Here’s to 2009 - a glimpse at 2009 from the experts at lastminute.com

Despite the challenging times lying ahead for the travel industry, online travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com is predicting 2009 to be a year for new destinations and new experiences. The new year will bring a host of opportunities and some great bargains to be had for savvy shoppers.

The online retailer is expecting to see interesting changes in consumers’ travel habits throughout 2009. Holidays are predicted to be the last luxury to go when things get tough and Britons will look at ways to cut corners and make their pounds go further.

Throughout 2008 lastminute.com has seen a strong 21% year on year increase in demand for all-inclusive holidays and in 2009, the retailer has increased its product to match customers’ expectations.

For short and mid-haul holidays, the online travel agent is expecting the non-euro zone destinations to continue their successful ascent. In 2008, Tunisia’s bookings increased by 71%, Istanbul’s hotels rocketed up by 53%, whilst Egypt and the Czech Republic were all amongst the top 10 best selling destinations. In 2009, whilst the UK is expected to do very well, non-euro zone places are all expected to be very popular with holidaymakers too.

Destinations where the pound is still strong, such as budget friendly Bulgaria and South Africa, will also benefit from the economic downturn.

The average length of a holiday will also be reduced to limit costs. lastminute.com is seeing a shift from fourteen day holidays to ten days. The seven night packages are the ones most likely to sell out. During 2008, the retailer has already witnessed customers reducing their holidays by an average of two days.

Hotels have also seen some changes in habits with a shift from five-star to three-star hotels in luxury destinations like Dubai. In 2009, big hotel groups such as the Hilton are opening their budget chains in Europe as four-star hotels are battling head to head with three star properties in prices. Consumers are increasingly price driven but do not want to cut down too much on the quality of a hotel. Sales of Top Secret Hotels at lastminute.com have increased a staggering 150% in 2008 and these are expected to perform even better next year as the number of destinations and properties increases.

UK hotels was the success story of 2008 with Liverpool bookings up 100% year on year, Scottish hotels up an average of 42% and Northern Ireland up 48% between 2008 and 2009.

lastminute.com Travel Sales Director Andy Washington commented: “ We are seeing some interesting changes in consumer habits as the economic downturn hits the UK. Our customers are determined to keep on holidaying but they will watch their pennies and make sure they do not break the bank when away. Destinations where the pound is still strong, all-inclusive holidays, the UK are all great cost saving options.”

lastminute.com massive clearance sale

Leading online travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com is ending the year with a bang as it unveils its biggest sale ever. The retailer will offer up to 75% off most of its products from 27 December until 5 January ensuring everyone can lay their hands on some great deals for 2009.

lastminute.com customers can take advantage of the great offers from as early as 24 December with fantastic prices on flights, up to 50% off holidays and 45% off Top Secret Hotels. Prices for worldwide flights start from just £259 to new York.

From 27 December even more offers will be available at lastminute.com with a wide range of UK products available at up to 75% off.

- Detox is still very much affordable this January with two for one spa experiences from just £25.

- No need to stay indoors in January with theatre tickets from £8.75 with Maria Friedman and West End best sellers such as The Sound of Music from £22.50. Club nights will be from just £2 at Shake Rattle and Bowl.

- If you're not watching the waistline then eating out won't be a problem either with top restaurants such as Gilgamesh and Mews of Mayfair offering up to 50% off total food bills. Many restaurants will also offer 75% off desserts when ordering a main course and a starter.

All offers are available whilst stock lasts and until 5 January 2009 from www.lastminute.com

lastminute.com launches new beta mobile application nru

The lastminute.com labs team continues to develop new and innovative products.

The latest beta mobile application nru (near you) for the new T-Mobile G1 phone uses the phone’s built in compass and GPS to allow users to search for near by entertainment.

The labs team are looking for people with the T-Mobile G1 phone to help them test nru.

