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Online tools, technologies and apps have already become integral parts of the travel industry and the typical consumer's decision-making path. But how effective are digital technologies at moving the needle on travel buying behavior, and do they help brands foster deeper relationships with travelers? This Analysis examines the impact of and differences between key digital technologies used in travel, including mobile, location-based services, personalization technology and more.
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While the U.S. economy showed clear signs of recovery in 2012, there were enough mixed signals to make vacation decisions difficult for many Americans. Through a longitudinal analysis, PhoCusWright's U.S. Consumer Travel Report Fifth Edition examines traveler behavior along each step of the travel planning process - from the media travelers rely on to make destination and product decisions, to the channels they use to book and share their trip experiences. Key metrics include frequency and duration of trips, travel expenditure and travel component purchases, and travel intentions for the coming year.
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Geographic data and maps are critical components of daily life for people and businesses alike. Today, services based on digital maps and geographic data have become embedded in modern culture. This Spotlight explores the evolution and current status of geo-services, including its underlying foundational elements, and examines various businesses that use geo-services to deliver personal services and rich experiences.
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Nearly two thirds of U.S. online travelers now own a smartphone, one third own a tablet and nearly a fourth own both. Rapid adoption of mobile devices among travelers is impacting every phase of the travel process, and mobile is becoming the new battleground for travel companies seeking to grow market share. This report provides a detailed assessment of the U.S. mobile travel market, including consumer behavior trends, mobile market sizing and projections for key travel segments.
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Until recently, travel companies' online strategies could be comfortably confined to the desktop web. However, the explosion in consumer electronics, mobile technology and social media have transformed the online experience, making it extremely challenging to address the market with a single, mainstream strategy. Mobile devices, tablets and still-evolving social platforms have changed the way travelers connect, plan and share their experiences. PhoCusWright's Traveler Technology Survey 2012 provides travel companies and marketers a comprehensive view of how the latest devices, mobile functionality and social networks are shaping the consumer travel planning process.
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As travelers hop from site to site cobbling together their perfect trips, their mouse clicks yield important clues to the shifting dynamics of the online travel marketplace. PhoCusWright partnered with New York-based Experian Hitwise to identify key trends influencing how consumers plan travel online. PhoCusWright's U.S. Online Travel Traffic Report analyzes the most important categories in the travel vertical, revealing traffic patterns for both transactional and nontransactional travel websites and providing a top-level view of visitation and both upstream and downstream traffic.
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General search engines like Google have become so ubiquitous that many users would be lost without them. In the travel category, top brands compete fiercely for general search traffic, despite their well-established names and websites. This report examines the role of general search engines in the travel planning process, and includes an overview of travelers' search engine usage by brand, motives for using search, travel products searched for and more.
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Global distribution systems (GDSs) represent a major piece of airline transactions and a vast majority of travel agency flight, hotel and car rental transactions. But the travel agency landscape has evolved significantly, and the GDS no longer always takes center stage when agents book. This analysis examines how travel agents research and book travel products, the role of the GDS and how this varies by agency type.
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On June 13, PhoCusWright presented a special live event that explores the subtle shifts that are impacting the U.S. leisure travel marketplace. Fright or Flight? Key U.S. Consumer Travel Trends examines U.S. traveler behavior and attitudes, and their impact on the leisure travel market.
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While total travel gross bookings in 2011 made it back to pre-recession levels, not all consumers felt the glow. PhoCusWright's U.S. Consumer Travel Report Fourth Edition features longitudinal analyses of a broad range of travel behaviors -- including general metrics such as trip frequency, components purchased and travel expenditure -- and examines the use of media supporting purchase decisions and bookings. The report also includes an analysis of traveler intentions for the upcoming year.
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