Millennial Media: Travel vertical up 200% YoY

"Travel was the number three vertical on the Top 10 Global Brand Advertising Vertical ranking," writes the company. "While present among the top verticals throughout 2011, travel advertisers were particularly active in Q1 as they targeted mobile users with post-holiday getaway ideas and travel deals."

According to the data from Millennial Media:

• Travel advertisers spent 200% more YoY on the mobile category
• 62% use mobile to sustain an in-market presence
• 57% of travel campaigns, run with Millennial Media, were from Book Agents/Travel sites
• 18% from hotel/resort or cruise lines

As for how travel marketers are engaging their users, 59% are using app downloads as a campaign action, 22% ask for subscriptions and 20% point users to mobile social media profiles. It isn't just vacationers who are targeted with mobile travel ads. Millennial Media reports advertisers were three times more likely to target business travelers as vacation travelers.

Increased spending is great, you say, but what about the return on investment? That is quite high, too. Data out from eMarketer shows 85% of vacationers are staying in touch via email throughout vacation times, 67% are using GPS/Maps via mobile device while traveling and 62% are searching for local restaurants/attractions while on vacation. These 'mobile travelers' are also staying in touch via social media - sharing pictures and updating statuses - via mobile and are using mobile to stay up on entertainment - reading, streaming video, etc.

Tags: Millennial Media, mobile marketing, mobile travel, mobile trends, travel ads, travel marketing