The average cost of a hotel room around the world rose 2% in 2010, according to the Hotels.com. The increase was the first time that the average hotel room price rose year-on-year since 2007.

However, prices fell so low during 2009 after a 13% drop that despite last year’s modest increase, the average price of a room is still the same now as it was in 2004.

While prices in all regions were either flat or down year-on-year in the first half of 2010, the average annual price went up 1% in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2% in North America and had stabilised in Europe.

However, despite declining 2%, the average price of a hotel room in Asia was still 15% higher than when the Hotel Price Index began in 2004.

David Roche, President of Hotels.com, comments: “After the worst trading conditions most in the market had seen, the 2010 story shows a market in recovery.

“However, since the fall was so prolonged and steep, guests were still roughly paying for a hotel night what they would have done six or seven years ago.

“Whilst the high volume of promotions we saw in the depth of the crisis has dried up somewhat, there are still deals to be had.”

The Hotels.com HPI is based on bookings made on Hotels.com and tracks the real prices paid per hotel room (rather than advertised rates) for 110,000 hotels across more than 18,000 locations around the world. The latest HPI looks at prices in 2010 compared to those in 2009.

Get the full report at Hotels.com

Americans appear eager to pack their bags in the coming year, as 36 percent plan to spend more on leisure travel in 2011 than this year, while 42 percent expect to spend the same amount. Ninety percent plan to take two or more leisure trips next year – a slight increase on the 89 percent who said they have done so in 2010.

TripAdvisor announced the results of its annual travel trends survey of more than 3,000 U.S. travelers. Americans appear eager to pack their bags in the coming year, as 36 percent plan to spend more on leisure travel in 2011 than this year, while 42 percent expect to spend the same amount. Ninety percent plan to take two or more leisure trips next year—a slight increase on the 89 percent who said they have done so in 2010.

While travelers named an increase in online travel deals as the best travel development of 2010 (39 percent), rising airfares (40 percent) and bedbugs (20 percent) are the top two travel concerns for 2011.

On the Road Again: Travelers Globetrotting in 2011

- 69 percent of travelers plan to take international trips next year, and of that group, 52 percent will travel to Europe, 13 percent will visit Asia and 12 percent will journey to South America.

- The top three international destinations U.S. travelers plan to visit in 2011 are Paris, London and Rome.

- 75 percent of respondents plan to visit a U.S. city next year, with Las Vegas, New York City and San Francisco the most popular choices.

- Vacation rentals will be a popular lodging choice in 2011, with 47 percent considering a stay in a vacation rental home – a significant increase compared to 39 percent one year ago.

Best and Worst in Travel for 2010 and the Past Decade

Best Travel Development of 2010:

- More online travel deals – 39%

- Cheaper hotel rates – 22%

- More in-flight Wi-Fi Internet access on planes – 12%

Worst Travel Development of 2010:

- Carry-on baggage fees – 69%

- New hotel fees – 10%

- TSA full body scanners – 10%

Best Travel Development of the Past Decade:

- Online check-in – 26%

- Candid traveler reviews – 16%

- Increased options for online travel bookings – 16%

Worst Travel Development of the Past Decade:

- More airline fees – 45%

- Carry on restrictions for liquids, gels and aerosols – 19%

- Longer security lines – 9%

Up in the Air

- Despite being fed up with airline fees, 24 percent of travelers plan to fly more next year, while 60 percent will fly the same amount.

- Shelling-out for in-flight extras is becoming second nature to travelers, with 77 percent expecting to do so in 2011 – up from 72 percent one year ago.

- In-flight manners leave much to be desired, with the top flyer faux pas revealed to be people kicking the seat back (28 percent). Rude seat recliners (20 percent) and passengers sneezing or coughing without covering their mouths (18 percent) further aggravate travelers.

- 27 percent would pay to sit in a child-free section of an airplane, while 19 percent would pay to sit in a quiet section, should such an option ever exist.

- 65 percent think passengers of size should be required to pay for an extra seat on an airline when necessary.

Popular Pursuits and Eco-Traveling in 2011

Top Five Vacation Activities for Next Year:

- Visiting an historic site – 85%

- Visiting a museum – 73%

- Visiting a national park – 46%

- Attending a festival – 43%

- Hiking – 42%

- Further popular pursuits among travelers for the year ahead include water activities (38 percent), visiting a spa (33 percent) and gambling (29 percent).

- When asked what travel activities they might try for the first time in 2011, 11 percent chose a cruise, while 11 percent are also considering taking an educational course on vacation.

- 47 percent will take eco-friendly factors in to consideration, such as their carbon footprint or “green” hotel policies, when making travel plans in 2011.

- 20 percent expect to be more environmentally conscious in their travel decision and choices next year.

Increase in Connectivity Leads to “Fake-ations”

- Technological advances in 2010 have led to 59 percent of travelers in employment being more connected to work than ever on leisure trips this year.

- 69 percent connect with work while on leisure trips, while 16 percent confess that work always or often impacts their vacations.

- 62 percent check their work e-mail on leisure trips, while 13 percent call the office to check-in.

- Eight percent admit to considering the remoteness of their destination, specifically to avoid connecting with work.

- 90 percent of travelers also connect with home on their leisure travels – but just 26 percent send postcards, instead favoring modern-day technology, including e-mail (74 percent), text messages (40 percent) and social networking sites (28 percent).

