: 6 hrs 25 mins
——————————————————————————–
Wed, Aug 19, 2009State College (SCE) to New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) Depart: 06:30am
Arrive: 07:50am
State College, PA (SCE) to
Detroit, MI (DTW)
Delta Air Lines
Flight 3563 operated by PINNACLE DBA NORTHWEST AIRLINK (on Canadair Regional Jet)
Adult fare rules
1 Stop – change planes in Detroit, MI (DTW)
Connection Time: 50 mins
Depart: 08:40am
Arrive: 10:05am
Detroit, MI (DTW) to
New Orleans, LA (MSY)
Delta Air Lines
Flight 2494 operated by Northwest Airlines (on Douglas DC-9-30/40/50)
Adult fare rules
Total Travel Time: 4 hrs 35 mins
Travel Protection
Protect Yourself and Your Trip
Select an option before you continue.
Yes! I want to purchase Flight Protection for only USD 19.95 per person.
(Available to U.S. residents only)
No, thanks. I prefer to decline the Travel Protection Plan.
The Travel Protection Plan includes:
Trip Cancellation or Interruption: reimbursement up to the total cost of your air ticket for covered reasons
Lost, Stolen or Damaged Baggage up to $250
24/7 Worldwide Emergency Assistance
Please see the Description of Coverage for your Travel Protection Plan.
——————————————————————————–
2Review the price
(All prices are in US dollars.)
1 Adult: USD 188.00
Taxes & Fees: USD 47.40
——————————————————————————–
Total payment due: USD 235.40 *
* Please remember that prices are not guaranteed until flights are ticketed.
First off, care to explain the $41.01 difference between what YTB is charging and everyone else? Second, why would anyone want to book with YTB after doing research, and finding that all other sites are LESS money?
I’m sure you won’t have the cojones to post this. I’m also sure that you’ll block my IP address again. But, will that work? Seems as if I’m still able to visit your inane blog!
June 17th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Gee…I’ve been striking a lot of nerves lately.
The gang has been all over my blog, all over my newsletter, and talking about me on NoTravelMLMs, Scam.com, and Talking Travelers trying to figure out how to undo the damage that’s been done. It’s been fun watching all the action surrounding little ol’ me.
How many tries did it take for you to find this one example? And why is it always air? Why not a cruise, an all inclusive, a nice beefy tour that can make someone some money?
I hear old Johnny’s working his spin cycle in overdrive with a post in the morning in an attempt to make it look like YTB’s not smart enough to actually “participate” in all the training that’s available in the industry? Something about how we just click the links and “Poof” we’re trained!
You better get on the horn and notify CLIA before they dish out all the credits to us this summer. But I’m sure you’ve got that covered as well don’t you? ;-P
I’m sorry you guys can’t find something better to do. Business a little slow? Oh of course it is, 80% of everyone already knows how to do your job now! So you’re left to worry about some guy you call “Dufass”? Posting on his “inane” blog in an attempt to turn the tables?
Actions speak louder than words Taylor, and I want to personally thank you for showing all of us what desperate looks like.
I will tell you this…It aint purdy.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Nice try at deflection, Dougie, but why don’t you answer the questions?
Why is YTB more than $40 higher than the airline directly, and your supposed competition, and a traditional travel agent?
What does YTB do with that extra $40 that they’re collecting?
Why would someone book via a YTB website when they can book elsewhere and get it for $40 cheaper?
Why does it matter whether it’s “just” airfare or a cruise or a tour? Why is YTB charging a higher price than everyone else?
And to answer your question, it took me all of about 15 minutes to check all the different websites. It only took me one try, because when using a GDS, it shows all flights of all airlines all day in one screen. Once I had it booked and ticketed in Worldspan, I decided to just see how wonderful YTB “really” is, and let me tell you, they failed miserably.
And I will tell YOU this……it wasn’t purdy!
June 17th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Taylor,
Looks as if you need that trip. I wish I could convey how silly and desperate you all look right now.
I’m suppose to just take your word that the price is $40 higher? Cha…rrrrright.
I don’t trust that as far as I can spit but I’m not going to waste my time checking into it, just so i can prove me right and you wrong. Don’t need to. I know I’ll be $40 cheaper on another flight.
It’s stupid and a waste of time to pick a fight over one air fair price. Just not going to get caught up in that because I’ve learned that when you roll around with a pig you both get dirty.
And the pig loves it.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
You don’t have to take my word, just look at the evidence I presented to you.
You still haven’t answered the question. Probably because you can’t. YTB has NEVER been cheaper on any flight. Go and check the TW forums where your buddy Rod tried to convince people over and over again that YTB’s booking engine was far superior, and every time he was shot down.
I’m not the one that looks silly and desperate. You are, since you can’t explain why YTB is charging $40 more than anyone else. You can’t explain what they’re doing with that extra money.
Yeah, the pig loves getting dirty, and you’re just as filthy as Coach, Scotty and Kim.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
If you really need to know why the price is higher, I’d place good odds on the fact that you changed the price after the copy and paste.
I wouldn’t put it past you. As I’ve said, I don’t trust you as far as I can spit. The whole lot of you are notorious for going to great lengths to make things appear just so.
Look, you’ve wasted enough of my time. In the morning, Johns going to have his little “click here for training story” and you can rant all you want how worthless and delusional I am over on his blog.
At least there you have a shot of someone actually agreeing with you. ;-P
June 18th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Well well…looks like I was right on the money there Taylor. Take a look at what I found in my in box this morning….
