tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post8544167359168505872..comments2024-03-09T20:40:14.660+11:00Comments on The BOOT - The Business of Online Travel: Webjet to relaunch hotels with a GDS backed retail model. Three reasons why I don' think this is the best plan availableTim Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05383381229302650553noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-43777603099891794402010-10-03T18:07:16.432+11:002010-10-03T18:07:16.432+11:00I have used webjet search number of times to find ...I have used webjet search number of times to find cheapest tikcet and always it comes up a bit expensive.Maxhttp://www.onlinegds.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-3671508229480104702009-08-22T02:34:18.202+10:002009-08-22T02:34:18.202+10:00In Asia Pacific especially, rates parity is what m...In Asia Pacific especially, rates parity is what most hotels wanted, but in reality, hotels are competing among themselves and in the end of the day, they will love whoever (OTA) who can produce volume for them, with or without rates parity. <br /><br />Some hotels even offer cheaper rates in their own official site than the BAR rates they offer OTA., but they forgot the fact is that they still needs OTA to market and reach out to markets beyond their reach.<br /><br />I do agreed with your 3 reasons why webjet model wont work, and i just want to add in the 4th reason :<br /><br />4. Consumer doesnt care about rates parity. They will buy from OTA that can give them cheaper rate with instant confirmation. Therefore, only OTA with negotiated rates or buy up rooms will strive in this competitive environment.Francis Chinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01419802673110444435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-78830311281053029982009-08-20T11:59:17.218+10:002009-08-20T11:59:17.218+10:00@Anonymous
"I still can't understand why...@Anonymous <br />"I still can't understand why anyone in their right mind would" ...post Anonymously :-)<br /><br />this is good story on unmasking anonymous bloggers. (the canadian model) http://tiny.cc/oGaLKSteve Sherlockhttp://twitter.com/stevesherlocknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-35257423402797689652009-08-20T09:50:17.620+10:002009-08-20T09:50:17.620+10:00I still can't understand why anyone in their r...I still can't understand why anyone in their right mind would use Webjet to book domestic - is it the booking fee that they wouldn't pay on the airline's site that attracts them? Consumers - gotta love themAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-18684221162849428592009-08-18T21:26:14.429+10:002009-08-18T21:26:14.429+10:00For the author and for commentors also. You all sh...For the author and for commentors also. You all should get to know Hotelzon International's offerings. Some of you Hotelzon could be a possible partner or a solutions in comaporiosn to wotif, GDS, etc. Solutions to the same problems but from a novelty point of view.Mattinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-87118964956828879362009-08-18T20:07:29.824+10:002009-08-18T20:07:29.824+10:00@Steve - thanks (as always) for your contribution
...@Steve - thanks (as always) for your contribution<br /><br />@Richard - thanks to you too for adding the Webjet side of the storyTim Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383381229302650553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-65565400237230563602009-08-18T19:10:27.660+10:002009-08-18T19:10:27.660+10:00Tim,
Thanks for your interest in what we're u...Tim,<br /><br />Thanks for your interest in what we're up to. I'd reply with a couple of comments, not for the purpose of getting into an endless debate or for even defending our position. More so you can see that we felt the consumer solutions in the market had gaps particularly on the need for prepayment to hotel aggregators of what can be large sums of money. <br /><br />1. Rate Parity - all of the work we have done using rate comparison engines tells us that this is not as big an issue as one may think. The issue is more about giving the consumer the choice and convenience of avoiding having to prepay the hotel aggregator now. We think its right for the current economic environment where people want to protect and hold onto their funds. They are also more likely to transact for $10 within the booking path than make a decision to part with $1000.<br /><br />2. Coverage - most of our passengers travel to Australian and NZ destinations and all travel by air. We have ensured that we have good coverage in the flight arrival markets especially the capital cities. We are not after the weekend or drive markets, nor the B + B or apartment markets. We will have in excess of 60,000 hotels globally.<br /><br />3. Specials + Promos – maybe but we think there is a greater issue looming. We’ve always been amazed that hotels ‘give out’ their inventory and don’t operate a last room model like airlines operate a ‘last seat’ pricing and availability model. This is a business that the GDS already do and understand, and as you point out they already have a substantial number of hotel chains already in place. As we understand it chains like Accor and IHG have already made it clear that they want to control pricing from their systems on a direct connection basis. <br /><br />PS The delivery date for the soft launch is towards the end of August so you may have to wait a week or so to test run things. <br /><br />Richard Noon<br />CEO WebjetUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14320100891670750350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-70351548871750221002009-08-18T18:20:06.863+10:002009-08-18T18:20:06.863+10:00oh thought i should add: if i were webjet i'd ...oh thought i should add: if i were webjet i'd develop xml/api connection 'only' to hotels who have loyalty programs.<br /><br />that way i could store my dozen hotel loyalty programs in one spot, compare my loyalty rate and seamlessly book without needing to whip out my loyalty cards each time.<br /><br />smaller market but one lacking a product that does what ive described, and webject could dominate it if first with cool branding.<br /><br />i got that idea from a good car rental site that does this :-)Steve Sherlockhttp://twitter.com/stevesherlocknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-20768174717338800602009-08-18T18:09:00.755+10:002009-08-18T18:09:00.755+10:00As you’ve pointed out Tim, Webjet have tried vario...As you’ve pointed out Tim, Webjet have tried various things, and I’ve got to give them credit for continuing to try and evolve the hotel business models into their business.<br /><br />I guess eventually something will stick that is outside their core brand? but if so on any meaningful level, i think they’ll need to stick to the branding principles that led to Webjet succeeding in the first place.<br /><br />i.e. first in a new category with a product that people wanted & build a brand name that becomes synonymous with that category. I’m quoting Al Reis of course, with wotif also a very good example. (with the benefit of a quirky and memorable name)<br /><br />So is the new model actually new, is branded well enough to get cut through and will it be funded for long haul of brand building? (sounds very similar to roamfree who seem to have failed to build a brand despite mega bucks being thrown at it). <br /><br />I agree rate parity is big issue. Meta search (generally) allows for rate parity and comparison though without direct connect API’s, deep linking to various booking interfaces is still required. Which i personally don’t like and therefore stick with wotif.Steve Sherlockhttp://twitter.com/stevesherlocknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-44605931446950317232009-08-18T13:22:24.442+10:002009-08-18T13:22:24.442+10:00@Robert - thanks for the tip and congrats on the r...@Robert - thanks for the tip and congrats on the relaunch of <a href="http://www.rockcheetah.com/blog/" rel="nofollow">Views from the corner suite</a>Tim Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383381229302650553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-79549979786400462422009-08-18T13:12:28.236+10:002009-08-18T13:12:28.236+10:00Webjet should take a look at how Allegiant airline...Webjet should take a look at how Allegiant airlines is handling its hotel line of business. They are leveraging negotiated rates under a relatively traditional wholesale travel model. Allegiant is now one of the top wholesalers to Las Vegas and in some of the smaller markets it serves, one of the largest online travel sites.RobertKColehttp://www.rockcheetah.com/blognoreply@blogger.com