Inside Google’s feud with OTAs
Behind closed doors, Google has been engaged in a bitter standoff with the online travel industry, according to reporting from CNBC. The issue is global but German travel companies have been particularly outspoken. Activity booking platform GetYourGuide, hotel finder Trivago and Airbnb rival HomeToGo have been feuding with the search giant about their unpaid advertising bills since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. OTAs were particularly exposed to the devastating economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak as new bookings dried up and the sites had to refund tens of millions of dollars to customers that were unable to travel.
‘Pessimism’ surrounds Croatia hotel market: Report
Expectations on business performance for Croatia in 2020 are very pessimistic, according to the results of a survey conducted by Horwath HTL Croatia to monitor and assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Croatian hotel industry. Revenues are expected to decrease by more than 55% compared with the previous year, mainly due to very low occupancy levels. Hoteliers expect that crisis will last for at least six to 12 months, while full recovery is expected in mid-term.
Kimpton slowly ramping up ad spend
The marketing department at Kimpton Hotels, part of Intercontinental Hotel Group, spent most of the spring trying to keep a conversation going with consumers while its properties were closed, according to AdExchanger . After pausing media spend, Kimpton leaned into content marketing related to food, cocktails and design as a way to keep customers engaged while stuck at home. As lockdowns began to ease and local travel started to pick up, the company slowly ramped up its ad spend against promotions, including a third-night-free deal in relevant markets and a road trip package. But ad spending still isn’t back to pre-COVID-19 levels.
Irish hotels fear loss of 70s-plus age group
Recommendations in Ireland that people over 70 should reconsider taking staycations and visiting hotels has been met with disappointment by the hospitality and tourism sector. Under new restrictions, older people are being advised to limit social interactions and visit shops only during designated hours. In reaction to the advice, the chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation said the over-70s set had already been “less visible on the tourism and hospitality circuit” since the pandemic began.
Read more from The Irish Times