Contributing Member of the Consumer Goods & Services Councils
Names and details of certain GLG News authors are available only to GLG Clients and Council Members. GLG News authors are subject-matter experts within the GLG Councils and are available for expert consulting - by phone, in-person, or written analysis. To find out how to become a GLG client or Council Member, click here.
All News Analyses by this Author
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
-
November 12, 2009
Expedia and Choice Hotels International Sign New Long-Term Agreement | www.prnewswire.com
After a particularly ugly public battle, Expedia Inc and Choice Hotels International have hammered out a new deal -
Texas Cities vs. PCLN, EXPE, OWW et al: A Draw at Best
November 3, 2009
Texas Cities Win $20M Verdict in Tax Case | dallas.bizjournals.com
Late last week, a jury in San Antonio delivered a verdict on a class-action suit against the major OTAs that was brought by around 170 cities in Texas. The verdict against Expedia, Orbitz.com, Travelocity and Priceline.com is for $20M plus court imposed penalties and interest. -
Choice Hotels International and Expedia: We've Seen This Movie Before
October 19, 2009
Growing Tension Between Hoteliers, OTAs | www.hotelsmag.com
Choice Hotels International and Expedia are in a tiff resulting in Choice brands not displaying on Expedia and Hotels.com -
New York City Tax Changes: At Least it Isn't Retroactive
July 6, 2009
NYC to OTAs: We Want Tax on Retail Not on Net Rate Amount | hudsoncrossing.blogspot.com
Potential hit on future OTA earnings How far will it expand beyond NYC? -
United Tells Travel Agents to Cover Credit Card Fees
June 24, 2009
United To Shift Card Costs To Agencies | hudsoncrossing.blogspot.com
How widely adopted will this change be? What will the effect be on consumers? On OTAs? On the airline industry? -
June 18, 2009
Rulings Threaten Expedia, Rivals With Paying Millions in Damages | online.wsj.com
While Expedia has been sued numerous times in the past over the tax issue, the recent loss in GA on the heels of a similar loss in Anaheim represent the first time the online travel giant has actually lost a similar case. -
April 28, 2009
When Figuring Travel Cost, Footnotes Add Up | www.nytimes.com
-Removal of hotel "booking fees" may cause serious deterioration to OTA's Gross Margins -
OTA Slug Fest Continues as Expedia EXPE matches Orbitz OWW in Removing HOTEL Booking Fees
April 23, 2009
Travel Web Sites Try Waiving Fees | www.businessweek.com
-Expedia and Hotels.com take a hatchet to hotel margins -Large risk due to dependency on hotel bookings -
Next Round in the Online Travel Agency (OTA) Fee Wars as Orbitz Drops Hotel Fees
April 22, 2009
Orbitz Aims for Brand Loyalty With New Price Display | www.reuters.com
Latest jab in the OTA "race to the bottom" on consumer fees What will be the reaction, if any, from EXPE and Travelocity? Will consumers even care? -
"Rossgate" Continues - Federal Grand Jury Subpeonas Documents From Hilton
April 21, 2009
Hilton Gets Subpoena Over Starwood Spying Claims | www.reuters.com
-Potential huge distraction for both Hilton and Starwood -Hilton development pipeline may be crimped -New opportunities for other brands? -
Starwood sues Hilton over Denizen - "Zengate"
April 17, 2009
Starwood Sues Hilton and Two Former Starwood Executives for Corporate Espionage, Theft of Trade Secrets, Unfair Competition | finance.yahoo.com
If successful, Hilton may be forced to massively retrench on their new brand, Denizen. Massive distraction for both companies in already tough times. -
April 14, 2009
Allegiant Travel Company Pre-Announces First Quarter 2009 Earnings, Moves First Quarter Earnings Call One Day Earlier to Avoid Conflicts | finance.yahoo.com
ALGT is not a typical airline in any respect. From revenue sources to cost containment, they are a far cry from AMR and even JBLU or LUV. -
Orbitz Finally Falls In Line and Removes Booking Fees: OWW
April 7, 2009
Orbitz Finally Matches EXPE, PCLN and Travelocity in Removing Air Booking Fees | www.orbitz.com
- Much larger portion of Orbitz's earnings come from booking fees than competitors. (Citi estimates nearly 60% for OWW vs ~10% for EXPE.) -
As Global Business Travel Slumps, Hotel Chains Court Their Most Loyal Customers With New Deals
April 6, 2009
Hotels Turn to Loyalty Programs to Drive Revenue | finance.yahoo.com
-Massive frequent stayer bonus programs are rolled out by all the chains as they battle for share among remaining business travelers -Hotels are happy for redemption of loyalty points as well to build occupancy -Its a great time to earn (huge bonus programs in place) as well as burn (finding a free room is easier than ever) -
Another Holiday, Another GOOG buys EXPE Rumor...
March 19, 2009
Expedia Shares Rally on Takeover Rumors | www.reuters.com
-EXPE is not a typical GOOG purchase -GOOG would hardly risk millions of dollars in ad revenues to enter the travel space -
Travelocity matches Expedia - implications for Orbitz, Priceline
March 17, 2009
Travelocity to Waive Flight-Booking Fees - Will OWW match? | online.wsj.com
-Travelocity matches Expedia's booking fee reduction -Orbitz will be forced to match -Limited to no effect on Priceline -
Expedia's bold move into no-fee air bookings
March 12, 2009
Expedia shares gain on new promotion; rivals slip | biz.yahoo.com
EXPE makes a big bet on traffic and cross-sell OWW potentially crushed PCLN punished unfairly -
Municipalities have reservations on Online Travel Agent's hotel room tax policies
February 18, 2009
Cities and States Press Travel Sites to Collect Hotel Taxes | www.nytimes.com
Anaheim wins round one in the occupancy tax wars vs. the Online Travel Agents (OTAs) but will it be pyrrhic? -
TZOO launches a strong product offering - may be the key in a reversal of fortune
February 5, 2009
Travelzoo Purchases Fly.com Domain Name for $1.8 Million | biz.yahoo.com
TZOO hasnt had a new product offering in some time and has faced extensive competition in the travel email advertising world. Fly.com represents an interesting new revenue stream as well as a potential threat to internet darling kayak.com -
The times are right for Home2 - but how close is it to aloft?
January 26, 2009
Hilton Launches New Focused Service Brand | biz.yahoo.com
Hilton's new brand is well positioned in these times to resonate with consumers.
- Subscribe to Updates
-
This author consults with leading institutions through GLG
Most Popular Consumer Goods & Services News
-
Charles & Colvard Still Searching For Direction
November 19, 2009
-
Supply Chain Optimization Key to Future Foodservice Industry Profits
November 18, 2009
-
Embracing the Fear of E-Tailing through More Brick and Mortar
November 17, 2009
-
Summarizing the 2009 WWD Apparel/Retail CEO Summit and a Road Map
November 17, 2009
-
Does Anyone Really Expect G.M. And Chrysler To Repay Billions In Loans?
November 15, 2009
-
online.wsj.com
-
www.retailwire.com
-
www.wwd.com
-
www.businesswire.com
-
www.businesswire.com
Restaurateurs Optimistic, but Mantra Remains “Operate with Caution”