Talk about cutting it thin! There’s are growing trend amongst travellers leaving their tour plans and bookings to the very last minute.
And by last minute we mean they’re actually waiting until after their holiday has started.
According to figures released by Rezdy, some 37 percent of travellers booked their tours or attractions within 24 hours after commencing their vacation.
That was a jump from 24 percent from three years ago when more people were pre-planning their tour options.
Rezdy CEO, Simon Lenoir, said while it’s “not new for travellers” to book their tours and attractions close to their holiday departure, technology has made it easier for them to do it with complete ease.
“What is new is the ability for them to be able to connect to such a wide range of suppliers and get booking confirmation in real-time rather than having to wait for an email or call to be returned, sometimes only to hear that it is sold out.”
Simon Lenoir, Rezdy CEO
“No one wants to spend precious travel time on their laptop, phone or tablet waiting to hear back about a booking enquiry.
There’s also a growing number of Australians using their mobiles to research their tour operators, with Rezdy finding 35 percent of all bookings coming from mobile.
Lenoir said this emphasises a need for consultants to ensure their websites are optimised for mobile or able to accept last minute online bookings.
“We know from Agents and suppliers that last minute bookings can put pressure on their business cash flow and staffing.”
Simon Lenoir, Rezdy CEO
“Our aim is to make life easier by eliminating messy invoicing and reconciliation.
“We not only guarantee payments but pay suppliers instantly once the customer pays and agents once the order is fulfilled.”
