TravelCLICK’s eMonitor results for the fourth quarter of 2002 show that hotels experienced considerable growth in room nights and revenue booked electronically through the Global Distribution Systems (GDS). 
Room nights increased 8.0%, revenue jumped 11.3%, and average daily rate (ADR) rose 3.0% compared to the fourth quarter of 2001. A key factor affecting these results was the impact of September 11th on hotel industry booking performance in the prior year period.

The strong year-over-year showing in the fourth quarter of 2002 resulted in electronic room nights for all of 2002 finishing with a slight decline of 0.9% versus 2001, while ADR was off 3.7%. This fueled a 4.5% decline in 2002 electronic revenue compared to 2001. Average length of stay for 2002 was 2.11 nights, down nominally from last year’s 2.13 nights.
eMonitor results are compiled from TravelCLICK`s comprehensive database, which is the exclusive source of hotel industry electronic distribution data from the Amadeus, Galileo, SABRE, and Worldspan GDS.  TravelCLICK`s data also includes consumer online hotel bookings made through GDS-powered Internet travel sites.

Travel Agent Component

Travel agent bookings remained the dominant source of hotel e-commerce, representing 95% of total GDS room nights for both the fourth quarter and total year. Viewed against the fourth quarter of 2001, the travel agent component of GDS increased at a 7.9% rate in room nights and 3.2% in ADR On a year-to-date basis, travel agent room nights were down 1.4% from 2001, and average rate also decreased, off 2.5%.

Internet Component

Internet (consumer online) room nights, excluding bookings from auction sites, increased by 10.6% versus the fourth quarter of 2001.  Average rate was also up for GDS powered Internet bookings by 0.6% compared to the fourth quarter of last year.  The ADR of Internet bookings through the GDSs was $88.12, which was 26% lower than the ADR for travel agent bookings.
Though the Internet component displayed an increase in room nights of 4.4% over the full year of 2002, average rate was down by 5.5%.  This resulted in a 1.4% decline in revenue year-over-year.

 

——-