Mr. Merten has authored and contributed to a range of Phocuswright reports and other research centered on the European travel industry. He has helped shape Phocuswright's European research, in particular the Europe Online Travel Overview, where he oversees market sizing and coordinates Phocuswright's European analyst team. Since 2007, he has written various spotlights dealing with European online travel agencies, tour operators, airlines and car rentals. Ralph has also managed numerous custom research projects focusing on travel technology and marketing strategy. He is executive vice president at h2c GmbH, a professional service provider for the hospitality industry, and holds a degree in aircraft and aerospace technology from the Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Germany.
Areas of Research
Ralph is well versed in the trends that shape the European travel marketplace. His knowledge of the region's many markets enables him to research and analyze each country's unique opportunities and challenges, while appreciating Europe's interconnectivity with the global travel industry.
European Online Travel Overview Twelfth Edition Market Sheet
Category: Market Overview & Sizing Published: February 2017 Analysts: David Juman, Ralph Merten, Friederike WinkowskiSlow but steady economic growth continues to provide a solid foundation for Europe’s travel market. Despite continuing terrorism fears and concerns over the implications of the U.K.’s exit from the EU,...
European Online Travel Overview Twelfth Edition
Category: Market Overview & Sizing Published: December 2016 Analysts: David Juman, Ralph Merten, Felica Eisenbeis US $2,495Slow but steady economic growth continues to provide a solid foundation for Europe’s travel market. Despite continuing terrorism fears and concerns over the implications of the U.K.’s exit from the EU,...
Payments Unsettled: Travel's Complex European Payment Landscape
Category: Business Travel Published: December 2016 Analysts: Bing Liu, Ralph Merten, Norm RoseThe European payment landscape stands at a crossroads. While traditional forms of payment like credit or debit cards, cash and check, still dominate in most markets, travel suppliers and intermediaries...
German Online Travel Overview Twelfth Edition
Category: Market Overview & Sizing Published: November 2016 Analysts: Ralph Merten, David Juman, Felica Eisenbeis, Karen Burka US $795Germany’s travel market is among the largest in Europe. In spite of economic uncertainty and the threat of terrorism, total bookings will climb 3% in 2016, while online travel revenue will grow at twice...
Netherlands Spotlight: Open-Minded Travelers and Online Innovation
Category: Market Overview & Sizing Published: November 2016 Analysts: Ralph Merten, Benedikt HofmeisterAs the home country to both Booking.com and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the Netherlands plays an important role in the global travel marketplace. In addition, the country’s strong Internet penetration and...