Focus Page 273

Back in business
Business travel has been the hardest hit sector of the industry. But what are the most likely patterns to emerge over the next 12 months?

2010 PhoCusWright Conference Theme Announced
I am pleased to announce the theme for the 2010 PhoCusWright Conference to be held November 16-18 in Phoenix, Arizona United States.

Boost for World Cup fans as SAA releases discounted tickets
Football fans travelling to this summer’s World Cup have received a boost following news that the national carrier South African Airways is releasing a number of new tickets at discounted rates. And beyond FIFA 2010, the national carrier has ambitious plans for continuing its expansion.

Half Moon unveils landmark development
A new landmark luxury villa development at Jamaica’s Half Moon promises to position the resort as one of the world’s leading timeshare developments. BTN caught up with Managing Director Richard Whitfield to find out more about the development.

Eternal surprises in the Eternal City
What’s the difference between a great hotel and an iconic hotel? At Rome’s Cavalieri they might just have come up with the answer.

Latin American Online Travel: An Interview With Despegar.com CEO
Competition is heating up in the Latin American online travel market. As the number of Internet savvy consumers in the region grows exponentially, online distribution is becoming a “must” for travel companies. Travel booking is still a largely offline process in Latin America, but that is about to change.

How Big Is Social Media in Travel?
New PhoCusWright Study Analyzes Nearly 1.9 Million Traveler Reviews and Traffic from More Than 50 Social Media Web Sites to Online Travel Categories

Google’s Next Big Travel Play
Google does not hide the fact that the travel industry is one of their key markets. They continually churn out new innovations that improve travel related search and advertising. Google’s action in the sector not only affects their competitor, Bing, it also sets online travel agencies (OTAs) and metasearch companies on alert.

Meet-the-people offerings around the world
With the global economic slowdown still taking a toll, there has perhaps never been a more important time for innovation in the travel and tourism industry. One growth sector now being explored involves so-called meet-the-people offerings – where travellers are actively encouraged to integrate with local communities. Here Chris O’Toole takes a look.

Growth and Competition in Latin American Online Travel
Big changes are about to happen in the Latin American online travel markett. Growth in the market is leading to intense competition for this valuable territory.

Luxury hospitality – back with a bang in 2010
Last year was one of the toughest on record for luxury hospitality. But now the sector is well on the road to recovery with a raft of new openings, plus some ground-breaking developments in the pipeline. Breaking Travel News picks the best of the new crop.

Delhi builds sporting legacy
India will fall under the sporting spotlight in October when Delhi hosts the 19th Commonwealth Games. With seven months before the opening ceremony, Breaking Travel News takes a look at preparations for the event. Mike Starling reports