More positive news for air travel this week, as new data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) showed an increase in air travel demand in August and a new study ranked the top airlines by brand equity.
Air Travel Demand Rises in August
Demand for air travel rose slightly in August versus the previous month, according to new data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) increased 5.9 percent compared to August 2013, which was above the 5.4 percent year-over-year increase recorded in July. August capacity climbed 5.5 percent. The load factor stood at 83.9 percent which is a 0.3 percentage point rise over August 2013.
While all regions reported an expansion in demand, some risks remained, said IATA director general and CEO Tony Tyler.
Southwest, Alaska Top Airline Brand Equity
According to the 2014 Harris Poll EquiTrend, Southwest and Alaska Airlines were the top value and full-service airlines in terms of brand equity (click to enlarge):
The EquiTrend measures the Brand Equity of more than 1,500 brands across 170 categories on three key factors of Brand Equity: Familiarity, Quality, and Purchase Consideration.
Best-Performing Hotels for Guest Experience
Customer experience management solution provider Medallia has released a look at the top-performing hotel brands in terms of guest experience, based on an analysis of major guest review sites.
Here's a breakdown of the report (click to enlarge):
Broken down by niche, the hotel brands with the best-rated experience were Park Hyatt, Omni and Outrigger.
Source: Medallia Social Media Hotels Report
Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for the latest travel industry news, trends and research.