MARKETING

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) slashed its forecast for airline industry profits in 2011, citing the recent surge in oil and jet kerosene prices. The association warned of substantial deterioration in profits if rising energy costs significantly weakens economic growth.

Travelzoo Inc. (NASDAQ: TZOO), a publisher of travel newsletters and websites, continues to quickly ramp up its Local Deals business, generating an estimated $2.1 million in net revenues in February, compared with estimated net revenues of $1.3 million in January, $1.5 million in December, $1 million in November, and $650,000 in October, Wedbush Securities said.

The New York Times Co forecast higher first-quarter expenses and said February print advertising revenue fell, though print ad trends are improving.

Costco Wholesale Corp posted a 16 percent jump in quarterly profit, boosted by strong sales during the holiday season and higher gasoline prices.

U.S.-based discount coupon site Groupon.com has launched a group-buying site in China, called Gaopeng.com.

Daily-deals website Groupon goes live in China on Monday, bringing its popular brand of Internet retail to the world's most populous nation.

JCPenney, Best Buy, Hyundai, and Livingsocial.com have all released a preview or description of their advertisement campaigns for the upcoming Academy Awards, hoping to create a buzz and thus earn more eyeballs during Hollywood's biggest night.

South African petrol pump prices in the main inland commercial region will increase by 43 cents a litre, or 4.8 percent, from March 2, the government said on Friday.

U.S. consumers could see food costs spiking to levels seen during the food crisis of 2008 as higher commodity and energy prices force companies to raise prices on products lining grocery store shelves, the Agriculture Department said on Thursday.

There has been a significant increase of 500 percent in demand for affordable luxury brands, mainly including El Dorado and Azul Hotels, in the Caribbean and Mexico over the last two years.

Ira Kalb, professor of Marketing at the Marshall School of Business elaborates on BNET on the concrete branding lessons that youth icons Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber present for marketing professionals around the world.

Virgin Media posted its strongest ever full-year financial results and said it expected to maintain the performance after adding a solid number of new subscribers and extracting record customer spend.

The National Retail Federation said it expects U.S. retail sales to rise 4 percent in 2011, continuing a trend of improving consumer spending last year that intensified over the holidays.

Sales at U.S. retailers slowed in January as extreme weather in large parts of the country kept some shoppers at home, but the underlying improving trend in spending remained intact.

Groupon decided to pull its series of Super Bowl ads which garnered much controversy.

Looking for a hot idea for a Valentine’s Day promotional giveaway or business gift? Look no further!

Daily deals website Groupon said on Thursday that Starbucks Corp Chief Executive Howard Schultz had joined its board of directors and that his venture capital firm had taken a stake in the company.

The ongoing anti-government Egypt protests now has a face in Wael Ghonim, the Egyptian-born Google marketing executive who first hit the headlines after he disappeared into police custody.

Sara Lee said on Tuesday it would be raising prices again on its food and beverages, which could continue to affect sales, as it struggles with soaring commodity costs.

Groupon defends the Tibet ad aired during Super Bowl asserting that it takes all social causes extremely seriously.

With only about 30 percent of Americans holding a valid passport, it is estimated that very few Americans travel abroad for vacation or business, according to the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism (OTTI).