Millions of Americans - your customers - are scheduling online appointments for themselves every day. More than 75% of American households have Internet access, and of these Americans online reservations jumped from 18% in 1998 to 65% in 2003. (source: Nielsen NetRatings March 2004)
Why do so many people make travel reservations online? Convenience and price. In virtually every survey of people making reservations online, travelers report that they believe they will always find the best price online, and that they can find the itinerary that fits their schedule best - including the flight that is most likely to arrive on time.
One last point about people making reservations online-even though they say they are looking for the best deal, they actually spend more on their trips than the average traveler. So if they save a little in airfare, online schedulers make up the difference by staying at more expensive hotels, staying more nights, and participating in more expensive activities.
It's no coincidence that the most profitable airlines today have the highest percentage of online reservations. Southwest Airlines - the most consistently profitable airline in the United States - receives over 57% of its reservations through its own web site. In contrast, Delta generates about 13% of its booking revenue from its own Web site, and another 17% from major travel sites.
