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Saturday 22 april 2017

Expedia Group Announces Caribbean Luxury Travel Demand on the Rise

-Demand for luxury proper- ous destinations attract a cluding the luxury segment,
ties throughout the region diverse range of travelers by utilizing the company’s
reported significant growth from around the world, ac- innovative technology and
in 2016 cording to Expedia group global marketing strate-
data the United States gies.”
SEATTLE, WASH - The Expe- represented the largest Expedia group can also
dia group, the world’s larg- market for the region’s lux- report that in addition to
est online travel agency, ury segment followed by boasting higher average
is reporting that travel de- Canada, the United King- daily rates in 2016, luxury
mand to luxury properties dom, Brazil and France properties represented an
throughout the Caribbean in 2016. The Caribbean’s opportunity for hoteliers in
increased in 2016. When luxury segment received the Caribbean as four and
compared to 2015, over- a significant influx of Swiss five-star resorts featured
all demand for four and in 2016 with visitor spending With four and five star prop- travelers in 2016, who at- longer booking windows
five-star rated properties hitting new heights, repre- erties representing more tributed to an increase of (average of 55 day) and
throughout the Caribbean senting a unique opportu- than 50 percent of Expe- nearly 175 percent when lengths of stays (4.3 days)
increased by nearly 20 per- nity for Caribbean hoteliers dia group’s travel demand compared to 2015. Addi- when compared to one to
cent in 2016. Likewise, the specializing in luxury travel. throughout the Caribbean, tional international markets three-star hotels which saw
Caribbean’s leading des- In 2016, the Caribbean des- the company proudly of- with noteworthy year over an average booking win-
tinations also experienced tination with the highest lux- fers hotel partners insights year increases in demand dow of 37 days out and an
luxury demand growth in- ury inventory was Paradise on mobile travel searches in 2016 include the Neth- average length of stay of
cluding Aruba (nearly 20 Island, with more than 80 and booking patterns, how erlands with nearly 50 per- 3.2 days.
percent), the Dominican percent of the Bahamian luxury travelers book, and cent growth and Germany By working with the Expe-
Republic (15 percent), island’s hotels being four how they shop and choose with more than 40 percent dia group, luxury hotels
Puerto Rico (5 percent), Ja- and five-star property. Ad- hotels. The Expedia mar- growth. throughout the Caribbean
maica (nearly 30 percent), ditional destinations where ket management teams “We’ve seen luxury travel gain exposure from the
the Bahamas (10 percent) the majority of hotel inven- partner with hoteliers to ef- continue to thrive through- more than 200 travel book-
and Turks and Caicos (35 tory was comprised of four fectively engage the luxury out the world, including ing sites in more than 75
percent) in 2016 when to five-star rated resorts in- market across devices and the Caribbean,” said De- countries in 35 languages,
compared to the previous cluded St. Martin (nearly throughout the entire travel metrius Canton, Director of in addition to a myriad of
year. 80 percent), Punta Cana planning process. This valu- Market Management for mobile sites and apps, from
Per a recent report by the (nearly 80 percent), Turks able information is readily the Caribbean, the Expe- brands such as Expedia®,
Caribbean Tourism Organi- and Caicos (more than 75 available to partners to en- dia group. “Expedia works Hotels.com®, Travelocity®,
zation, Caribbean tourism percent) and St. John Vir- sure that their strategy tar- closely with hotel partners Orbitz®, Hotwire®, Egen-
accounted for nearly 30 gin Islands (nearly 75 per- gets this niche market. seeking to tap into new cia®, Expedia® Affiliate
million arrivals to the region cent). While the Caribbean’s vari- and growing markets, in- Network and others.q