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Friday 8 March 2019

Nuno Sales, Director Market Management for Expedia Group Lodging Partner Services:
“The travel industry in the Caribbean needs to understand how to

appeal to their customer’s personal needs”

ORANJESTAD — The lat- ribbean. One of Expedia conduct travel research
est data of Expedia Group Group’s strategic impera- on their mobile device. Un-
(2018 full year) reported tives is becoming locally surprisingly, mobile usage
that the demand for Aruba relevant on a global ba- spikes in-trip, when more
grew 10 percent from the sis and that is exactly one than 75 percent of Latin
U.S. market and over 30 of our objectives in Latin American travelers utilize
percent from the Brazilian America and of course their smartphone. Nearly
market year over year on in our key markets across 60 percent of Latin Ameri-
Expedia Group sites during the Caribbean.” Offering can travelers opt for relax-
the first three quarters of the hotel partners effec- ing trips, followed by visiting
2018 v. first three quarters tive solutions, technologies family and sightseeing trips,
of 2017. The U.S. market and marketing expertise to according to Sales.
also reported to be the top level their playing field and
market for mobile demand at the same time, to con-
in Aruba, with a prefer- tribute to the region’s tour- Continued on Page 14
ence for 4 star hotels. Ad- ism growth, and to support
ditionally, European mar- the recovery efforts on the
kets such as the Nether- islands that have been af-
lands, Spain, Italy and the fected by natural disasters
UK saw an increase from is Expedia’s goal.
July to September in 2018
in comparison to last year. 5 Trips a Year
Aruba Today interviewed According to a 2018 re-
Nuno Sales, Director Mar- search study by Expedia
ket Management for Expe- Group™ Media Solutions,
dia Group Lodging Partner the advertising arm of Expe-
Services. dia Group, Latin American
travelers are taking nearly
Expedia Group sites also five trips per year and the
reported that packages average leisure trip dura-
and mobile demand is still tion is 10 days. More than
on the rise for the follow- 50 percent of Latin Ameri-
ing markets: Palm Beach, can travelers use online
Eagle Beach, and Oran- travel agencies (OTAs) dur-
jestad. Also, the top feeder ing the trip planning pro-
markets to Aruba for the full cess, ahead of airline, ho-
year 2018 were as follows tel or destination websites.
(in that order): U.S., Brazil, Forty-nine percent of trav-
Canada, Netherlands and elers book their trip on an
Argentina. OTA – the strongest conver-
sion from planning to book-
Sales: “I am responsible for ing among Latin American
helping the team grow the travelers. More than half
business and work hand in use their smartphone when
hand with Expedia Group’s looking for travel inspiration
hotel partners in the Ca- and more than one-third