Emarketer is reporting studies from Forrester and Citi group that etailing is the bright spot in the current US economy. "According to a survey by Forrester Research and Shop.org, US online retail sales rose an average of 11% in the first three months of 2009."
Go here for the study outline: http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1007058
However there is an ominous sign in the numbers for travel. Pure etailers are performing significantly worse than hybrid players. And not just by a small statistical variation. The numbers are pretty significant.
With airlines being able to stabilize their Q1 numbers but with a radically reduced yield - this bodes ill for the pure web based OTAs.
I think we should brace ourselves for some bad Q1 numbers from the big 4.
Long term - the move to a multi-channel environment is the direction of the market. That has significant implications for how the technology and the strategy of both suppliers and intermediaries play in the market. I will say again. Emerging from the other side of the recession will be a whole different world. Species evolution!!!
Cheers
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