News
Expedia Group Revenue Jumps As Travel Recovery Continues
According to Expedia Group’s latest earnings report, the company’s total gross bookings and total revenue both increased significantly in the first quarter this year. Gross bookings for the three months ending March 31, 2022 were $24.4 billion, up 58% compared to last year and down only 17% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Revenue for the period…
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Travelers Are Choosing Big City Destinations Again
New research released by Allianz Partners in its Top 10 Summer Rental Car Report showed that Americans are traveling to big cities again. While car renters have preferred rural areas and open spaces over the past two years, it appears that metropolitan destinations are making a comeback. This year’s list of top destinations includes Orlando,…
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April Job Fillings Sharply Missed Predictions
U.S. companies added far fewer jobs than was expected last month, suggesting the tightest labor market in decades. Only 247,000 jobs were added in April, sharply missing the 395,000 gain that economists predicted and marking a big decline from the 479,000 jobs added in March. The slowdown in hiring largely stemmed from small businesses, as…
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What To Do Instead of Social Media Marketing
Experts are advising marketing teams to stop pouring their money into social media advertising, as it is far less effective than it once was. The cost to acquire new customers on social media has risen dramatically, with the cost per thousand impressions up 41% last year. New privacy laws also went into effect around this…
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Travel & Entertainment Spending Nears Pre-Pandemic Levels
Spending volume on American Express commercial cards grew $136 billion in the first quarter as large and global clients are beginning to show signs of business travel recovery. Total Travel & Entertainment (T&E) spending across the network was 88% of 2019’s first quarter levels, but U.S. consumer T&E spending was 20% above 2019’s first quarter…
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Legoland Florida Becomes Certified Autism Center
Legoland Florida in Winter Haven is the first theme park resort to be given the designation of a Certified Autism Center. The new certification has been granted to the Legoland Florida theme park and water park, as well as and the resort’s three hotels – Legoland Hotel, Legoland Pirate Island Hotel and Legoland Beach Retreat.…
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Visitor Center Goes Mobile
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many companies to adopt new ways of working, and Visit Roswell in Georgia is no exception. Roswell’s destination marketing organization is letting go of it’s brick and mortar office of more than 30 years and getting behind the wheel. The organization launched its new mobile visitor center run by part-time “street…
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U.S. Inflation Hits 40-Year High in March
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. inflation hit a multidecade high last month as gas prices and rents skyrocketed. Inflation climbed to 8.5%, the highest rate since December 1981, and an increase from February’s 7.9%. Gas prices jumped 18.3% over February and 48% year over year (YOY). Rental rates have increased for eight…
Read MoreAmerican Travel Undeterred by Economic Concerns
Unsurprisingly, Americans are very worried about the economy in light of rising inflation and gas prices. However, pent-up travel demand is too great for these factors to deter travel. According to Skift’s most recent wave of their U.S. Travel Tracker, 34% of respondents still expect to increase their travel spending in the next 12 months,…
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CitizenM Plans First Metaverse Hotel
CitizenM, an Amsterdam-based hotel group, is claiming to be the first-ever to begin building a hotel in the metaverse. The group is planning to purchase a site in the Sandbox, a decentralized gaming virtual world. Building a hotel in the Sandbox metaverse would enable users to create their own worlds and experiences via non-fungible tokens…
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