Research Published on The Technology Edition

TRAVEL APPS FOR THE IPHONE: THE FIRST WAVE
ANALYSIS, November 2008 show abstract
IPhone users are wise to the efficiency of mobile apps, and travel companies should be, too. Whether creating Web-based or native apps, these tricks of the trade will help companies make smart development choices.

TRAVEL AGENCY COMMISSION SETTLEMENT
SPOTLIGHT, October 2008 show abstract
Commission settlement for travel agencies can be a complicated affair – but this article breaks it down to its vital parts, highlights key vendors, and discusses recent innovations that streamline the process.

THE PHOCUSWRIGHT CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY SURVEY SECOND EDITION, PART FIVE OF FIVE
DATA POINT, October 2008 show abstract
Mobile phones aren’t just for making calls anymore – online travelers are also using them to send text messages, access the Internet and watch videos. And given that 61% of online travelers said they’d like to receive flight status alerts on their mobile devices, travel providers should consider mobile an increasingly important customer touchpoint.

WHAT IF AIRLINE SEATS BECOME PRODUCTS INSTEAD OF COMMODITIES?
ANALYSIS, October 2008 show abstract
As airlines search for inventive ways to unbundle and make ends meet – charging fees for extra leg room and checked bags, for example – a few brave carriers have taken the biggest leap yet: selling seats as products instead of commodities. That leap’s about to get even bigger, as Sabre unveils a new platform that enables multiple airlines to make this switch.

THE PHOCUSWRIGHT CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY SURVEY SECOND EDITION, PART FOUR OF FIVE
DATA POINT, September 2008 show abstract
Personalized marketing wins again: Findings from The PhoCusWright Consumer Technology Survey suggest that travelers who use social media are most interested in information and promotions that are tailored to them, and prefer reviews from friends and family over those from strangers.

THE PHOCUSWRIGHT CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY SURVEY SECOND EDITION, PART THREE OF FIVE
DATA POINT, July 2008 show abstract
Both rich media and consumer reviews can be powerful influences on traveler decisions, but some travelers are more impressionable than others. Travelers of all ages found friends’ advice reliable, while blogs and user-generated reviews were only a hit with the Gen Y set.

TRAVELMUSE: NO DESTINATION, NO PROBLEM
INNOVATION SNAPSHOT, July 2008 show abstract
TravelMuse’s Inspiration Finder helps customers discover where they want to travel, beating OTAs to the punch in the search-shop-buy process.

AIRLINE REVENUE MANAGEMENT
SPOTLIGHT, July 2008 show abstract
This article is a crash course in the basics of revenue management and takes a close look at how airlines can use RM to beef up their bottom lines.

GET FRIENDLY WITH SOCIAL SEARCH: A TRAVEL MARKETING MANDATE
ANALYSIS, July 2008 show abstract
Social search – search driven by user interactions – offers unparalleled opportunities to target travel buyers. Here’s how these methods work and why smart travel companies should keep an eye on this emerging technology.

THE PHOCUSWRIGHT CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY SURVEY SECOND EDITION, PART TWO OF FIVE
DATA POINT, June 2008 show abstract
Travel companies aiming to make their travel Web site a one-stop shop, take note: online travelers are all but guaranteed to visit multiple sites. But the number of sites travelers tend to visit, which sites they visit first, and where they book often vary based on demographic factors like age.

SEARCH, SHOP, BUY: INSIDE THE TANGLED WEB OF ONLINE TRAVEL
SPOTLIGHT, June 2008 show abstract
This analysis of online travel data gathered by Hitwise revealed surprising results – just over half of the top 200 travel Web sites in February 2008 were booking sites. The remaining were referral and media sites, which attract travel shoppers with expert and traveler-generated reviews, metasearch capabilities, and maps of travel destinations. Other findings reveal the top downstream beneficiaries of metasearch, supplier and online travel agency sites.

SOCIAL SEARCH EMERGES IN THE TRAVEL VERTICAL
SPOTLIGHT, June 2008 show abstract
Social search holds big promise for the travel sector, offering more relevant results for consumers and better targeting prospects for travel marketers. This article examines the various flavors of social search and recommends steps marketers can take to refine their search strategy and prepare for the next generation of social search engines.

THE PHOCUSWRIGHT CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY SURVEY SECOND EDITION, PART ONE OF FIVE
DATA POINT, May 2008 show abstract
Familiarity with and usage of Travel 2.0 technologies among U.S. online travelers has not increased significantly in the past year, with the exception of social networks, which are now familiar to more travelers than ever before. The most popular consumer tools continue to be those related to rich media, which enable travelers to preview a destination or local area, and advice, such as travel reviews.

INTERNET BOOKING ENGINES
DATA POINT, April 2008 show abstract
Internet booking engines (IBEs) have become a necessary part of online travel e-commerce, but choosing the best product for your company is no simple task. This Data Point outlines the key features of IBEs and provides in-depth information and comparisons to help companies understand which IBE is right for them.

