Olympics Tickets Disappointment Likely To Lead To Holiday Booking Uplift

LONDON, June 6, 2011 -

- www.arena-media.co.uk

April was a terrible sales period for many in the travel industry due to
a combination of the recession, Easter and the Royal Wedding. May has been
marginally better for sales with encouraging signs that consumers are booking
holidays again.

Recent research by Arena Media (www.arena-media.co.uk/) (the
Havas-owned media planning and buying group) has also identified the Olympic
Games ticket ballot as having a significant impact on major purchases such as
holidays.

In the survey of over 1,000 UK adults, 30% of those surveyed said that
bidding for Olympics tickets had made them hold off spending on major
purchases such as holidays. With the vast majority of money already taken
from accounts in the first round ballot, the survey also found that few
people have got more than 20% of their preferred allocation.

Whilst not good news for those wanting to attend the Olympic Games, it is
great news for travel companies as these consumers have now freed up
significant sums of money that may be able to spend on booking their summer
holiday.

The key headlines from the research show that:

- 63% of those who bid for tickets got none of their
allocation, whilst 35% got some of what they wanted with only 2% getting most
or all.

- 75% of respondents will wait for 2nd round ballot options
before deciding what next to do in pursuit of tickets.

- Most respondents appear to have got only 1-2 events at most.
Those spending over GBP1,000 were more likely to get tickets than those
spending less, but spending more did not necessarily mean more tickets.

- Half of respondents thought the ballot process was unfair
whilst a further 30% thought it was unfair but that it was the best available
option.

Chris Armond, Group Business Director at Arena Media, said: "The
uncertainty with the ballot process made people hesitant about making major
purchases until they found out how much they were committed to. With the vast
majority of people being disappointed in the ballot, and more realistic about
their chances of getting any tickets, many people will be more willing to
book their summer holiday now"

About Arena Media

Arena Media was launched in 2008 following an investment from
Arena Media Communications, part of Havas Media. Originally founded in 1990
as BLM, it is the only media agency to have won five IPA Advertising
Effectiveness Awards. In 1998 it launched digital agency, Quantum, which grew
to be the UK's second biggest independent digital agency. In 2009 Quantum was
voted Digital Agency of the Year for the second year running. Arena Media
also comprises of Arena Azure, a specialist in the toy and kids sector that
launched in 2002.

Arena Media's clients include: Bourne Leisure, Character
Options, Domino's Pizza, ESPN, Legal and General, Mirror Group Newspapers, Mr
& Mrs Smith, Next Directory, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Swiftcover
Insurance, Tesco Personal Finance, Thomas Cook and Sports Direct.

Arena is Havas Media's fastest-growing tailor-made
communications network and now operates in eight markets: UK, Spain,
Portugal, France, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Colombia. In most markets
established prior to 2008, Arena is ranked within the top five agencies.
Arena's global client list include brands such as Santander, Movistar
(Telefonica), Wal Mart, Bwin, Damm Group, Aero Mexico, Bebidas, Fox Channel,
Paris, Bayer, Parmalat, Quala, Pritty Cola, Comunidad de Madrid (feria de
artesania &Plan Fico, and Cetelem) and Mitsubishi.

For more information contact Elkie Brooks at Arena Media on +44(0)207-182-6400 or elkie.brooks at arena-media.co.uk