Innkeeper Forums: Scam Alert

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Scam alert: A BedandBreakfast.com Support rep recently posted a warning about a new twist on the same old scam. See below for an excerpt from one response by the innkeeper at Hacienda Las Barrancas, Santa Fe, NM. To add your thoughts, please see the posting here: http://forums.bedandbreakfast.com/thread/2634.aspx
 

Travel Trends

Baby Boomers spend money and use the Internet: A study by BoomerEyes reports that “the aging baby boom generation has embraced the Internet and everything related to it, and enjoys spending time online and surfing interesting Web sites.”

• Nearly 40% of those with kids said they’re now “Empty Nesters.”
• In addition to having the time to do what they want and when, the Empty Nesters also report financial freedom. On average, they said they have $315 more per month to spend. Disposable income for the baby boom generation has been pegged at about $2 trillion a year.
• Financial concerns top the list of worries of 47% of those asked, and another 20% worry about family and health/diet.
• 71% of 50-64 year olds and 84% of 30-49 year olds report high Internet usage. Among those 65 and over, regular Net usage is reported by 32%.
• Boomers who took the online survey say they most often shop online for travel (58%), books (57%), clothes (57%) and electronics (50%).
• Respondents have adopted healthy eating habits including reading nutrition labels (50%), eating smaller meals (43%), changing their diet to maintain their weight and stay healthy (41%), eating low-fat foods (37%), and monitoring their carb intake (29%).

Retirees are getting wealthier, more Internet savvy: "The number of retirees in the 87 metropolitan markets surveyed regularly, with household incomes of $50,000 or more, increased from 23% in 2003 to 28% in 2006. The survey from The Media Audit shows that retiree households with annual incomes of $75,000 or more increased from 11% to 14%, and those with annual incomes of $100,000 or more increased from 6% to 7%.

"Additional retiree demographics include data such as:

• Those retirees that made at least one purchase on the Internet increased from 20% in 2003 to 29% in 2006.
• Those making five or more purchases increased from 10% to 16%."

Newly wealthy bargain shop: "A recent study of affluence suggests that newly wealthy Americans behave more like middle-class consumers, seeking quality products based on research and comparison shopping, rather than impulsiveness. The "Annual Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America" by American Express and the Harrison Group reveals that almost 80% of the affluent population with a discretionary household income of $125,000 and higher comes from the middle class. The overwhelming majority (69%) of "The New American Aristocracy," has accumulated its wealth within the past 15 years and spends its money with a middle-class mindset.

"Among findings, the 'New American Aristocracy' considers itself middle class and doesn't feel at home with wealth. Its members travel a lot, per the study, spending $100 billion on travel in the past year, in pursuit of both education and pleasure.

"These new buyers are in contradiction to the traditional upscale consumer, who buy on impulse, at full retail price, with lots of help from sales staff. The new upscale consumer is instead a 'logic shopper,' who shops for quality and value, is more likely to comparison shop and browse the Web, often saving as much as 50% on branded products, per the study."

Travelers are sharing online: Henry Harteveldt of Forrester Research reports that 83% of travelers are now online, compared with 71% of the general public. His research has shown that 90% of travelers will be online by 2011. Harteveldt advised that that “41% of U.S. online leisure travelers use some form of online social tool in their travel research efforts, such as TripAdvisor.com. Nowadays, travelers can investigate the downside of locations and make a more informed purchase. In fact, says Christine Petersen, senior vice president of marketing for TripAdvisor.com, a few negative comments can lend an element of honesty and authenticity to positive user reviews.” Harteveldt adds that 30% of U.S. online travel bookers researching hotel accommodation would change their choice based on a user-written review.

Travelers want to share their experiences: “The Internet has made the world a smaller place, and perhaps no category has felt that impact as much as the travel industry. 83% of people who travel are Web savvy, compared with 71% of the general public, and by 2010, about nine in 10 travelers will conduct their search and trip planning via the Internet, per Forrester Research.

“Websites where consumers can read travel journals and reviews of hotels, cruise ships and attractions written by fellow travelers are rapidly gaining popularity. Among them are TripAdvisor.com, IGoUGo.com and TripPost.com. ‘Consumers don’t want to hear ad copy. They want to hear first-person from people who are out there,’ a spokesperson said.”

Why people book last-minute: A new priceline.com survey of consumer trends finds that many short-notice travelers are just too busy to book their vacations any further in advance.