Hotel Highs and Lodging Lows

According to the survey, the top three hotel brands that travelers are loyal to are:

- Marriott – 24%

- Hilton – 18%

- Hampton Inn – 7%

- When it comes to booking hotels, travelers are significantly less brand loyal than one year ago, with 39 percent of travelers now faithful to one name – a significant drop from 59 percent in 2010.

- 96 percent believe that U.S. hotels offer room for improvement in 2011, with higher standards of cleanliness topping travelers’ wish-lists (22 percent).

- Of those who have stayed in international hotels, 90 percent believe these could be bettered next year, with wider availability of free internet access the most-wanted enhancement (20 percent).

Americans Deemed Friendliest and Most Annoying Travelers

For the second consecutive year, Americans are voted both the friendliest travelers – and also the most irritating.

Friendliest Travelers, According to the Survey

- Americans

- Australians

- Canadians

Most Annoying Travelers, According to the Survey

- Americans

- French

- Japanese

“With over a third of travelers revealing that they start planning their vacations more than six months before a trip, many Americans are already eagerly anticipating some terrific travel adventures for 2011,” said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor. “Online travel deals, named as the greatest travel development of 2010, will continue to offer aspiring vacationers fantastic opportunities next year – whether they’re planning a nearby weekend getaway, or the dream trip of a lifetime.”

Expedia on hotel pricing and other trends

As the International Society of Hospitality Consultants began looking toward the second decade of the 21st century, members in attendance at the group’s annual conference heard some interesting observations regarding where the travel-and-tourism industry is heading. Approximately 150 consultants attended the event at the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, and opening day speakers addressed the conference’s “New Decade: New Ideas” theme. “It really is an amazing period of time we’ve been through,” said conference chair Sean Hennessey, CEO of Lodging Advisors. “The pace of change and what you need to know to be successful keeps changing.”Mike Reichartz, VP Market Management, Expedia Reichartz told the consultants that Expedia does not dictate pricing to hotels.

Mike Reichartz

VP Market Management

Expedia

“We have never told a hotel that they must price here. That’s not what we do,” he said. “All we’re here to do is to share with hotels what we see in the marketplace.”

Notable trends from Expedia data include:

Travelers in the United States, European Union and the United Kingdom are trading down while more are trading up in Australia and Japan.

Thirty-four percent of Expedia’s largest corporate clients said they expect to allocate more funds to their travel budgets next year (4% said they would reduce their budgets). Last year it was 13% and 9%, respectively.

While the company is seeing corporate rates starting to increase, the average year-over-year length of stay was down 4.5% in August.

Reichartz said the importance of social media can’t be overstated in the travel industry.

“Everything is about user-generated content now,” he said. “User-generated content has leveled the playing field against the brand name.”

Reichartz said Expedia is starting to see signs of airline capacity returning.

“Hotels figured out how important and how relevant airlines are,” he said. “What we really want is healthy competition among profitable carriers.”

Peter Yesawich, chairman & CEO, Ypartnership

Yesawich pointed to technology as one of the key elements reshaping the travel-and-leisure business. In 1996, 11% of households had access to Internet at home, but that has reached 70% today. Furthermore, 80% of the households that travel have Internet access at home, he said.

Therefore, “there is a culture of impatience now among consumers,” because of the instant gratification that the Internet provides, Yesawich said. Yesawich said the penetration of the Internet in America as it relates to travel planning flat lined three years ago. It has held steady in the 56 % to 57% range for the past three years, he said. According to Ypartnership’s annual study, 87% of respondents rank being able to check lowest fares/rates as the top reason to use the Internet for travel purposes—the 10th straight year it has been No. 1.

“With the advent of the Great Recession this has become more pronounced,” Yesawich said.

Other top reasons travelers use the Internet: easy-to-use booking feature (74%) and photos of rooms/facilities (72 percent).

Meta search engines—sites such as kayak.com, yapta.com and dealbase.com that enable users to enter search criteria once and access several search engines simultaneously—during the past 18 months is having a profound effect on the travel business, according to Yesawich. Twenty percent of all travelers use this type of site, and the number is growing.

The increasing popularity of private sale sites and collective buying sites—think jetsetter.com, sniqueaway.com, groupon.com and tripalertz.com—could further change booking habits at hotels and other travel-related business, Yesawich said. Groupon.com will achieve a billion dollars in revenue on the Internet faster than any previous company, he added.

Yesawich specifically pointed to tripalertz.com, a collective buying site, as one that could change the hotel industry. The general concept is that the more people that book rooms through the site, the lower the price goes.

“Do you think this will hit the meeting side of the hotel business? Well, buckle up,” he said.

One result of the increased reliance on the Internet is that for the first time in 18 years of measurement, brand recognition in hotels is important to less than 50 percent of the survey’s respondents. It fell to 44 percent in 2009.

“Rate now trumps brand in the hotel business,” Yesawich said. “As it turns out, free Internet trumps brand names. As prices become more transparent, brand clarity becomes more urgent.”

As a result of all of this, Yesawich had some not-so-good news for hoteliers: “There will be no pricing power in the market in 2011. Value is vogue. The consumers have the toys, the wherewithal and the desire to find the right places. Consumers aren’t angry, they’re resourceful.”

