Comments on: Kayak-SideStep Merge, Ride Ahead Is Rocky http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/ The Business of Technology Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:24:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Kayak & Sidestep Merger Highlights Trends In Online Travel - Travel Industry News - UpTake Blog http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-890843 Kayak & Sidestep Merger Highlights Trends In Online Travel - Travel Industry News - UpTake Blog Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:48:06 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-890843 [...] GigaOM highlights pessimistic forecasts about the online travel market in 2008 [...] [...] GigaOM highlights pessimistic forecasts about the online travel market in 2008 [...]

]]> By: Open Thread: Will Ad Verticals Steal Market Share From Generalists - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-883384 Open Thread: Will Ad Verticals Steal Market Share From Generalists - GigaOM Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:04:36 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-883384 [...] a travel industry search engine announced that it is going to launch its own advertising network. I have been skeptical of this company, more so after their merger with SideStep. (How are those revenues growing fellas? They [...] [...] a travel industry search engine announced that it is going to launch its own advertising network. I have been skeptical of this company, more so after their merger with SideStep. (How are those revenues growing fellas? They [...]

]]> By: Google’s Achilles Heel - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-850765 Google’s Achilles Heel - GigaOM Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:00:34 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-850765 <p>[...] my Forbes column, highlights the ambitions of newer players to build independent large companies. Kayak acquired SideStep, bringing together over 12 million unique visitors and $85 million in [...]</p> [...] my Forbes column, highlights the ambitions of newer players to build independent large companies. Kayak acquired SideStep, bringing together over 12 million unique visitors and $85 million in [...]

]]> By: GigaOM’s take on SideStep/Kayak merger « Travel Stuff http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-797441 GigaOM’s take on SideStep/Kayak merger « Travel Stuff Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:17:33 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-797441 <p>[...] 24, 2007 Om Malik provides a strong take on the Kayak/SideStep merger. Most notable is that Om is drawing comments from Kayak co-founder Paul English. Without taking [...]</p> [...] 24, 2007 Om Malik provides a strong take on the Kayak/SideStep merger. Most notable is that Om is drawing comments from Kayak co-founder Paul English. Without taking [...]

]]> By: Kango Blog » Blog Archive » Kayak & Sidestep Merger Highlights Trends In Online Travel http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-792412 Kango Blog » Blog Archive » Kayak & Sidestep Merger Highlights Trends In Online Travel Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:37:12 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-792412 <p>[...] GigaOM highlights pessimistic forecasts about the online travel market in [...]</p> [...] GigaOM highlights pessimistic forecasts about the online travel market in [...]

]]> By: Elliott Ng http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-792139 Elliott Ng Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:02:10 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-792139 <p>oops...I mistakenly just linked back to GigaOM. Let me try again.</p> oops…I mistakenly just linked back to GigaOM. Let me try again.

]]> By: Elliott Ng http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-792137 Elliott Ng Sat, 22 Dec 2007 05:59:50 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-792137 <p>Hey Om. The macro-economic backdrop is always worth taking into account. But I think that what happens at the firm level is highly dependent on how distinct segments will start to compete and complement each other. It used to just be about the OTAs (the Expedia's of the world). Then price comparison engines (Kayak) entered the picture. Now a myriad of sharing (travel communities/social networks/blogs), organizing (TripIt), and planning (Kango, TripHub) sites are evolving. Heck I think we are entering the Cambrian period of evolution here in the travel space, fueled by growing consumer demand for ease, convenience, selection, and experience. Anyway, we blogged about our POV so drop by and see if you agree with our take. Thanks for tying in the traffic and macro factors, not something we had focused on.</p> Hey Om. The macro-economic backdrop is always worth taking into account. But I think that what happens at the firm level is highly dependent on how distinct segments will start to compete and complement each other. It used to just be about the OTAs (the Expedia’s of the world). Then price comparison engines (Kayak) entered the picture. Now a myriad of sharing (travel communities/social networks/blogs), organizing (TripIt), and planning (Kango, TripHub) sites are evolving. Heck I think we are entering the Cambrian period of evolution here in the travel space, fueled by growing consumer demand for ease, convenience, selection, and experience. Anyway, we blogged about our POV so drop by and see if you agree with our take. Thanks for tying in the traffic and macro factors, not something we had focused on.

]]> By: Fare-Finder Shootout: Mobissimo Wins - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-791339 Fare-Finder Shootout: Mobissimo Wins - GigaOM Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:39:01 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-791339 <p>[...] 1:38 PM PT Comments (0) There’s more than one way to find the best airfare online, as the Kayak-SideStep merger shows. But what’s the best way? Is there one site that you can rely on to find the best fare [...]</p> [...] 1:38 PM PT Comments (0) There’s more than one way to find the best airfare online, as the Kayak-SideStep merger shows. But what’s the best way? Is there one site that you can rely on to find the best fare [...]

]]> By: Paul English http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-790799 Paul English Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:04:52 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-790799 <p>Hi Om,</p> <p>Vertical search engine growth is measured by growth of searches and resulting revenue, not by number of visitors. (It is very inexpensive for any site to pump up the number of visitors by buying low cost and low value "visitors" who do not end up doing or search or generating revenue.)</p> <p>If you speak with any of the agencies or travel providers on Kayak, you will see that we are indeed growing rapidly, and with strong profits for us and for the travel sites shown on Kayaks.</p> <p>And as for economic weakness, online travel sites actually grow through any recessions, as the need for consumers to find the best deal actually increases during times of economic slowness.</p> <p>Kind regards, Paul</p> <p>ps, you seem to write about your friend Beatrice's company quite a bit, you might want to ask her about search volumes and sell through vs just getting visitors.</p> Hi Om,

Vertical search engine growth is measured by growth of searches and resulting revenue, not by number of visitors. (It is very inexpensive for any site to pump up the number of visitors by buying low cost and low value “visitors” who do not end up doing or search or generating revenue.)

If you speak with any of the agencies or travel providers on Kayak, you will see that we are indeed growing rapidly, and with strong profits for us and for the travel sites shown on Kayaks.

And as for economic weakness, online travel sites actually grow through any recessions, as the need for consumers to find the best deal actually increases during times of economic slowness.

Kind regards,
Paul

ps, you seem to write about your friend Beatrice’s company quite a bit, you might want to ask her about search volumes and sell through vs just getting visitors.

]]> By: Daya Baran http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-789763 Daya Baran Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:37:06 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2007/12/20/kayak-sidestep-merge/#comment-789763 <p>The travel industry is highly competitive and operates on razor thin margins. I think these companies are smart to recognize things are going to get harder, the recent unannounced entry by Google into the space (baby steps) no doubt is sending shivers. They are smart to consolidate and lock in a niche a secure a market position before it is too late.</p> <p>http://www.webguild.org/2007/12/google-flight-status.php http://internetcommunications.tmcnet.com/topics/broadband-mobile/articles/17038-google-chooses-holidayiq-hotel-reviews.htm</p> The travel industry is highly competitive and operates on razor thin margins. I think these companies are smart to recognize things are going to get harder, the recent unannounced entry by Google into the space (baby steps) no doubt is sending shivers. They are smart to consolidate and lock in a niche a secure a market position before it is too late.

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