Last Minute Hotel Booking Model Facing Extinction? After the Acquisition of Travel.com.au, Wotif.com To Go 365 Days.

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SYDNEY, Australia, June 17 /PRNewswire/ — - Research by
It has become evident in recent times that there has been a shift away from the last minute model with sites such as Wotif.com to go 365 days. Moreover, according to a recent study by HotelsCombined.com these last minute distribution sites including Wotif.com, NeedItNow.com and LastMinute.com.au are no longer offering the best available rates.
Much hype was created in the hotel industry with the launch of Wotif.com in March 2000 when it offered a 14-day booking window. Before this time, hotels relied on global distribution systems (GDS) to assist in selling their hotel rooms with dynamic pricing not yet coming into existence. Wotif.com gave hotels what they needed, offering a simple system to effectively yield manage their distressed inventory. Wotif.com capitalized on this for several years then in October 2005 they extended to 28-day booking window. At present, according to an ASX announcement published on May 8, 2008 it is confirmed that a 365-day model is coming. It is interesting to note that Wotif.com is in reality one of the few remaining last minute websites entirely using the last minute model with NeedItNow.com and LastMinute.com.au previously making the move to a 365-day model.
Clearly we can see that there is a movement away from the last minute model, so the question needs to be asked if these sites are no longer distressed inventory sites, are they just another distribution channel? HotelsCombined.com has taken this question to see if there are any points of difference that these last minute sites have against other third party intermediaries.
After taking a sample of twenty-five hotels within five major Australian capital cities ( Sydney - Melbourne - Brisbane - Adelaide - and Perth - ) the results indicate that Wotif.com, NeedItNow.com and LastMinute.com.au are just another distribution channel with non last minute providers on HotelsCombined.com offering better available rates. For a full copy of the results please refer to .
About HotelsCombined.com
HotelsCombined.com is a hotel search engine containing the largest hotel database worldwide. Featuring hotels in 20,000 destinations across 195 countries, with over 800,000 hotel deals from direct hotel listings and over 30 of the most visited travel websites including AsiaRooms.com, Booking.com, Cheaptickets.com, Expedia.com, Hotel.info, HotelClub.com, Hotels.com, InterContinental.com, Obitz.com, Priceline.com, ReserveTravel.com, Venere.com.
For more information go to

For further information please contact:
Vicki Byrne
Business Development
Hotels Combined Pty Ltd
Phone: 61 2 8011 4192

Website:
Hotels Combined Pty Ltd

New MasterCard Travel Platform on Priceless.com Provides Unique Travel Offers and Experiences to Cardholders

PURCHASE, N.Y., May 5 /PRNewswire/ — MasterCard Worldwide announced today the launch of a new online domestic-focused travel platform. Cardholders planning their next vacation getaway can find compelling travel offers — all in one place — at priceless.com/travel. These exclusive offers for MasterCard cardholders focus on five of the most popular travel destinations in the United States: California, Hawaii, Florida, Nevada and New York.
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Developing a travel program that drives its audience to the web reflects consumer behavior and industry trends. According to Jupiter Research, 55 million American households will be planning and booking their travel online by 2011. The travel industry is continually shifting distribution online — the most cost-effective channel — which makes travel more accessible and affordable to consumers. Priceless.com/travel features off-the-beaten-path experiences, content and great offers that drive to merchant partners for booking.
“Travel plays an exciting role in Americans’ lives and now with priceless.com/travel, MasterCard can further enhance the travel experiences of its cardholders,” said Amy Fuller, Group Executive, Americas Marketing, MasterCard Worldwide. “With our strong merchant relationships, MasterCard has made priceless.com a valuable travel resource that offers exclusive deals on unique and adventurous experiences.”
The content on priceless.com/travel is organized by the five popular states. Cardholders will find discounts, tips and ideas to help them plan their next trip and get on their way to a variety of activities, including:
— Relaxing at world-class spa in a Las Vegas hotel & casino
— Biking down a volcano in Hawaii’s Haleakala National Park
— Wine tasting in Sonoma County, California
— Dolphin watching off the coast of Naples, Florida
— A Broadway Blitz in New York City, taking in several shows in just
a few days

According to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, adventure travel is the fastest growing segment of the leisure travel industry. U.S. travelers increasingly seek adventure — from mountain climbing to mountain biking — because these experiences make a vacation more memorable and meaningful.
With adventure travel on the rise, the 30-second priceless TV commercial that supports the campaign rightfully captures travelers’ sentiments. Titled “Safe,” the TV spot features three engaging vignettes — each showcasing an adventure travel scene with a memorable mishap. The supers, through a unique interaction, come to the rescue in each vignette adding humor to the situation.
In addition to the TV commercial, MasterCard is supporting this new platform through an integrated campaign that includes print, online and out-of-home advertising.
Creative for the MasterCard Priceless campaign is driven by McCann Erickson/New York: Joyce King Thomas, EVP, Chief Creative Officer; Robert Frost, SVP, Senior Creative Director and Michele Raso, SVP, Creative Director.
About MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes over 18 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial institution customers and merchants. Through its family of brands, including MasterCard(R), Maestro(R) and Cirrus(R), MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to .

MasterCard Worldwide