He added that 2011 will be a year of trading down. The primary way people traded down this year was to reduce the length of their stay, and Yesawich said he expects that trend to continue.

“The biggest challenge in the hotel business today is recapturing that lost night,” he said. “Half of the vacations this year will be weekend trips.”

Humberto Rivero, regional director, the Americas for the International Air Transport Association

IATA, which represents airlines in all countries except Cuba and North Korea, has been surprised by the rate of economic recovery, Rivero said.

“We did not expect the recovery to be so fast and so furious,” he said. “We were prepared for a long ‘L,’ not a ‘V.’”

The association projected profitability for the global airline industry to be US$8 billion to US$8.5 billion during 2010 and approximately US$2.5 billion during 2011.

“There is a flattening out of the business internationally,” he said. “There is a slowing down of traffic.”

The good news for travelers is that during the first quarter of 2011, nearly 1,400 airplanes will come into service—many of those will be new planes rather than the reintroduction of planes that have been parked in the Mojave Desert for the past few years, he said.

“There is a concern, especially in Europe, that there might be too much too soon,” Rivero said. “The outlook looks good, but we’re getting concerned that capacity is coming back, but the bookings and passengers are slowing down.”

http://www.hotelnewsnow.com

TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site*, today announced its list of the top ten celebrity honeymoon hotels, as identified by TripAdvisor editors.  When it comes to celebrating their weddings, TripAdvisor has learned that celebrities spare no expense in selecting the perfect accommodations that are rated highly for romance, privacy and top-notch service.  According to TripAdvisor.com site data, 86 percent of the travelers who visited the top-ten celebrity honeymoon hotels for a romantic getaway also rated the resort’s atmosphere highly for romance, while 93 percent were wowed by the exceptional customer service.

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1. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green

Ranked #2 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii — Average nightly rate: $704 – $1,120

www.tripadvisor.com/Four-Seasons-Hualalai

Known for its outstanding service, it’s no surprise that celebrity couples have selected the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii as both a wedding and honeymoon destination.  Featuring immaculate grounds including a calm water beach and five unique pools, travelers rave about the resort’s low key elegance and thoughtful touches like chilled towels, beachside Evian spritzes and sunglass cleaning.  ”Stunning, amazing, beautiful — adjectives don’t do this place justice. It was absolutely agonizing to leave such a wonderful property,” shared one TripAdvisor traveler.

2. Las Ventanas Al Paraiso, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman; Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow

Ranked #2 in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico — Average nightly rate: $629 – $1,187

www.tripadvisor.com/Las-Ventanas-Al-Paraiso

Old world Mexican charm and luxurious amenities set the stage for romance at this amazing resort, known for its posh clientele.  Located thirty minutes from Cabo San Lucas in historic San Jose del Cabo, the hotel boasts an actual “department of romance,” a team of dedicated employees who specialize in setting the mood with in-room couple’s massages, private candlelit dinners and aromatherapy turndown services.  ”If you are looking for a romantic, intimate experience of a lifetime, don’t give it a second thought,” said one TripAdvisor traveler.

3. The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

Ranked #3 in Bora Bora, French Polynesia — Average nightly rate: $808 – $1,189

www.tripadvisor.com/St-Regis-Bora-Bora

Featuring spacious bungalows over dazzling turquoise water, this retreat’s far-flung location and commitment to privacy make it a perfect hideaway for celebrity couples.  While the resort was also the location for the movie “Couples Retreat,” TripAdvisor travelers note that it’s actually far more romantic and tranquil than the film suggests.  ”The island is so quiet and serene and it feels like we were the only two people there,” noted one TripAdvisor traveler after their honeymoon.

4. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Jimbaran, Bali

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman

Ranked #4 in Jimbaran, Bali — Average nightly rate: $608 – $939

www.tripadvisor.com/Four-Seasons-Bali

Famous honeymooners are drawn to the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay for the fantastic ocean views and unobtrusive service.  With spacious villas boasting a private deck and plunge pool, the property offers ample opportunities to spend quality time alone as newlyweds, in addition to fantastic local music, Balinese massages and cooking lessons to round out their vacation experience.  ”The guest room is a complete sanctuary where in-room dining is a luxury, not a convenience!,” commented one TripAdvisor traveler.

5. One&Only Reethi Rah, North Male Atoll, Maldives

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Fergie and Josh Duhamel

Ranked #11 in North Male Atoll, Maldives — Average nightly rate: $864 – $1,285

www.tripadvisor.com/One-Only-Reethi-Rah

Posh yet peaceful, the One&Only Reethi Rah offers the ultimate relaxation getaway for superstar newlyweds.  Offering both beachside and overwater villas with private infinity pools, travelers enjoy the property’s pristine white sand beaches, lush flora and fauna, and millions of glittering stars in the sky each evening.  ”The feeling when we arrived was that of living on a deserted island (with a butler and every extravagance one could want),” said one TripAdvisor traveler.

6. Cap Juluca, West End, Anguilla

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: David Arquette and Courteney Cox

Ranked #3 in West End, Anguilla — Average nightly rate: $500 – $701

www.tripadvisor.com/Cap-Juluca

Open and breezy with views overlooking Anguilla’s crystal clear water, celebrity couples are attracted to Cap Juluca for its stunning beaches featuring soft white sand and dreamy sunsets.  Travelers seeking a lazy day with their special someone will also appreciate the cozy beachside sun loungers and unexpected romantic touches from the resort staff.  ”One day, we came off the beach to find our bathtub filled with bubbles galore and rose petals floating on top…heaven,” shared one TripAdvisor traveler.

