From Curacao Chronicle

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – New data released by the Expedia group, one of the world’s leading travel companies, reveals a healthy increase in mobile bookings within the Caribbean market, with a growth of more than 55 percent in the first half of 2015 when compared to the same timeframe in 2014. Mobile bookings, which have been growing in nearly all of Expedia group’s markets, allow travelers to make their travel bookings on the go.

Major markets reporting a growth in mobile transactions in the first two quarters of 2015 include:

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: nearly 55 percent increase
San Juan, Puerto Rico: more than 50 percent increase
Montego Bay, Jamaica: nearly 50 percent increase
Unique to the Caribbean, Expedia group data indicates that unlike other global Expedia markets, which generally feature same day bookings on mobile devices, the largest share of Caribbean mobile purchases occur in the 31 – 60 day window. This atypical timeframe provides hotel partners with the opportunity to capitalize on Expedia group’s advanced mobile technology by managing prices beforehand to secure optimal bookings.

“Today’s technology has revolutionized the way we do business. Expedia group’s cutting-edge mobile applications allow travelers to plan their trips and book in a convenient, flexible way,” said Demetrius Canton, Director of Lodging Partner Services for the Caribbean, the Expedia group. “Expedia group consistently provides expert advice to valued partners on how to take advantage of our various platforms and participate in exclusive mobile promotions, flash sales and more, creating opportunities for both the consumer and the hotelier.”

Jonathan Valdez, Executive Revenue Manager for Royal Resorts, has experienced the benefits of these technology innovations first-hand, saying “[our] Expedia partnership has been a winning relationship and our growth with them has been double digits over the past three years. New Expedia technologies, such as their mobile friendly website or mobile app, have helped make booking reservations faster, easier and safer for our guests.”

Hotel partners such as Bahia Principe Hotels in the Dominican Republic have experienced significant results utilizing Expedia group’s mobile platforms. By taking advantage of Expedia group’s powerful technology and providing exclusive mobile promotions, the brand has generated nearly 120 percent growth in mobile bookings during the first half of the year when compared to the same time in 2014. “Today’s technology is advancing rapidly and we must adapt to these new trends. We can now manage a tremendous number of our daily life activities through the use of mobile devices, and planning a vacation is no exception. Our business strategy has been tailored to capture this audience through dynamic actions, and as a result we have obtained significant growth in the first two quarters of the year, which in part is due to our partnership with Expedia,” stated Ana Medina, Ecommerce Manager for the Americas, Bahia Principe Hotel & Resorts.

The Expedia group provides hotel partners with access to tremendous volume and variety of travelers worldwide through more than 150 websites in more than 70 countries worldwide, in addition to a myriad of mobile sites and apps, from brands such as Expedia®, Hotels.com®, Hotwire®, Egencia®, Travelocity® and Venere®.

For more on this story go to: http://curacaochronicle.com/tourism/expedia-group-reports-rapid-increase-in-caribbean-mobile-bookings/