TripAdvisor Goes on Sale Today

Travel review site TripAdvisor will launch on the Nasdaq stock exchange today with an expected value of around $4bn.

TripAdvisor shares, being traded under the name TRIP, will go on sale at 09:00hrs in New York.

The company, which has websites in 30 countries, is being spun off by parent Expedia.

Expedia has been the largest buyer of advertising on the TripAdvisor website, accounting for as much as 35% of its total revenue, according to a report in today's Financial Times. However, the company expects to attract more business from Expedia's rivals following the sale.

After the spin-off, Expedia will no longer have any ownership interest in TripAdvisor.

By Linsey McNeill

(Source: Travelmole.com - http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=1150777 )

TripAdvisor makes Nasdaq debut

By Johanna Jainchill

TripAdvisor began trading as an independent public company on Wednesday on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol TRIP, following the completion of its spin-off from Expedia Inc.

To mark the occasion, TripAdvisor co-founder and CEO Stephen Kaufer visited Nasdaq’s headquarters in New York City's Times Square to ring the opening bell.

“This is a truly exciting time for TripAdvisor, and we are eager to continue to innovate on behalf of our users and grow the business as we enter this next chapter,” Kaufer stated on TripAdvisor's blog.

At 11:24 a.m. Eastern, TripAdvisor shares were down about 5.5%, trading at $28.55.

(Source: Travelweekly.com - http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/TripAdvisor-makes-Nasdaq-debut/ )

No More Five Star Australia Hotels

The development of new five star hotels in Australia is looking increasingly unlikely, according to industry experts.

Room rates are not high enough resulting in lower returns, according to Tourism Australia general manager destination development, Craig Davidson.

“The returns just don’t stack up,” he told a conference in Sydney. “We see the majority of new hotels being built in the four star market which is where the new Sydney Airport hotel will most likely sit.”

Karen Wales, senior vice president research and strategic advisory Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, agreed that growth would most likely occur

In the lower brackets.

“Most visitors are looking for budget or mid-market accommodation,” she said.

But with even lower room rates, these properties were also difficult to make viable, she added.

Meanwhile, chairman and founder of Anthology Hotels Grant Hunt drew a question mark over the existence of luxury properties in Australia.

“I don’t think that we do luxury in Australia,” he said. “We don’t have the service or the staff.”

(Source: Travel Today, December 2011)

Brisbane Hotel Reviews: No More Five Star Australia Hotels