7. San Ysidro Ranch, A Rosewood Resort, Santa Barbara, California

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez; ; John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy; Danny Moder and Julia Roberts

Ranked #5 in Santa Barbara, California — Average nightly rate: $495 – $1,150

www.tripadvisor.com/San-Ysidro-Ranch-Rosewood

A fantastic mix of beautiful scenery, privacy and superb service has attracted a litany of famous faces to the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California over the years.  Private cottages, including the Kennedy Cottage, the location of the couple’s 1953 honeymoon, exude understated luxury and romance with antique furnishings and fragrant outdoor gardens.  ”The San Ysidro Ranch is a great place for couples to go for a romantic get-away. All rooms are very private. You are really in your own little house with a private patio that includes your own spa and outdoor shower,” noted one TripAdvisor traveler.

8. Fregate Island Private, Fregate Island, Seychelles

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt; Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills

Ranked #1 in Fregate Island, Seychelles — Average nightly rate: $3,029

www.tripadvisor.com/Fregate-Island

Known for catering to every whim, celebrity honeymooners can escape the stresses of daily life at one of Fregate Island Private’s 16 villas, which come with a personal butler, private pool, Jacuzzi and large terrace.  While not all celebrity marriages pass the test of time, travelers are still drawn to the island’s seven beaches, a cliff-top spa and numerous trails for observing giant sea turtles, geckos and exotic birds in their natural habitat.  ”If you like unique experiences, extreme luxury and are willing to let the island try its magic on you, you will not be disappointed,” recommended one TripAdvisor traveler.

9. Parrot Cay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner; Eva Longoria and Tony Parker; Jerry Seinfeld and Jessica Sklar; Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz

www.tripadvisor.com/Parrot-Cay-Providenciales

Ranked #21 in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos — Average nightly rate: $620 – $1,370

Described as sophisticated yet earthy by TripAdvisor travelers, Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos has hosted a number of celebrity weddings and honeymoons.  Celebrated as a destination for relaxation and rejuvenation, couples can spend the day soaking up the sun on its unspoiled beaches, feasting on healthy gourmet cuisine and getting pampered in the world-class spa.  ”The perfect place to relax and rejuvenate. You can see why every ‘A Lister’ in the world chooses this resort,” commented one TripAdvisor traveler.

10. El Careyes Beach Resort, Jalisco, Careyes, Mexico

Reported Celebrity Honeymooners: Seal and Heidi Klum

Ranked #1 in Careyes, Mexico — Average nightly rate: $264

www.tripadvisor.com/El-Careyes

Tucked between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, the El Careyes Beach Resort is a hidden gem that attracts famous newlyweds in search of romance and seclusion.  Perfect for couples who enjoy a mix of lounging on the beach and recreation, the resort offers activities including kayaking, whale watching, and horseback riding.  ”The most beautiful thing to experience at El Careyes would be the sunset – it really is jaw dropping. The whole resort becomes amber and golden specks of sunlight reflect off the waters that shimmer off the walls,” described one TripAdvisor traveler.

“Travelers in search of an opulent romantic getaway can take a page from the celebrity honeymoon playbook,” said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor.  ”Even without an A-list budget, gorgeous accommodations with outstanding service and superstar perks can be found if travelers research and plan ahead.”

About TripAdvisor Media Network

TripAdvisor® Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts nearly 47 million monthly visitors* (across 17 popular travel brands, TripAdvisor®, www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com,www.flipkey.com, www.frequentflier.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com,www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com,www.virtualtourist.com and www.kuxun.cn). TripAdvisor-branded sites alone make up the most popular and largest travel community in the world, with more than 35 million unique monthly visitors*, 15 million members, and 35 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover more than one million destinations, hotels, restaurants and attractions and operate in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com), the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk), Ireland (http://www.tripadvisor.ie), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr), Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de), Italy (http://www.tripadvisor.it), Spain (http://www.tripadvisor.es), India (http://www.tripadvisor.in), Japan (http://www.tripadvisor.jp), Portugal and Brazil (http://www.tripadvisor.com.br), Sweden (http://www.tripadvisor.se), The Netherlands (http://nl.tripadvisor.com), Canada (http://www.tripadvisor.ca), Denmark (http://www.tripadvisor.dk), Turkey (http://www.tripadvisor.com.tr), Mexico (http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx), Norway (http://no.tripadvisor.com), Poland (http://pl.tripadvisor.com) and Australia (http://www.tripadvisor.com.au). TripAdvisor also operates in China under the brand daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com). TripAdvisor® Media Network provides travel suppliers with graphical advertising opportunities and a cost-per-click marketing platform. Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry, worldwide. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).

TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix, Worldwide, May 2010

SOURCE TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site*, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking “TripAdvisor® Trip Friends” feature, allowing travelers to get advice from their Facebook® friends on TripAdvisor to plan their next vacation. Supplementing the site’s more than 35 million reviews and opinions from real travelers around the world, the wisdom of crowds on TripAdvisor is now enhanced by the wisdom of friends, delivering personalized recommendations.