$194 my ass….
Why am I not the least bit surprised at this?
Oh well, I could have saved you more time and more money if you would have let me book the flights for you.
Here’s your quote.
Have a nice trip, and I’ll enjoy the simple knowledge that you spent more money than you needed too.
Idiot…
June 18th, 2009 at 8:07 am
Ah, but you see, you’re the one that’s the idiot. You’re not comparing the EXACT SAME FLIGHTS! If you notice, I am travelling Delta/Northwest on all segments, not Continental to Ft. Lauderdale and Northwest returning.
Now, unlike you, when I make a statement, I have proof verifying what I say. I have screen shots of the checkout pages from YTB, Orbitz, and Expedia, with time stamps from this morning, that I would be more than happy to share with you, but I don’t know how to load them up here. Would be more than happy to share them via e-mail, but I know that you won’t admit you’re WRONG!
Now who’s the idiot?
June 18th, 2009 at 8:56 am
I checked the screen shot sent to me from the valued RTA, directly on the Delta site. It’s $230 not $194 as you attempted to tell me last evening.
That ego of yours got the better of you, just so you could be right and make it look like I was wrong.
Sorry chump, but it’s a little late for screen shots and links at this point in time. I wouldn’t trust those either based on what you did with a simple copy and paste.
I know it’s difficult getting caught in a bold face lie, but anger tends to make you do things that respectable people simply wouldn’t do.
The exact same flight from YTB is $5 more ($235) based on a $5 service charge we implement so I can get paid. That’s the truth of the matter, nothing more, nothing less.
I thought you might want to want to spend less time in the air and save a couple bucks by exploring other options. But I see that saving money isn’t the real issue here. It’s pretending that you know more than I do and how desperate you are to prove me wrong.
How sad.
June 18th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Okay, dumbass, in the screenshot that you have, you have the outbound flights as Delta 1449 connecting to Delta 2031. And yes, those flights are $230. But I am traveling on Delta 1449 connecting to Delta 2035, which arrives in Ft. Lauderdale at 1:25pm. Go and price out the itinerary using those flights, and see what you come up with! Compare EXACT things before you go off half cocked!
See, a good travel agent notices little things like that. I also know all about YTB’s $5 service charge. But since other online sites are not charging service fees, which by the way I don’t either, why would someone elect to pay extra?
You’re getting a little defensive. Poor, poor, Doug. Proven that he has neither the training nor the best prices!
June 18th, 2009 at 9:09 am
And also, BTW. You can say that yesterday I played around with cut and paste, but you can’t deny the iron clad facts of a screen shot. That’s the only reason that “you wouldn’t trust those”. Face it, you got beat, and you can’t stand it!
Now, since any reasonable person would understand the point that I am making, you are dismissed, and I am done with you…………for the moment. You can trust that as long as you and ytb are around, I’ll be there proving that you all have no clue as to what you’re doing!
June 18th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Oh good grief….Here are the exact flights from YTB.
As you can see, it’s not $235 but $199. A simple $5 service charge. Still nothing to prove a $40 difference on your end. Just a bunch of smack. Those screen shots would have made a world of difference. But instead, you leave me to clean up the mud again.
Now can we put this to rest? I’d like to spend some time at the pool with my kids.
PS – I’d love it if you were in fact done. But something tells me that you’ll be back with more crap.
June 18th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Just give me the e-mail address to send the screen shots to, hot shot. And remember, they have a date and time stamp on them!
June 18th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Instead of sending it via e-mail, just go to http://notravelmlms.blogspot.com/ where the screen shots are there for God and the world to see.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
This has got you all worked up don’t it? Somehow I just knew there was no chance that you would actually be “done with me”…
You have spent the last day and a half obsessing over this and digging yourself deeper and deeper.
First, to think God and the world even cares about this price is a bit over the top. (God does care about you though.) Second, you’re missing the date and time stamps you promised. Third, you appear to have edited this in Photo Shop. A top and bottom pic? Nice Copy – Edit – and Paste with another price.
I have already posted a printed (stamped if you will) PDF with a time of 06/18/2009 @ 11:06AM for $199.
Yours was created when? The price of that bottom pic attaches to what flight?
I’ll stick with my unedited “Print to PDF” with URL and time stamp thank you. You’re story of $40 bucks sounds interesting, but I just can’t help but think it’s nothing more than a desperate plea for attention.
Tomorrow’s another day, and I’d suggest you move on to something else at this point.
This “story” of yours is cooked.
June 19th, 2009 at 8:00 am
I don’t mean to get in the middle of your little argument here, but Doug he does have a date and time on each one of his examples and they do not look like they where tampered with in any way.
In addition, Doug, you know exactly why he used photo shop in order to convert the screen shots for viewing. No different then you use adobe. Talk about twisting to suggest he tampered with the screen shots…
Moreover, if you want to suggest by you using a PDF it cannot be tampered with lets get real. You can also tamper with a pdf if you are the one converting it. Not saying you did, just saying is all.
Now, as far as the costs of the flight schedule he outlined, well indeed your booking engine was not up with the standard systems, it caught up later in the day. You proved that by using different flights in order to offer a different fare. However, today if you view those flights you will notice they are all the same price from each vendor, including your host company.
June 29th, 2009 at 8:51 am
[...] few weeks ago I documented BurstMedia’s findings with how consumers are using the internet for travel research and spending. That article got a [...]