TRIPIT: ORGANIZE YOUR TRAVEL
INNOVATION SNAPSHOT, April 2008 show abstract
TripIt is an online tool that uses travelers' confirmation emails to consolidate all their trip plans – itineraries, restaurant reservations, local weather, maps, driving directions and city guides – into a single master itinerary.

VIRTUAL WORLDS AND THE 3D WEB
SPOTLIGHT, March 2008 show abstract
While travel companies may find it tricky to establish themselves in virtual worlds, the potential to connect with consumers could be worth it.

INSIDETRIP: IMPROVED FLIGHT INSIGHT FOR TRAVELERS
INNOVATION SNAPSHOT, March 2008 show abstract
InsideTrip responds to the recent slate of traveler complaints over unpleasant air travel experiences with a tool that provides greater insight into airport and flight variables that can affect travel speed, comfort and ease.

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS THAT WILL SHAPE TRAVEL DISTRIBUTION IN 2008
ANALYSIS, March 2008 show abstract
PhoCusWright’s Top Ten Travel Technology Trends for 2008. New technology capability spawns new business models and business opportunities drive the need for new technology.

DOHOP: CODESHARE FOR THE "HAVE NOTS"
INNOVATION SNAPSHOT, January 2008 show abstract
DoHop, founded in 2004 and based in Reykjavik, Iceland, is a flight search engine technology company that recently launched the DoHop Connection Platform. The Platform will provide airlines – both major and low-cost carriers (LCCs) – with a search engine that calculates the best flight connections for their route networks and allows any airline to cross-sell flights with connecting carriers.

TRAVEL 3.0 SCORECARD
ANALYSIS, January 2008 show abstract
In March 2007, PhoCusWright predicted 10 trends that would define Travel 3.0. Since the world is moving at Internet speed, it’s fitting to review these predictions to see if they are on target, missed the mark or are somewhere in between.

THE PHOCUSWRIGHT TRAVEL 2.0 CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY SURVEY PART 5: MOBILE ACTIVITIES AND INTEREST
DATA POINT, January 2008 show abstract
With worldwide penetration soaring, near-term growth in the use of advanced mobile devices and applications in the U.S. seems inevitable.In order for usage to become mainstream, user-friendly devices and appealing applications are necessary.

CATCH THE VIBE
INNOVATION SNAPSHOT, January 2008 show abstract
VibeAgent is a metasearch tool for consumers to research and book hotels online. The company, based in Charlottesville, Va., was founded in early 2006 and garnered 10,000 users in its first few weeks online.

THE PHOCUSWRIGHT TRAVEL 2.0 CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY SURVEY, PART 4
DATA POINT, December 2007 show abstract
This Data Point analyzes the demographic characteristics, motivations, and shopping and buying habits of travelers that visit six or more Web sites when planning a trip.

ONLINE ADVERTISING
SPOTLIGHT, December 2007 show abstract
This article explores the myriad options that potential travel advertisers face when considering online advertising spend.

ANALYST BRIEFING: TRAVEL 2.0 CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY SURVEY AND THE TRENDS THAT ARE DEFINING TRAVEL 3.0
PRESENTATION, November 2007 show abstract
This analyst briefing for Technology Edition subscriber covers The PhoCusWright Travel 2.0 Consumer Technology Survey and the trends that are defining Travel 3.0.

TRAVEL AGENCY TECHNOLOGY
SPOTLIGHT, November 2007 show abstract
Cost pressures, the ability and economic incentive to bypass intermediaries, low-cost technology, third-party low fare search services, changing business models and global Internet connectivity have fostered the development of new technology models for travel agencies.

RESERVATIONS TECHNOLOGY AT A CROSSROADS
SPOTLIGHT, November 2007 show abstract
The rapid growth of Internet commerce has happened too quickly for the industry to completely discard a critical, but 40-year-old, infrastructure. These changes have created a hybrid reservations process that is complex in content and structure and utilizes a wide range of technologies. There will be much change in the market over the next three to five years as current investment programs come to fruition and new ones are introduced.

THE PHOCUSWRIGHT TRAVEL 2.0 CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY SURVEY, PART 3
DATA POINT, October 2007 show abstract
The PhoCusWright Travel 2.0 Consumer Technology Survey examined consumer adoption and usage patterns associated with Web 2.0 and Travel 2.0 technologies. This Data Point, which focuses on traveler shopping behavior and influence, is one in a series of publications that highlight the findings from the larger research initiative.

DATA VISUALIZATION: UNDERSTANDING COMPLEXITY
SPOTLIGHT, October 2007 show abstract
This article addresses emerging techniques in data visualization and discusses how these tools are being applied in the travel industry.

THE PHOCUSWRIGHT TRAVEL 2.0 CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY SURVEY, PART 2
DATA POINT, September 2007 show abstract
This Data Point, which focuses on demographic characteristics of people who are familiar with Web 2.0 technologies, is one in a series of publications that highlight the findings from the larger research initiative.