JupiterResearch Finds That 'Best-Rate Guarantees' by Travel Suppliers Help Boost Direct Online Bookings

2004-08-25

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Hotel News Resource Research finds online travel consumers continue to exhibit limited loyalty, using on average almost three Web sites and offline agents as they research the best deals.

JupiterResearch, a division of Jupitermedia Corporation (Nasdaq: JUPM), announced today that new research titled "Consumer Survey Report, Travel 2004" finds online travel consumers continue to exhibit limited loyalty, using on average almost three Web sites and offline agents as they research the best deals. Best-rate guarantees, however, have begun to tip the scales toward supplier sites over other types of travel providers.

The JupiterResearch consumer survey found that travel customers are still very price sensitive and are interested in more features on travel Web sites. Some of the findings of the study include the following:

* Best-rate guarantees would motivate the majority of online consumers to make more purchases online.

* Consumers are highly interested in the ability to fix mistakes without penalty and cancel or change reservations on the Web site where travel was booked.

* Approximately one in four consumers suggest they would be more inclined to purchase more travel online if Web sites offered clearer wording regarding penalties and fees.

* Unlike their European counterparts, U.S. consumers are not as receptive to the idea of buying bundled products online, largely because they prefer to shop around.

"Online travel consumers continue to be price sensitive and increasingly demanding," said Diane Clarkson, Online Travel Analyst at JupiterResearch. "Best-rate guarantees have begun to benefit suppliers in increasing direct online bookings. If airfare prices are equal, consumers are more likely to use an airline site than any other type of site to book their travel," added Clarkson.

The complete findings of this consumer survey are immediately available to JupiterResearch clients online. For more information on the survey or JupiterResearch's Online Travel research service please contact Kieran Kelly, Vice President of Global Sales and Client Service at 1-800-481-1212 or mailto:researchsales@jupitermedia.com.

About Jupitermedia Corporation
Jupitermedia Corporation (Nasdaq: JUPM) (http://www.jupitermedia.com), headquartered in Darien, CT, is a leading global provider of original information, images, research and events for information technology, business and creative professionals. JupiterWeb, the online division of Jupitermedia, operates four distinct online networks: internet.com and EarthWeb.com for IT and business professionals; DevX.com for developers; and ClickZ.com for interactive marketers. JupiterWeb properties include more than 150 Web sites and over 150 e-mail newsletters that are viewed by approximately 20 million users and generate approximately 300 million page views monthly. Jupitermedia also includes: JupiterImages, one of the leading images companies in the world with over 3.5 million images online serving creative professionals with products like Comstock Images, Thinkstock Images, Photos.com and ClipArt.com; JupiterResearch, a leading international research advisory organization specializing in business and technology market research in 18 business areas and 14 vertical markets; and JupiterEvents, which produces offline conferences and trade shows focused on IT and business-specific topics, including Search Engine Strategies and Wi-Fi Planet.