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“As the world’s largest travel site, we’re thrilled to continue revolutionizing the travel industry by providing our community with exciting new access to their friends’ valuable advice about travel,” said Steve Kaufer, founder and CEO of TripAdvisor. “With TripAdvisor Trip Friends, our 34 million monthly visitors can tap into their friends’ wealth of travel knowledge with just a few clicks, making vacation planning more fun, social and personal.”

How TripAdvisor Trip Friends Works

When researching a destination, hotel, attraction or restaurant on TripAdvisor, users who have logged in using Facebook will now see a list of their friends who have been to that location, as identified via the TripAdvisor Cities I’ve Visited™ (CIV) application on Facebook Platform. Travelers can tap into their network of friends for more details, by directly messaging their friends, or by posting a message to a group of friends, to gain the unique travel insights from those who know them best. CIV has been one of the most popular travel applications on Facebook Platform for nearly three years, with more than five million monthly active users, and highlights over one billion destinations that CIV travelers have visited.

“Travelers using TripAdvisor Trip Friends will be amazed to see all the places about which their friends can offer highly relevant, personal travel advice — from that extra tip about the best place for croissants in Paris (your friends know how much you love croissants), to insights on the best scuba spot in Belize (through TripAdvisor Trip Friends, you discovered that two of your friends recently returned from an awesome scuba trip in Belize). This feature will turn great trips into fantastic ones, with convenient, personal input from people you know best and trust most,” said Kaufer.

“Facebook has always provided people with an easy way to connect with friends around the world, whether from Internet cafes or through sharing photos,” said Ethan Beard, director of Facebook Developer Network. “By integrating with Facebook, TripAdvisor is enhancing the exchange of trusted referrals, travel do’s and don’ts, and good stories from abroad, and making the travel experience more relevant and social to each person who interacts with the site.”

Ten Years of Travel Planning: An Evolution of Exploration

Before TripAdvisor was founded in 2000, travelers relied on travel agents and print guide books to determine their vacation plans. Since the first opinion was posted on TripAdvisor in 2001, travelers have looked to user-generated content for trusted advice to help with all facets of travel planning. By March 2010, TripAdvisor was the world’s largest travel website, featuring a community of more than 34 million monthly visitors*, and more than 35 million reviews and opinions. Travelers depend on the wisdom of the crowds to determine the best plans for their personal travel needs. As of today, TripAdvisor Trip Friends enables travelers to research even deeper by tapping into the wisdom of their friends, making vacation planning more fun, social and personal.

TripAdvisor Trip Friends will be available on TripAdvisor.com on June 14 and TripAdvisor sites worldwide in July.

For more information on TripAdvisor Trip Friends, go to: www.tripadvisor.com/tripfriends.

About TripAdvisor Media Network

TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 34 million monthly visitors*, 15 million registered members and 35 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover more than one million destinations, hotels, restaurants and attractions and operate in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com), the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk), Ireland (http://www.tripadvisor.ie), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr), Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de), Italy (http://www.tripadvisor.it), Spain (http://www.tripadvisor.es), India (http://www.tripadvisor.in), Japan (http://www.tripadvisor.jp), Portugal and Brazil (http://www.tripadvisor.com.br), Sweden (http://www.tripadvisor.se), The Netherlands (http://nl.tripadvisor.com), Canada (http://www.tripadvisor.ca), Denmark (http://www.tripadvisor.dk), Turkey (http://www.tripadvisor.com.tr), Mexico (http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx), Norway (http://no.tripadvisor.com), Poland (http://pl.tripadvisor.com) and Australia (http://www.tripadvisor.com.au). TripAdvisor also operates in China under the brand daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com). TripAdvisor® Media Network provides travel suppliers with graphical advertising opportunities and a cost-per-click marketing platform. Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry worldwide. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).

TripAdvisor, Cities I’ve Visited and the TripAdvisor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix, Worldwide, March 2010

Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

SOURCE TripAdvisor

On the basis of over one million hotel ratings, www.hotel.info specifically analysed the value-for-money assessments submitted for 3 and 4 star hotels in order to calculate the guest satisfaction. Warini Munshi, Managing Director of hotel.info Ltd explains, “In contrast to a ranking based purely on price, which a range of portals already offer, we have concentrated on analysing the qualitative aspects of the hotels. After all, hotel guests do not use price alone to rate establishments – they want a high level of quality too.”

Here are the results of the analysis:

- International: Lisbon in top position, followed by Tokyo. European cities dominate the rankings.
- USA: Indianapolis is the leader closely followed by Phoenix (Arizona). Los Angeles amongst the top 15

hotel.info Global Top 20: (major cities)

Lisbon, Portugal, is in top place in the world rankings, thanks to its overall assessment, and is followed by Tokyo (Japan) and Prague (Czech Republic). Hotels in these cities obviously provide particularly good value for money. Washington, New York and Ottawa represent North America in the ranking, with Rio de Janeiro also representing South America. Overall, however, European cities dominate the hotel.de Top 20.

hotel.info-Top 15 Cities in the USA

In the USA the guests of hotel.info were especially satisfied with the value for money of hotels in Indianapolis. The hotels in Phoenix (Arizona) and Scottsdale also did well and were felt to provide good service at a fair price. The booking customers criticised the value for money of the hotels in Los Angeles but which was nonetheless placed within the top 15 destinations. Guests are invited to assess the hotel that they have booked through www.hotel.info on a scale of 0 to 10 after they have checked out. Criteria such as room quality and staff friendliness can be judged in addition to the perceived value for money.