• 30% said they were overscheduled and can’t plan more than seven days in advance
• 13% said that concern about personal finances was behind their procrastination
• 27% believed they could find better travel deals by waiting to make their purchases

How long do they stay?

• 70% of survey respondents said that they stay three nights or fewer when they take a short-notice vacation
• 30% said they will vacation 4-7 nights on a spur-of-the-moment whim.
• 4% would book a trip of eight nights or longer on short notice.

What do they purchase last-minute?

• "Most consumers (59%) were inclined to buy hotel rooms on short notice, followed by airline tickets (36%) and rental cars (35%). Only 10% of respondents would buy a vacation package on short notice, and 7% would buy a cruise on short notice."

Travelers seek out environmentally friendly lodging: TripAdvisor announced the results of its ecotourism survey of more than 1,000 travelers worldwide. Among the results:

• 38% of travelers surveyed have stayed at an environmentally friendly hotel, and 9% specifically seek out environmentally-friendly hotels.
• 34% of travelers surveyed would pay more to stay at an environmentally-friendly hotel.
• 11% of respondents have taken an ecotourism trip, and 25% are considering one.
• 38% of respondents said that environmentally-friendly tourism is a consideration when traveling.
• 78% of travelers said they decline to have their sheets and towels changed, when provided the option by hoteliers.
• 66% believe environmentally-friendly measures in travel are making a difference.
• The qualities most important to making a hotel eco-friendly: conserving energy ranked No. 1, followed by conserving water and using recycled paper.

Orbitz hears from travelers about eco-travel: “With more than 67% of Americans placing importance on the eco-friendliness of a destination, this market segment has a growing future ahead of it, according to a recent Orbitz survey of 320 adults ages 19 to 65. Conducted by MarketTool’s Zoomerang’s polling service, the Orbitz survey found that:

• 65% said it would somewhat impact their decision to stay at a hotel if they knew the hotel was using solar or wind energy to supplement the powering of the building.
• 63% state they would pay a little more to rent a hybrid vehicle or stay at a “green” hotel.
• 52% of Americans state they would be willing to donate a small portion of their vacation budget to help save the environment when booking a trip.

Online travel sales up: “Sales of online travel services could reach $146 billion by 2010, but year-to-year growth rates are cooling, according to a new research report from eMarketer. The online industry researcher's forecast includes all leisure and unmanaged business travel sales, including sales of airline tickets, hotel rooms, cruises and rental cars, but not meals or event tickets.

“For the first time, eMarketer noted that online travel bookings in the U.S. will surpass offline bookings in volume this year, according to PhoCusWright. In 2007, eMarketer estimates that 41.3 million U.S. households will book travel online, representing 53% of all U.S. online households. This year, U.S. online consumer travel sales will reach $94 billion, up 19% over 2006, according to eMarketer estimates.

“The report also noted that in 2006, an estimated 37.1 million households booked travel online, which is 50% of the total online households in the U.S. In 2010, eMarketer estimated there will be 51.1 million households booking travel online, representing 55% of online households in the U.S.”

Expedia launches in Spain: “Expedia, Inc. announced the launch of its Spain website, Expedia.es, a full-service travel booking site designed specifically to meet the needs of Spanish travelers. It marks the company’s first Spanish-language Expedia-branded site, and its ninth Expedia point of sale in Europe, bringing the international total to 13. Spain is the fourth largest online travel market in Europe. With more than 50 million visitors each month to its international websites, and hundreds of staff throughout the world dedicated to working with hotel partners in local markets, Expedia is the global leader in online travel. (If you participate in BedandBreakfast.com Online Reservations, like The Chanric Inn below,  your inn is available on expedia.es.)


Expedia No. 1 for customer experience: Expedia was ranked as the No. 1 site in the Keynote Customer Experience Rankings in each of the three studies – airline, hotel and rental car – with the best overall ranking across the 250+ customer experience metrics measured in each study.

Meeting planners select venue from website: “An amazing 61% of 192 respondents to MiMegasite.com's latest poll said they would choose a meeting property based just on information, specs and photos found on the internet - without even conducting an in-person site inspection. MiMegasite reports that “as the sophistication of websites continues to advance, many properties now offer 360-degree views of guest rooms, meeting space, banquet space, and other areas, allowing planners to get a solid idea of a property’s feasibility for their meetings. When it comes to judging the service staff at a property--which obviously cannot be done over the Web--many planners rely on word-of-mouth anecdotes and recommendations if they are not going to conduct an in-person site visit.”

