The growth in TUI Travel’s UK online business slowed in the six months to the end of March 2008, according to chief executive Peter Long.
Long told analysts this week: “Distribution through controlled channels [for UK mainstream] is about 75%, marginally higher for retail than online. Online is running at about 35%. It’s building, but it has slowed.’
TUI declined to comment further.
TUI Travel’s statement to the London Stock Exchange did highlight a strong performance from its consumer-facing bedbanks.
Laterooms.com more than doubled the number of room nights booked, compared with H1 07, to 994,000 from 404,000. Total transaction value per bed night was 6% up.
Its international beach and city specialist Hotelopia accounted for 1.3m bednights, 18% ahead. It managed to lift TTV per bed night by 19%.