The Expedia group, one of the world's largest online travel companies, reported today at Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CHTA) an increase in travel demand of 20 percent year over year for the Caribbean via the company’s platforms during the third quarter of 2015 with significant growth reported across the entire region.

The company also reports that Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic remains the top producing market in the Caribbean with more than 15 percent growth year over year (yoy) in the third quarter of 2015 when compared to the same period in 2014. San Juan, Puerto Rico (nearly 15 percent growth); Aruba (nearly 30 percent growth); and Montego Bay, Jamaica (more than 10 percent growth) follow as leading in-demand markets on all Expedia group platforms.

New data from Expedia indicates that the United States remains the key feeder market for the Caribbean with a reported growth of nearly 20 percent to Caribbean destinations. Other international markets reporting substantial year over year growth in the third quarter of 2015 include:

• United Kingdom, with nearly 45 percent growth

• Canada, with nearly 10 percent growth

• France, with over 10 percent growth

During the third quarter of 2015, the company saw large increases throughout some Eastern Caribbean destinations including Antigua, with nearly 50 percent growth. The Expedia group also reports a significant year over year growth during the third quarter 2015 for Barbados, with over 50 percent increase in demand; and U.S. Virgin Islands (made up of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John), with nearly 25 percent growth.

Based on customer shopping behavior from Q4 2015, searches for travel to The Bahamas in 2016 are up over 70 percent compared to last year. The top three markets searching for Bahamas travel are the U.S. (up 80 percent yoy), Canada (up 70 percent yoy), and the UK (up 50 percent yoy).

Looking forward, shopping data for 2016 looks promising with nearly 70 percent increase in shoppers for the Caribbean up in Q4 2015 compared to Q4 of last year. This is punctuated by the 300 percent shopping increase to Kingston, Jamaica; 150 percent shopping increase to Dominica; and 130 percent shopping increase to St. Barthelemy.

The Expedia group’s market management team is pleased to attend Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the destination’s most influential industry event organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), from January 21-23, 2016 in Paradise Island, The Bahamas. During the conference, the company’s market management team will discuss trends and new technology tools and marketing capabilities designed to provide increased visibility and incremental demand for hotel partners. Moreover, the team is expected to share recent successes while also meeting with valued hotel partners and reinforcing the company’s commitment to the region.

“The Caribbean is an important, ever-growing market for Expedia group with more than 2,700 hotel partners currently in the region, and more than 1,000 new partnerships in 2015 alone,” said Demetrius Canton, Director of Lodging Partner Services for the Caribbean, the Expedia group. “We continue to focus on how we can better support our hotel partners and provide them with the ability to generate revenue and drive demand.”

By working with Expedia group, hotels in the Caribbean gain exposure from the more than 200 travel booking sites in more than 75 countries in 35 language, in addition to a myriad of mobile sites and apps, from brands such as Expedia®, Hotels.com®, Travelocity®, Orbitz®, Hotwire®, Egencia®, ® Affiliate Network and others.

About the Expedia group
The Expedia group (NASDAQ: EXPE) is one of the world’s leading travel companies, with an extensive brand portfolio that includes leading online travel brands, such as:

• Expedia.com®, a leading full service online travel company with localized sites in 32 countries
• Hotels.com®, the hotel specialist that offers Hotels.com® Rewards and Secret Prices through its mobile booking apps and localized websites in more than 65 countries
• Hotwire®, a leading discount travel site that offers Hot Rate® Hotels, Hot Rate® Cars and Hot Rate® Airfares, as well as vacation packages
• Travelocity®, a pioneer in online travel and a leading online travel agency in the US and Canada
• Orbitz Worldwide, a global travel portfolio including Orbitz, ebookers, HotelClub and CheapTickets, brands and business-to-business offerings, including Orbitz Partner Network and Orbitz for Business
• Egencia®, a leading corporate travel management company
• Venere.com™, the online hotel reservation specialist in Europe
• trivago®, a leading online hotel search with sites in 52 countries worldwide
• Wotif Group,  a leading portfolio of travel brands, including Wotif.com®, Wotif.co.nz, lastminute.com.au®, lastminute.co.nz and travel.com.au®
• Expedia Local Expert®, a provider of online and in-market concierge services, activities, experiences and ground transportation in hundreds of destinations worldwide
• Classic Vacations®, a top luxury travel specialist
• Expedia® CruiseShipCenters®, a provider of exceptional value and expert advice for travelers booking cruises and vacations through its network of 200 retail travel agency franchises across North America
• CarRentals.com™, the premier car rental booking company on the web

The company delivers consumers value in leisure and business travel, drives incremental demand and direct bookings to travel suppliers, and provides advertisers the opportunity to reach a highly valuable audience of in-market consumers through Expedia® Media Solutions. Expedia also powers bookings for thousands of affiliates, including some of the world’s leading airlines, top consumer brands and high traffic websites through Expedia Affiliate Network. For corporate and industry news and views, visit us at www.expediainc.com or follow us on Twitter @expediainc.