Google upgrades analytics product: Google Analytics has gotten a major redesign. The new release marks a paradigm shift, from providing analytics data in isolation to offering a more holistic view of the data, Brett Crosby, senior manager of Google Analytics, told ClickZ. "It's not just one lonely number sitting on the page, telling you if your traffic went up or down," Crosby said. "We present it with other data, so you can see if the data show that things are good or bad. Maybe your visits are down, but your conversions have tripled," he said. "Once you have the reports, you still need to understand what the data is telling you."

The latest version of Google Analytics is designed so that advanced users can do more sophisticated analysis, but is also meant to support non-technical users. For example, users can set up customized dashboards and e-mail reports that present them with data that they need most. Google Analytics summarizes data and statistics in plain language, so that any site owner can use the data to make informed decisions. (Users of the newly introduced RezOvation Design, Hosting & Promotion receive Google Analytics as part of the package.)

Spending for Mother’s Day is up: “According to the National Retail Federation's 2007 Mother's Day Consumer Actions and Intentions survey, consumers plan to spend $15.73 billion this Mother's Day, spending an average of $139.14 on the holiday compared to last year's $122.16. The study found 85% of consumers plan to celebrate this year by spending:

• $3.1 billion on a special dinner or brunch at their favorite restaurant (61.0%)
• $2.3 billion on flowers (72.4%)
• $2.1 billion on jewelry (32.8%)
• $1.6 billion on clothes and accessories (37.0%)
• $1.3 billion on a trip to the spa or beauty salon (19.7%)

Other popular gifts for the holiday are:

• Greeting cards (86.8%)
• Gift certificates (39.3%)
• Books or CDs (29.3%)
• Housewares or gardening tools (18.5%)
• Consumer electronics or computer related accessories (11.3%)” 

Travelers looking for adventure this summer: “59% of travelers say they intend to use at least half of their vacation time this summer--up from 54% in 2006, according to a new survey from TripAdvisor. 29% say they will be taking more time off this summer than last summer.

“And reversing a trend toward fewer, shorter vacations, 86% overall say they will take their vacation in weeklong chunks, with 68% of Americans planning to take between one and three weeks this summer. 79% of travelers said that the cost of fuel and rising airfares will not affect their summer travel plans. Most, according to the poll, are yearning to do something new, with 55% of travelers saying they will go someplace they have never been before, as opposed to 33%, who will go the same place they did last year.

“Outdoor activities are still getting hotter, with 40% planning to hike or camp this summer, up from 36% last year. A quarter of travelers say they are planning a trip to either a lake or a mountain, and nearly 20% are looking for excitement and say they will try an activity such as scuba diving, snorkeling, parasailing or whitewater rafting for the first time.

“The poll found that the summer's hotspots are: Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic; Breaux Bridge, LA., and Seminyak in Bali, Indonesia. In the U.S., the three destinations that have sparked the most interest are Breaux Bridge; Anna Maria Island, FL, and Mason, OH, home to the popular Kings Island Amusement Park."

One-third of German tourism revenues generated online: “Nearly one-third of total German tourism revenues were generated via the internet in 2006, a new study revealed. Online revenues rose to €12.9 billion in 2006 compared to €9.45 billion the year before. In contrast, offline distribution through travel agencies or direct sales channels such as call centers dropped from €28.1 billion to €27.7 billion, according to the study by research organization Ulysses Web Tourismus. The study predicts online travel sales will grow to €16.2 billion this year and to €19.3 billion in 2008, which would be 42% of a total market worth €45.5 billion.

"The major development last year was the rapid growth of online sales for major tour operators, who now generate about 10% of revenues through the internet, the study said. Specialist operators have even stronger online sales, with nearly 15% online. The study’s results were based on interviews with 357 tourism managers."

Women want a better travel experience: Kathleen Ameche, author of “The Woman Road Warrior: A Woman’s Guide to Business Travel” (Agate, 2005), recently conducted a survey about female business travelers. “‘Ninety-eight percent of them said they had their personal safety compromised on a business trip within the last 45 days,’ said Ameche. It has been noted that the growing number of female business travelers has had significant effects on the travel experience. Women are a big part of the reason that a typical hotel room, whether midlevel or luxury, has better bedding, lighting, room service, closets, work spaces and overall design.

“Unlike men, women tend to notice the details and share them with friends and colleagues. So hotels are going to be hearing more about safety. Among the biggest complaints about safety are hotel clerks who address a female guest by name and announce her room number at check-in.”

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