According to a PhoCusWright survey cited in the eTravel Report, $13 billion was spent on online travel bookings in the U.S. during 2000, up from $7 billion recorded in 1999.

The eTravel Report, citing estimates from 30 research organizations, reveals that PhoCusWright predicts $20.2 billion will be spent by year-end 2001, Gomez Advisors estimates $20 billion in online travel bookings, while Forrester Research and Jupiter Research project $16.7 billion and $14.8 billion, respectively.

�Travel�s dominance of the online market makes sense, given that the internet offers a near-perfect medium for travel bookings,� said Noah Elkin, eMarketer senior analyst. �It allows both leisure and business travelers an unprecedented degree of control - it�s convenient, efficient and almost always offers discounts to those book their travel on the internet.�

eMarketer expects the momentum to continue, predicting rapid growth in online travel bookings and revenues in the years ahead. According to the eTravel Report, several factors will continue to fuel growth in the online travel market:

• On the internet, travelers can easily and quickly find essential data about fares, schedules, tour packages, hotel accommodations and car rental locations and prices 

• The average purchase price of a travel product is considerably higher than most other online purchase categories, such as books, music, toys, flowers and clothing 

• Given the high cost of travel products relative to other purchase categories, online buyers tend to comparison-shop for the best prices and schedules 

• Online travel products are relatively easy to deliver (through e-tickets or hotel reservations, etc.) and don�t require costly and complicated delivery services 

The eTravel Report offers the most comprehensive and accurate picture available of online travel services and bookings in the world today. The report focuses on the consumer and business travel segments and examines the growth expected in the online travel category around the world over the next few years, as well as the implications of that growth for offline travel-related companies and services.