For more information visit http://labs.lastminute.com/2008/12/16/nru/

http://labs.lastminute.com/nru/

For a video explaining nru please see below:

nru is the latest phone application by the labs team following on from the award winning fonefood application  http://lastminutelabs.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/fonefood-now-location-aware-thanks-to-new-google-gears-plugin/

lastminute.com shortlisted in the Innovation Award - Globe Travel Awards 2009

lastminute.com has been twice shortlisted in the Innovation Award - Globe Travel Awards 2009 for its revolutionary fonefood application and its nifty one-box search pronto.

fonefood allows mobile users to search for and book restaurants from their phones free of charge. fonefood covers more than 6,000 restaurants in 12 countries.

pronto is one simple box where you enter what you need. e.g. you can enter things like “Paris on Friday”, “I’d like a 5 star hotel on 10 November in Gran Canaria for 3 nights”.

Last week, fonefood scooped Innovation in Multi-Channel Marketing Award in the inaugural e-consultancy Awards and is shortlisted in the Retail Business Show Awards 2009.

The Globe Travel Awards 2009, run by leading travel trade title Travel Weekly, take place on January 27th.

For further information on fonefood visit:
http://m.lastminute.com/fonefood

http://labs.lastminute.com/fonefood/

For further information on pronto visit:
http://pronto.lastminute.com/

http://labs.lastminute.com/projects/pronto

To find out more about the Globe Travel Awards 2009 visit:

http://www.globetravelawards.co.uk/

For the full list of e-consultancy awards winners visit:
http://www.e-consultancy.com/awards/winners.asp

Christmas sorted right up to the very last minute! lastminute.com’s gifts, vouchers and certificates to the rescue

Still struggling with what to buy loved ones for Christmas? Not had the time or the courage to hit the shops this year?

Leading online travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com offers up to the final moment solutions for Christmas headaches with instant gift certificates, gift vouchers and next day delivery on a variety of items.

lastminute.com gift vouchers can be bought up to 24 hours in advance and  are the perfect gift for anybody who enjoys life to the full. The gift vouchers can be used on a wide range of the retailer’s products. Travellers can use the vouchers on flights, city breaks and hotels whilst at home they can be redeemed against theatre or gig tickets, attractions and experiences as well as spa treatments. lastminute.com gift vouchers are available in multiples of £10, £15, £20, £25 and £50. 

More than 100 gifts are also available to purchase until midday on 23 December with guaranteed next day delivery, just in time to put under the tree. Whether it be 30 year old bottles of single malt whiskies, pole dancing kits, Kama Sutra weekend sets, digital photo frame fridge magnets or adopting a pair of seal pups, there is still plenty of time for purchase the perfect gift.

For people with little time on their hands, certificates can be printed up to the very last minute when purchasing gifts on the site, whether for experiences, beauty products, spa treatments or personalised bottles of champagne.

lastminute.com lifestyle Sales Director Mark Bower said:  “lastminute.com’s fantastic range of travel and lifestyle product and offers mean you will be giving your friends and family an unbeatable Christmas ”

“There is no reason to not put presents under the tree this year with up to the last minute solutions and perfect gifts from as little as £4.95.”

www.lastminute.com

The first entry to the Christmas Cracker Competition

As you may be aware, we're running a competition to see who can make the most impressive lastminute.com Christmas Cracker using the excellent instructions described in the previous post.

We have had our first entry, albeit one in true Blue Peter style that we'd made earlier.

Now it's your turn to better it and win £50 for Christmas. We can't wait to see your entries.

lastminute.com shortlisted in the Retail Business Show Awards 2009

lastminute.com has been shortlisted in the Retail Business Show Awards 2009 Mobile retailing category for its revolutionary fonefood application.

fonefood allows mobile users to search for and book restaurants from their phones free of charge. fonefood covers more than 6,000 restaurants in 12 countries.

Last week, fonefood scooped Innovation in Multi-Channel Marketing Award in the inaugural e-consultancy Awards

The Retail Business Show Awards 2009 take place on January 28.

For further information on fonefood visit:
http://m.lastminute.com/fonefood
http://labs.lastminute.com/fonefood/

To find out more about the Retail Business Show Awards 2009 visit:

http://www.trbsawards.co.uk/

For the full list of e-consultancy awards winners visit:
http://www.e-consultancy.com/awards/winners.asp