Travelzoo (NASDAQ:TZOO) Q4 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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Christina Ciocca: Sure. So in 2024, we’re looking to add a couple of additional promotional activities in sales. We typically have one in January and one in July and one in November, and we are thinking to add 1 or 2 additional to see how that does over the course of the year. We try to obviously space them out so we don’t cannibalize ourselves with each of the sales. We’re also, as I mentioned, looking to expand into new markets. Our first will be Canada, and we’re looking forward to seeing the metrics and numbers for that new market. We anticipate that we’ll find kind of better marketing efficiencies there, which will allow us to grow well and grow profitably.

Jim Goss: Okay. And maybe my final question. To the extent that you now have a subscription plan for both the core service and Jack’s Flight Club, is there any thinking about potentially creating a dual or kind of like a combination membership where someone might be able to get, say, a discount on some of — both of them and then gain access to both and then you pick up subscriber base that way?

Holger Bartel: Yes, it’s a great idea, Jim. We don’t do it yet, but we are looking to it for the future. Very good idea, of course.

Operator: Your next question comes from the line of Steve Silver from Argus Research.

Steve Silver: Congratulations to everybody on the strong results in Europe and the return to profitability there. It’s great to see. My question is also about the [Technical Difficulty] back now, Holger, you had mentioned a little while ago that might be some near-term softness, particularly in North America as a result of the conflict in the wars going on, both in Ukraine and now in Israel and the Middle East. Just trying to get a sense as to the timing of your announcement of the membership model. I know spoken about it over the past several years since the Jack’s Flight Club acquisition was first announced, that the company would be looking to move towards a subscriber model over time. But given the fact that there is just a lot of turmoil in certain regions around the world, I was just wondering if there’s any insight you could share in terms of the thought process is to — moving to the membership fee now as compared to possibly just seeing how the global situation unfolds over time.

Holger Bartel: Yes, Steve, one is not really related to the order at all. In fact, as I said, we saw a couple of advertisers becoming a bit more cautious because of the wars in Ukraine and Israel. However, we still see strong demand and interest from our members in this — in general in traveling. So it didn’t really affect our decision. And we’re very happy that we made the decision to move to this new paid model so far. We are — yes — we are really fine with the timing. So I didn’t have any — I didn’t really see any connection of the two.

Steve Silver: Okay. That’s helpful. And just one more. I know you had mentioned the share repurchases and that you expect that to continue moving forward and just the concept that you’ve spoken about over time in terms of META being grown very diligently and with discipline. I’m just trying to get a sense, as META does ramp up, do you expect to be able to grow META to where you want it to go while maintaining modest investment levels? Or would you expect that at the appropriate time, there would be more resources put into META to eventually grow that unit to where you want it to be?

Holger Bartel: It’s the first. We have always said we want to manage it and grow it financially in a prudent manner, and we will continue to do so. We are generating good cash flow. So that’s why we are planning to complete our share – share repurchase program.

Operator: Your last question comes from the line of Ed Woo from Ascendiant.

Ed Woo : Congratulations on the quarter. Two areas in the travel industry that’s growing really rapidly is alternative accommodations as well as bookings for activities. Can you talk about how you guys are trying to be active in that space?

Holger Bartel: It was not an area that we actually did much in the past, but now that we are up and we are paid membership model, we are speaking with some companies about partnerships in the future. So we are better positioned now to enter this conversation. So thanks for asking this, Ed.

Operator: Okay. I’ll now turn the call over back to Mr. Holger Bartel.

Holger Bartel: Dear investors, thank you so much for your time and support today. We look forward to speaking with you again next quarter. Have a great day.

Operator: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. This concludes today’s teleconference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. Have a nice day.

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