hotel.info
www.hotel.info is a free online hotel reservation service for corporate and private customers. The service offers more than 210,000 hotels for electronic bookings around the world. Customers booking via hotel.info achieve significantly better prices in comparison with other booking channels. In addition, hotel.info shows all available room prices for each hotel, so that the customer can always select the cheapest or most suitable room price. All bookings via hotel.info are transferred simultaneously, securely and directly to the respective hotel’s computer. This guarantees the unique integration of each hotel’s own reservation systems (CRS or PMS) and hotel.info’s own reservation system myRES into the hotel.info unified user interface. At hotel.info, customers seeking hotel rooms can base their decisions to book a room not only on the core information such as room price and hotel facilities, but also on the hotel reviews and ratings submitted by around 1 million hotel guests from around the world. Compared with existing rating portals, hotel.info customers can rely on 100% genuine hotel ratings, since only customers who have booked and recently stayed in each hotel are asked for their opinion. Once a customer has selected an offer, the hotel is presented for direct online booking at attractive conditions, in line with the hotel.info “Check & Book” claim. hotel.info is the international brand of hotel.de AG. This brand was created to further drive expansion within Europe. The aim is to establish hotel.info throughout Europe as the leading reservation service for corporate and private customers. Today hotel.info operates offices in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and China

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080902/TRIPADVISORLOGO )

Participating DMOs will also be able to regularly update their advertising and content modules on their pages. Using a private login, subscribers will be able to keep up to five promotional links of their choice current, as well as their local events calendar, and seasonal photos and videos.

Alongside the unbiased reviews and opinions posted by more than 32 million unique monthly visitors on TripAdvisor, this highly targeted, relevant, and integrated advertising allows DMOs to best reach an engaged and passionate travel audience while they actively consider traveling to their destination.

“TripAdvisor is a powerful vehicle to get San Antonio’s diverse vacation offerings and discounts in front of targeted and value-minded travelers who are in the planning mindset,” said Scott White, executive director of the San Antonio CVB.  San Antonio’s DMO tourism sponsorship page on TripAdvisor can be viewed at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g60956-San_Antonio_Texas-Vacations.html.

With a Destination Marketing Organization Tourism Sponsorship, DMOs can now have an established brand presence on TripAdvisor for an entire year at a fixed cost, with introductory pricing for early adopters and tiered pricing based on page traffic.  Interested DMOs should e-mail dmosponsorship@tripadvisor.com for more information.

“Given the successful launch of the TripAdvisor Business Listings subscription advertising for hotels, we expect that DMOs will be equally as enthusiastic about reaching travelers in this smart, new way,” said John Henderson, vice president of sales at TripAdvisor. “Travelers will now be able to see regularly updated destination content including events information and more – from DMOs who know their destinations best.”

About TripAdvisor Media Network

TripAdvisor® Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts 45 million monthly visitors* across 15 popular travel brands: TripAdvisor®, www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.travelpod.com and www.virtualtourist.com. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 32 million monthly visitors*, 15 million registered members and 30 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover more than one million destinations, hotels, restaurants and attractions and operate in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com), the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk), Ireland (http://www.tripadvisor.ie), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr), Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de), Italy (http://www.tripadvisor.it), Spain (http://www.tripadvisor.es), India (http://www.tripadvisor.in), Japan (http://www.tripadvisor.jp), Portugal and Brazil (http://www.tripadvisor.com.br), Sweden (http://www.tripadvisor.se), The Netherlands (http://nl.tripadvisor.com), Canada (http://www.tripadvisor.ca), Denmark (http://www.tripadvisor.dk), Turkey (http://www.tripadvisor.com.tr) and Mexico (http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx). TripAdvisor also operates in China under the brand daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com) and Kuxun.cn (http://www.kuxun.cn). TripAdvisor® Media Network provides travel suppliers with graphical advertising opportunities and a cost-per-click marketing platform. Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry worldwide. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).

TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries.  Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

hotelinfo

hotel.info, the free online hotel reservation service for more than 210,000 hotels worldwide, welcomed its four millionth booking customer last week.

The countdown started just under four weeks ago. From the 3,950,000th customer we started looking more carefully, as every ten thousandth new customer who registered at www.hotel.info from that point on was rewarded with a hotel voucher for the five-star Hotel Hilton Molino Stucky in Venice.

The closer the new hotel. info customers came to the four million mark, the greater their reward. Today’s winner will enjoy five nights in Venice, whilst the second and third-placed new customers will also be able to spend time visiting the numerous attractions of the city’s romantic waterways.

