Priceline.com reported travel bookings grew by 40% more for the first quarter of this year compared to last year.
Airline ticket unit bookings, which include retail and opaque (Name Your Own Price) tickets grew 20.2% for the same time period. Hotel room night bookings grew 52.5%. Rental car day bookings grew 5.3%.
“With $507 million in gross travel bookings in the first quarter, Priceline.com’s bookings have more than doubled over the last two years,” said Jeffrey H. Boyd, president and ceo.
He added with the launch earlier this year of a new retail hotel service, the company has completed the transition from a niche Name Your Own Price travel service to a one-stop, full-service travel company.
The company’s new shopping services are being advertised in a television campaign featuring William Shatner.
Mr Boyd said Priceline through the rest of the year planned more service improvements such as optimization of their new hotel service. Destination enhancements for packages will also be added and there will be more cross-sell and destination service offerings, according to Mr Boyd.
Report by David Wilkening
