Over the last decade, online travel agents (OTAs), such as Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity, to name a few, have become a mainstay for Americans looking to research and book travel.  And now, Indians have embraced online travel sites as internet penetration continues to expand.  According to Nielsen’s India Online Travel Agent Study, 80 percent of Indians view these sites positively. Even those who hadn’t yet purchased travel with an online travel agent have checked them as part of their research and said that they would consider doing so in the …

As most top industries cut their ad budgets in 2008, the travel and hospitality industry saw its ad spend increase four percent, according to an analysis by The Nielsen Company. The industry spent $3.9 billion in total advertising across 16 media last year.
“In a year where ad spending declined across the board, it’s refreshing to see travel and hospitality companies were expanding their reach to consumers,” said Annie Touliatos, VP for Sales Development at Monitor-Plus, Nielsen’s ad tracking service. “It shows the confidence they have that Americans are still looking to travel even in this …