In breaking the four million booking customers barrier, hotel.info has continued its success in the fast-growing market for online hotel reservations. As Warini Munshi, Managing Director at hotel.info hotel booking Ltd.explained , “Over the past few years we have recorded constant growth in the numbers of people booking through us. The fact that this trend has persisted in times of greater economic constraint is evidence of the attractive nature of the hotels we offer and the efficiency of the hotel.info online marketing system. This promotion has been our way of saying “thank you” to our new customers.”

hotel.info
www.hotel.info is a free online hotel reservation service for corporate and private customers. The service offers more than 210,000 hotels for electronic bookings around the world. Customers booking via hotel.info achieve significantly better prices in comparison with other booking channels. In addition, hotel.info shows all available room prices for each hotel, so that the customer can always select the cheapest or most suitable room price. All bookings via hotel.info are transferred simultaneously, securely and directly to the respective hotel’s computer. This guarantees the unique integration of each hotel’s own reservation systems (CRS or PMS) and hotel.info’s own reservation system myRES into the hotel.info unified user interface. At hotel.info, customers seeking hotel rooms can base their decisions to book a room not only on the core information such as room price and hotel facilities, but also on the hotel reviews and ratings submitted by around 1 million hotel guests from around the world. Compared with existing rating portals, hotel.info customers can rely on 100% genuine hotel ratings, since only customers who have booked and recently stayed in each hotel are asked for their opinion. Once a customer has selected an offer, the hotel is presented for direct online booking at attractive conditions, in line with the hotel.info “Check & Book” claim. hotel.info is the international brand of hotel.de AG. This brand was created to further drive expansion within Europe. The aim is to establish hotel.info throughout Europe as the leading reservation service for corporate and private customers. Today hotel.info operates offices in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and China.

http://www.hotel.info

tripadvisor on Divamboo.com

TripAdvisor®, the world’s most popular and largest travel community, today announced its top 10 famous movie hotels, according to TripAdvisor editors.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/tripadvisor/37993/

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100226/MM60379 )

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080902/TRIPADVISORLOGO )

While landing a seven-figure movie contract will never be more than a silver-screen dream for most travelers, anyone can be a star at these hotels, where countless classic celluloid scenes have been shot.

1. A Class Act: The Fairmont San Francisco, San Francisco, California

Average Nightly Rate: $317

Recommended by TripAdvisor travelers for: elegant decor, culture/sightseeing

This grand hotel, set atop the steep incline of Nob Hill, has reached equally great heights on the silver-screen. Ever since Alfred Hitchcock shot Vertigo at the Fairmont in 1958, the hotel has become an iconic part of San Francisco and many movies, includingTowering Inferno, Sudden Impact, Junior and The Rock, in which Sean Connery’s character enjoys a lavish suite at the property. “There are posters hanging from the various movies that were filmed there, and lots of photos of famous guests throughout the years,” notes one TripAdvisor traveler.

2. High-Roller: Bellagio Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

Average Nightly Rate: $253

Recommended by TripAdvisor travelers for: nightlife, gambling/casinos

Boasting almost 4,000 guest rooms and suites, a renowned casino and world-famous dancing fountains, this hotel is no stranger to the silver-screen. The fountains alone have made countless Hollywood cameos and the hotel may be most famous for its parts in both Ocean’s Eleven and Ocean’s Thirteen. “I opted to stay at the Bellagio purely because of George Clooney and Ocean’s Eleven! It proved to live up to every expectation,” writes one TripAdvisor traveler.

3. New York’s Leading Lady: The Plaza, New York City, New York

Average Nightly Rate: $840

Recommended by TripAdvisor travelers for: romantic retreat, shopping getaway

This New York landmark hotel boasts sweeping views of Central Park, as well as impressive movie credentials. The Plaza’s Oak Room was featured in Hitchcock’s classic North By Northwest (and remains unchanged to this day), and the hotel has also served as the place where Crocodile Dundee swapped the Australian outback for a luxurious room, and starred in scenes in The Way We Were, Home Alone 2, Bride Wars, and more. As one TripAdvisor traveler writes, “No wonder it’s so famous! It’s a stunning hotel with fantastic amenities.”

4. California Dream: Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, California

Average Nightly Rate: $203

Recommended by TripAdvisor travelers for: beautiful decor, comfortable rooms

Having been featured in more than 100 movies, the Millennium Biltmore is a true Hollywood scene-stealer. The hotel’s guestrooms have made appearances in Mission Impossible 3 and The Bodyguard, while Spiderman, Wedding Crashers,Dreamgirls and Pretty in Pink have also brought their all-star casts into the hotel. Remarks one TripAdvisor traveler, “You really feel a part of the old Hollywood in this hotel – I was wondering who has stayed in my room!”

5. Beverly Hills Beauty: Beverly Wilshire Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, California

Average Nightly Rate: $619

Recommended by TripAdvisor travelers for: honeymoon, elegant decor

Set just steps away from Rodeo Drive’s renowned boutiques, this luxurious property will thrill shopaholics and Pretty Womanfans alike. This hotel should attract men too, as it’s been the backdrop for scenes in Beverly Hills Cop I and III and Bulworth. “There is a glorious sense of old-time Hollywood glamour about the place,” notes one TripAdvisor traveler.

6. Flying High: Renaissance St. Louis Hotel Airport, Saint Louis, Missouri

Average Nightly Rate: $163

Recommended by TripAdvisor travelers for: older travelers, comfortable rooms

While numerous hotels were used in the filming of the movie Up in the Air, the guestrooms at Renaissance St. Louis Hotel Airport were not only graced with George Clooney’s on-screen presence, but also receive top marks from TripAdvisor travelers for being quiet and close to the airport. As shared by one TripAdvisor traveler, “What amazed me is that although the airport is across the street, I could barely even tell when a plane was taking off or landing.”

