Journal of Smart Tourism

Smart Tourism Research Center, Kyung Hee University (경희대학교 스마트관광연구소)
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Who Uses Travel Websites? A Comparison of Demand Across Websites

  • Yang, Yang (Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Temple University) ;
  • Jiang, Lan (School of Resort & Hospitality Management, Florida Gulf Coast University)
  • Received : 2022.09.15
  • Accepted : 2022.10.24
  • Published : 2022.09.30
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Abstract

Understanding demand for travel websites can help hoteliers better evaluate their own multi-channel distribution and reputation management strategies. In this study, we estimated demand for eight major travel websites based on the user percentage in 3,120 U.S. counties. Results highlighted the importance of four types of factors: sociodemographic, economic, Internet use-related, and travel-related. Differences between websites were also compared based on estimated coefficients. For example, the demand for Expedia.com appeared to be driven by age, education background, income, and foreign travel history, whereas the demand for Hotels.com was driven by the proportion of the African American population and domestic travel history. Lastly, implications are provided.

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