Worldwide hotel bookings through global distribution systems
declined year over year in April and May but increased in June, while average
daily rates on those bookings increased during all three months, according to
Pegasus Solutions.
Pegasus on Wednesday reported that global corporate travel
volume as measured by GDS hotel bookings showed "relatively minor
fluctuation" year over year during the second quarter. Bookings were down
3.8 percent in April and 2.7 percent in May "due in part to several global
and regional holidays falling closer to the weekend" than in 2013, "encouraging
more leisure travel," according to Pegasus. In June, GDS bookings
increased 1.4 percent year over year.
ADR on those bookings increased 1.9 percent in April, 2.8
percent in May and 4.2 percent in June, indicating "strong corporate
travel demand that is not being overshadowed by excess new room supply in most
markets," according to Pegasus.
In North America, net GDS hotel reservations declined 3.7
percent in June, but net ADR increased 7.7 percent. June net GDS reservations
were up in Europe (7 percent) and Africa, Asia and Oceania (6.2 percent) but
fell 17.2 percent in South America, as corporations diverted travel from Brazil
during the FIFA World Cup, Pegasus reported.
Pegasus projects GDS hotel bookings will slow in July and
August, both prime leisure travel months, before they "pick up again in
September and October with strong rate growth, increasing at an average pace of
[more than] 5 percent over prior year for bookings made for stays through
October to date."