7. City Scene-Stealer: The Roosevelt Hotel, New York City, New York

Average Nightly Rate: $290

Recommended by TripAdvisor travelers for: culture/sightseeing, shopping getaway

Boasting a rich history and prime location near Grand Central Station, The Roosevelt Hotel has seen its share of famous faces over the years. Jennifer Lopez’s Maid in Manhattan landed a job at this hotel, while Michael Douglas’s famous “Greed is good” scene in Wall Street was also shot at The Roosevelt. “It’s got a real classy look to it and it’s absolutely spotless. Looks like something out of a really old movie,” says one TripAdvisor traveler.

8. Beach-Side Blockbuster: Fountainebleau Miami Beach, Miami Beach, Florida

Average Nightly Rate: $492

Recommended by TripAdvisor travelers for: beach/sun getaway, trendy decor

The A-list status of this hotel, a former vacation spot for iconic stars such as Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Jerry Lewis, has been upheld by its many movie appearances. In The Bodyguard, Whitney Houston put the Fountainebleau on a high note;Goldfinger added the Midas touch to the property; and Scarface’s famous pool scene was also shot here. According to one TripAdvisor traveler, “The lobby is great, the pools are like in the movie clips, and the chicks are like in the magazines!”

9. Shining On: Timberline Lodge, Timberline Lodge, Oregon

Average Nightly Rate: $152

Recommended by TripAdvisor travelers for: cozy retreat, romantic getaway

Standing at an elevation of almost 6,000 feet within the Mount Hood National Forest, Timberline Lodge is a popular ski retreat, which famously provided chills in The Shining as the exterior of the fictional Overlook Hotel. While the interior scenes were shot on a movie set, and Stephen King’s inspiration for the nerve-jangling tale came from a trip to The Stanley Hotel, Colorado, it’s Timberline Lodge’s looming presence that remains a true scene-stealer. “Expect to never forget your stay,” writes one TripAdvisor traveler.

10. A Mov(i)er And Shaker: Mountain Lake Hotel, Pembroke, Virginia

Average Nightly Rate: $220

Recommended by TripAdvisor travelers for: families, outdoor/adventure

Dirty Dancing fans might just have the time of their lives at this property, which featured as the fictitious Kellerman’s Resort in the cult classic movie. Nestled in the New River Valley of the Appalachian Mountains, the hotel offers stunning scenery, as well asDirty Dancing weekends featuring karaoke, dance lessons and a film location tour. “We are not Dirty Dancing fanatics, but enjoyed seeing the locations around the property that we recognized from the movie,” writes one TripAdvisor traveler.

“While many travelers enjoy in-room movies as part of a relaxing hotel stay, these star-studded properties offer guests an actual connection with some classic movie scenes and famous characters,” said Christine Peterson, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor.

About TripAdvisor Media Network

TripAdvisor® Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts 45 million monthly visitors* across 15 popular travel brands: TripAdvisor®, www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com,www.flipkey.com, www.frequentflier.com, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.onetime.com,www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com and www.virtualtourist.com. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 32 million monthly visitors*, 15 million registered members and 30 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover more than one million destinations, hotels, restaurants and attractions and operate in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com), the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk), Ireland (http://www.tripadvisor.ie), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr), Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de), Italy (http://www.tripadvisor.it), Spain (http://www.tripadvisor.es), India (http://www.tripadvisor.in), Japan (http://www.tripadvisor.jp), Portugal and Brazil (http://www.tripadvisor.com.br), Sweden (http://www.tripadvisor.se), The Netherlands (http://nl.tripadvisor.com), Canada (http://www.tripadvisor.ca), Denmark (http://www.tripadvisor.dk), Turkey (http://www.tripadvisor.com.tr) and Mexico (http://www.tripadvisor.com.mx). TripAdvisor also operates in China under the brand daodao.com (http://www.daodao.com) and Kuxun.cn (http://www.kuxun.cn). TripAdvisor® Media Network provides travel suppliers with graphical advertising opportunities and a cost-per-click marketing platform. Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry worldwide. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE).

TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries.  Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

©2010 TripAdvisor LLC.  All rights reserved.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix, January 2010

SOURCE TripAdvisor

With the acquisition, HomeAway strengthens its position as the No. 1 source for unique lodging alternatives to hotels. HomeAway plans to operate BedandBreakfast.com as an independent brand.

HomeAway – a leading online vacation rental marketplace – announced its acquisition of BedandBreakfast.com, the most comprehensive global site for finding bed-and-breakfast properties (B&Bs).

“HomeAway already provides the most trusted sites and broadest inventory for searching for the ideal vacation rental home,” says Brian Sharples, chief executive officer of HomeAway.  “With the addition of BedandBreakfast.com, we’re providing travelers with another option to find home-like accommodations for a vacation experience that delivers far greater satisfaction than staying in a traditional motel or hotel.”

BedandBreakfast.com was founded in Austin, Texas, in 1995 by CEO Eric Goldreyer, and has grown into a top travel site listing more than 10,000 B&Bs across 100 countries.  The site specializes in providing travelers with a way to have a more personal travel experience for a weekend getaway, business trip or extended vacation.

“We are thrilled to be joining the HomeAway family,” says Goldreyer.  “The missions of our two companies are closely aligned – to help consumers easily find and experience a better lodging option than chain hotels and to help property owners effectively compete for and serve the traveler.”

http://www.hotelmarketing.com/