LeisureLink Demand Index™ Shows Continuing Growth, Smaller Seasonal Decline than 2009
PASADENA, Calif. (May 13, 2010) - LeisureLink, Inc., the leading distribution and revenue management platform for specialty lodging suppliers, today updated the LeisureLink Demand Index™, through April 2010. Consumer demand for Vacation Lodging in mainstream online travel channels has shown strong growth in the first quarter of 2010 versus 2009.
“April 2010 demand is nearly double that of April 2009. While there has been an expected seasonal drop off in demand, the actual rate of decline in 2010 was only half that of 2009,” said Steve Reich, Senior Vice president of LeisureLink. “The normal seasonal decline was accentuated in 2009 by the H1N1 virus breakout,” he added. “Happily, we did not have that issue in 2010.” Vacation Lodging includes Vacation Rental Properties, Timeshare Resorts, and Boutique Hotels.
The biggest issue on the horizon, at least where Vacation Lodging is concerned, is the BP oil spill and its affect on GulfCoast travel. “The oil spill appears to be affecting a broad swath of travel,” said Reich. “Preliminary data suggests early May is weak in many markets, though several areas of the East Coast as well as Branson, Mo. are experiencing travel booms due to displaced travelers.”
“Despite the seasonal decline and the adverse affects of the oil spill, the overall growth in the first quarter proves the economy is getting stronger,” said Reich. “We expect continued growth in the summer months of 2010 and beyond.”
The LeisureLink Demand Index measures query volume across its Major Market Access (MMA) platform. The MMA provides distribution on major travel sites such as Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline, GDS Marketplaces, and LeisureLink’s own ABetterStay.com marketplace. The queries on this network measure demand for Vacation Lodging directly from consumers, as well as from wholesale and travel agent channels. Taken as a whole, the index broadly measures total consumer demand for Vacation Lodging.
The LeisureLink Demand Index™ is derived from the more than 500 million consumer queries processed annually by LeisureLink. The Index includes properties in North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. LeisureLink clients include vacation rentals, timeshare resorts, and boutique hotels, and their properties encompass ski, beach, and other destinations.
About LeisureLink™
LeisureLink powers global distribution and demand for the specialty lodging industry. LeisureLink Major Market Access™ enables property management companies to market and distribute their vacation lodging products across thousands of travel Web sites, travel agents and other distribution channels. Over 1500 vacation rentals properties, timeshare resorts, condos, hotels and boutique resorts throughout North America and Europe build their bookings through LeisureLink.
For more information visit www.LeisureLink.com and to view properties go to www.ABetterStay.com.
For more information please contact:
Steve Reich
Senior Vice President, Sales
LeisureLink Inc.
626-696-4530
Slreich@LeisureLink.com