Orbitz Insider Index notes that travel suppliers are offering deep discounts for the upcoming Labor Day weekend – this translates into big opportunities for travelers and travel affiliates alike.

Traditionally, holiday weekends are a time when airlines, hotels, cruise lines, tour operators and other travel suppliers are able to mark-up their products at a premium.  However, this year, the economic and competitive dynamics are such that last minute travelers looking for affordable deals for a Labor Day weekend-getaway won’t be disappointed.

In their latest edition of the Orbitz Insider Index, this mega online travel agency (OTA) provides some very precise data about where Americans are planning to spend their holiday weekend, as well as where those who have procrastinated in making their travel plans can “…find some of the biggest savings for a late-summer escape” to many of the top U.S. destinations.

The most recent results from the Orbitz Insider Index reveals that while Las Vegas and New York retain the top rankings in their Index, there has been a bit of reshuffling in the remaining ranks.  Additionally, the survey brings to light the considerable year-over-year drop in the average cost of a hotel in many of the top traveler destinations, with the biggest savings noted in Seattle (-33%), Honolulu (-26%), Cancun (-24%) and New York City (-22%).

Here’s a snapshot of Orbitz Insider Index Top 10 Labor Day Weekend Destinations*

2009 Rank


Destination

Avg Daily Hotel Rate

2008 Rank**


Destination

Avg Daily Hotel Rate

1

Las Vegas, NV

$108

1

Las Vegas, NV

$136

2

New York, NY

$191

2

New York, NY

$245

3

Cancun, Mexico

$151

3

Chicago, IL

$154

4

Honolulu, HI

$111

4

Cancun, Mexico

$199

5

Chicago, IL

$127

5

Atlanta, GA

$148

6

Atlanta, GA

$121

6

San Francisco, CA

$138

7

San Francisco, CA

$142

7

Seattle, WA

$178

8

Seattle, WA

$118

8

Anaheim, CA

$111

9

San Diego, CA

$195

9

Honolulu, HI

$151

10

Paris, France

$164

10

Boston, MA

$205

* Based on Air, Hotel & Package net bookings as of August 7, 2009 on Orbitz.com for travel from September 4 – 7, 2009.

** Based on Air, Hotel & Package bookings on Orbitz.com for travel from August 29 – September 1, 2008.

Orbitz also provides several examples of the types of deals available for last-minute travel shoppers (and which travel affiliates can sell through their travel affiliate program); each of the following is 3-night package (airfare + hotel) that’s available on Orbitz.com over the forthcoming Labor Day weekend (prices shown are person, as of August 18, 2009):

  • New York to Tampa –  at the 4-Star Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, from $389
  • Atlanta to Chicago – at the 4-Star Palmer House Hilton, from $394
  • Chicago to Las Vegas – at the 4-Star Palms Casino Resort, from $739

Commenting in the press release that accompanied the Insider Index’ conclusions and recommendations, Heather Leisman, senior director of merchandising for Orbitz Worldwide, said “Labor Day weekend may mark the end of the summer season, but it’s just the beginning of great shoulder season travel deals,” adding that “With discounts and promotions in top destinations around the country, consumers looking to take a late summer or early fall trip will find plenty of reasons to travel.”

TravelDividends agrees, but we’d add that these same discounts and promotions are also provide plenty of incentives for travel affiliates to sell Orbitz (and other ‘travel affiliate friendly’ travel suppliers’ products and services) both for the upcoming Labor Day weekend and beyond.

Orbitz offers one of the top travel affiliate programs among the OTAs. If you currently are not an Orbitz travel affiliate, and you’d like to learn more about their travel affiliate program, click here; or, if you want to to enroll in their program, visit their sign-up page on LinkShare, their preferred affiliate network provider.

As always, TravelDividends looks forward to feedback from our readers…if you have any thoughts on comments regarding the findings from Orbitz Insider Index’s findings and recommendations, the OTA sector in general or about today’s blog post, please send us an email or leave a comment.  Many Thanks!