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Travelzoo notches sluggish growth, pins hopes on hotels
DigitalDeal-site Travelzoo’s largest business region is North America, where the company is feeling pressure as it continues to develop a hotel-booking platform. The company released its first quarter results today, and its operating profit in North America fell 22.5% to $5.5 million on a sluggish revenue increase of 5% to $30.2 million. “The decrease in [...]
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Cyprus crisis means deals for sun-seeking European tourists
DestinationsThe financial crisis battering Cyprus will result in holiday bargains for Brits, according to one of the biggest independent tour operators specialising in the Mediterranean island. But hotel bookings in the run-up to the crucial Easter period, when Cyprus is usually one of the most popular spring sun destinations for British holidaymakers, have been dismal [...]
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Queensland resort will cut 20% off the bill if rain ruins your vacation
DestinationsAn Australian has devised a scheme that would put most British hotels out of business: 20 per cent off your bill if it rains more than 5mm during your stay. With 2012 crowned Britain’s second wettest year on record and 2013 shaping up to be the coldest, it’s a small comfort to know that we’re [...]
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Cruise industry’s response to accidents? Cutting prices for consumers
TransportThe cruise industry may be forced into cutting prices after safety concerns were raised following incidents that took place on the same day involving the ships Thomson Majesty and Carnival Triumph. The death of five crew from Thomson Majesty and the engine-room fire that immobilised Carnival Triumph were a serious blow to the industry which [...]
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TripAdvisor’s redesigned Tingo now searches for hotel upgrades
DigitalLaunched about a year ago, TripAdvisor redesigned its Tingo hotel site and it is now handing out hotel upgrades to customers as an alternative to refunds when the room rate drops. Tingo’s redesigned homepage also has much more of a deal feel to it than the original one as Tingo is now emphasizing “hot getaways” to Mexico [...]
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Jetsetter sale finally nearing completion, announcement expected next week
DigitalGilt Groupe’s flash deals and hotel booking site Jetsetter has found a home and the announcement will come as soon as next week, ending a months-long search to find a buyer, Skift has learned. The most likely buyer is Tripadvisor, our sources indicate, though we have not been able to definitively confirm that. Over the last few months, we [...]
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Groupon says travel is a big deal as it makes concessions to local merchants
DigitalAlthough Groupon disappointed the financial community with its fourth quarter results and forecasts, don’t blame the angst on travel. Groupon likes to cite a non-GAAP metric, “gross billings,” and CEO Andrew Mason said February 27 that its travel and goods products both saw strong sequential increases increases in gross billings during the fourth quarter in North [...]
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LivingSocial raises $110 million and it’s a downer for daily deals
DigitalLivingSocial Inc. was worth about $1.5 billion in a recent financing round, less than a quarter its value as recently as 14 months ago, evidence of dwindling demand for the daily coupons that make up most of its sales. Investors put $110 million into the company and received 7.5 percent of its equity, Chief Executive [...]
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Flight deals: The urban myths about when to book
TransportAnyone who has booked a last-minute flight knows you pay more when you wait. But you also pay more if you book too early. What’s too early? What’s too late? Pity the poor fare geek trying to hit that elusive sweet spot. Discount travel site Cheapair.com has crunched a year’s worth of booking data and [...]
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Travelzoo’s profit falls but it’s bullish on hotel booking boost
DigitalDeal-publisher Travelzoo saw its profits fall in the fourth quarter and indicated it hopes to integrate a hotel-booking engine from Perfect Escapes within about six months. The company’s stock was hot during the daily deals bubble, but has seen considerable cooling over the last year. However, the stock price was up nearly 25% today, and [...]
