Kayak.com Launches New Travel Display Advertising, Announces New VP of Sales

Kayak.com, claiming to be the world’s largest travel search site, has announced the launch of an innovative display advertising platform optimized for the travel industry. The new ad platform is a major improvement on technology developed by Sidestep.com, which Kayak.com purchased in December 2007, the company said.

Similar to the text ads that are already available through the Kayak Publishing Network (KPN), the new display ad system helps travel marketers target their ads based on search criteria including destination, origination, trip dates, length of stay, specific airline/hotel/car brands and car type. Referrals generated by either ad type can pass consumers’ search information (destination, travel dates, etc.) through to the advertiser’s website, allowing the advertiser to display relevant search results instead of a generic landing page.

Kayak.com and its affiliated websites generate nearly 200 million targetable ad impressions per month on air, hotel and rental car search result pages. Display advertising units are available in three IAB standard ad units of 180x150 pixels, 160x600 pixels and 300x250 pixels. There are more than 30,000 active text placements on the Kayak Publishing Network from more than 2,000 travel brands.

“Our advertisers have repeatedly told us that display ads can communicate travel services in a way that text ads cannot,” said Steve Hafner, Kayak.com co-founder and CEO. “Yet we know that some consumers dislike these ads and find them distracting. I believe we’ve found the right balance by allowing our registered users to suppress or view them, whichever they prefer.”

Kayak also said that Kristina Davis has joined Kayak.com team as vice president of sales, responsible for advertising sales for Kayak.com, its affiliated websites and the Kayak Publishing Network. Davis will be based in the worldwide headquarters in Norwalk, CT. Visit www.Kayak.com.