N7220 Travel Agency and Tour Arrangement Services

Challenge for Helloworld chief

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Original article by Lisa Allen
The Australian – Page: 21 : 24-Jul-14

Helloworld has been named "Best Travel Agency Group" by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents. However its rebranding of the Harvey World Travel, Travelscene, Jetset Travel and Travelworld networks it owns has meant the likely loss of 100-plus individual agencies unhappy at the change. This has forced Helloworld to warn of a 2014-15 EBITDAI decline, by as much as $A10m. Recently appointed CEO Elizabeth Gaines, who sits on the board of Fortescue Metals Group as well, is confident the share price will recover after falling to $A0.26

CORPORATES
HELLOWORLD LIMITED – ASX HLO|FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG|THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF TRAVEL AGENTS LIMITED

Expedia’s offer brings up many Wotifs for sector

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Original article by Adir Shiffman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 15-Jul-14

The acquisition of Australian-listed online travel bookings provider Wotif.com by Expedia is not a positive development for Australia. The deal is likely to have a negative impact on competition in the hotel bookings sector. There will be fewer jobs in the industry and a loss of expertise and talent. It is surprising that Wotif capitulated so quickly and accepted the takeover offer. Several years ago, Wotif was considered to be in the same category as SEEK and REA Group

CORPORATES
WOTIF.COM HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX WTF, EXPEDIA INCORPORATED, SEEK LIMITED – ASX SEK, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA, BOOKING.COM BV, AGODA COMPANY PTE LTD, ORBITZ INCORPORATED, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, TRAVEL.COM.AU LIMITED, HOTELS.COM LP, TRIPADVISOR LLC, HOTELCLUB, DISRUPTIVE INVESTMENT GROUP LIMITED – ASX DVI, CATAPULT SPORTS PTY LTD

Expedia launches $703m takeover bid for Wotif.com

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Original article by Perry Williams, Madeleine Heffernan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15/20 : 8-Jul-14

US-based online travel bookings group Expedia has launched a takeover bid for Wotif.com. Investors have been offered $A3.30 a share in a bid worth $A703 million in total. Wotif co-founder Graeme Wood as well as CEO and MD Scott Blume have recommended shareholders accept the offer. Blume said competition in the sector was so intense that it was "eat or be eaten" for Wotif

CORPORATES
WOTIF.COM HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX WTF, EXPEDIA INCORPORATED, BOOKING.COM BV, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, PARADICE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, SUMITOMO MITSUI FINANCIAL GROUP INCORPORATED, WILSON HTM LIMITED, HYPERION ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, UQ HOLDINGS, GUARDIAN MEDIA GROUP PLC, CCZ EQUITIES PTY LTD