Unplugged No More: 25-Country Expedia.ca/Egencia Study Examines How Mobile Devices Impact Travel

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - Oct 15, 2014) - Expedia.ca®, Canada's leading online travel provider*, and Egencia®, the business travel brand of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE), today released the results of the 2014 Expedia.ca/Egencia Mobile Index, a global study of mobile-device-related behaviour and preferences among travellers in North America, South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The study revealed the deep dependence modern travellers have on their mobile devices -- defined as a smartphone, tablet, e-reader, laptop or smartwatch. Worldwide, 94 per cent of people bring at least one mobile device when they take personal vacations, and 97 per cent bring at least one device on business trips; results were consistent for Canadians.

"We are entering a new era where people are moving fluidly across desktop, phone, tablet, even wearables as they dream, plan, book and then ultimately take their trip," said Sean Shannon, Managing Director, Expedia Canada. "Travellers are not only researching and booking trips on mobile, but they're also complimenting their meals, showcasing their adventures and capturing every trip detail. This is the new normal when it comes to travel."

The survey takes a closer look at multi-device habits amongst both leisure and business travellers worldwide to better understand how technology is being used throughout the travel journey.

"For business travellers, mobile devices are increasingly required not only for getting the job done, but also for making corporate travel smoother and more productive. We wanted to understand more about how business travellers integrate mobile functionality into their trip so we can develop the best experience on whatever device they use," says Rob Greyber, president of Egencia.

Mobile devices effectively serve as a concierge, guide and companion for travellers, who rely on smartphones and other mobile devices at every stage.
On the whole, 76 per cent of global travellers say that their smartphones are "very important/critical" to their daily lives. Seventy per cent say the same about their laptop and 48 per cent say the same about their tablet device. Indians are the most dependent on smartphones, with 95 per cent categorizing the device as "very important/critical." The world's least smartphone-dependent people can be found in Norway, where only 57 per cent consider their smartphone to be critical/very important. Canadians report being in-between the two extremes with 67 per cent saying their smartphone is a very important/critical aspect of their day-to-day.

When it comes to keeping connected, almost one in five Canadians (19 per cent) use their smartphones more when they travel than they do at home, almost half as much (35 per cent) compared to other travellers around the world.

Complimentary WiFi Considered Top Hotel Perk
Given the ubiquity of mobile devices in travel, travellers increasingly prioritize WiFi accessibility. Fifty-six per cent of travellers worldwide report that WiFi availability and pricing impact their purchasing decision when booking travel, slightly more than noted by Canadian travellers (54 per cent). When asked to rank mobile-related hotel amenities, leisure travellers ranked "Complimentary WiFi" first, ahead of high-speed Internet access, wired in-room connectivity and a business centre with computers and printers. Business travellers deem complimentary WiFi even more important, with 86 per cent of global travellers ranking it as very or somewhat important when booking a hotel for business travel. When it comes to Canadians, business travellers find complimentary WiFi even more important than their international counterparts with 89 per cent referencing this amenity as very or somewhat important.

When they are on the road, the following mobile app/device functions are the most frequently utilized by both leisure and business travellers around the world:

While laptops and desktop computers are the most common way to book travel, 78 per cent of business travellers have used their smartphone in a travel planning capacity and 71 per cent use tablets. The most common uses for both devices are managing itineraries (37 per cent and 32 per cent) and researching destinations (35 per cent and 32 per cent). Other popular activities are, shopping for hotels, receiving flight alerts and checking in for flights. Globally, 28 per cent of employed adults who own a mobile device have used a smartphone or tablet to book a hotel.

Expedia.ca travel app offers convenience to travellers on the go
Available for free for both smartphone and tablet users, the Expedia travel app provides real time travel booking options and updates for Canadians on-the-go, allowing travellers to stay connected at every stage of their trip -- from booking to check-in and beyond. The Expedia travel app not only features more than 400 airline partners and 290,000 hotel partners -- but also boasts mobile-exclusive savings. In addition, Canadians can also download free premium content on a monthly basis via the Media Lounge section of the free app.

Egencia® TripNavigator is the business traveller's personal assistant
Egencia TripNavigator for Android and iPhone includes last-minute hotel booking, real-time travel alerts, flight displays, online check-in and other features that enhance the modern travel experience.

The 2014 Expedia.ca/Egencia Mobile Index was commissioned by Expedia and conducted online by Northstar, a global research and consulting firm. The study was conducted among 8,556 employed adults across 25 countries.

About Expedia Canada
Expedia.ca is the nation's most-visited full-service online travel provider. To help Canadians plan and purchase travel, Expedia.ca offers the best combination of scheduled and charter flights, car and hotel reservations, vacation packages, destination activities, cruises, and travel insurance. Expedia customers are supported by customer support agents available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via a toll-free number and email response.

Follow Expedia.ca on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and download the free Expedia Mobile App.

Expedia, Expedia.ca and the Airplane logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners. © 2014 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. CST: 2029030-5030

About Egencia
Egencia is a leading full-service travel management company delivering innovative business travel technology and expert local service to more than 10,000 clients in 64 countries around the world. As part of Expedia, Inc., one of the world's largest travel companies, Egencia provides forward-looking companies with the ability to drive compliance and cost savings in their travel programs, while meeting the needs and requirements of the modern business traveler. For more information please visit us at www.egencia.com or connect with us on Twitter @Egencia.

© 2014 Egencia, LLC. All rights reserved. Egencia, Egencia TripNavigator and the Egencia logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Expedia group in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners. CST # 2083922-50

About Northstar
NORTHSTAR is a strategic marketing insights and consulting firm that aligns leading edge, customized research techniques and cultural context with proprietary and proven strategic marketing frameworks and models to drive insights to impact. Northstar's suite of services relate to the most critical elements of brand, customer and marketing strategy, with sector expertise in travel and tourism, retail, automotive, CPG, food & beverage, financial services, pharma / health care, transportation and fashion / luxury. For more information, please go to www.northstarhub.com.

SOURCE: Expedia.ca
Web site: www.expedia.ca

*Source: comScore Media Metrix, Canada, Online Travel Agents Category, Jan - Dec 2013