Mr Lofty Belhassine This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. e-tourism Newsletter eMetrics

   www.etourismnewsletter.com/arc - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/21/2003   Last Visited: 8/21/2003

   Lofty Belhassine, who is used to challenges and who also created Air Liberté, launched his own concept of online travel agency and dedicated channel television in November 1999: LibertyTV.com.
   
   Two years later, LibertyTV.com is being broadcast in Europe in as many as 33 million houses through Astra and Eutelsat but also through the cable via Noos in France.
   
   In 2001, the company lost €8 million for an income worth €14.7 million, made up €2.2 million resulting from advertising income and €12.5 million from travel bookings.
   
   Last March, when I interviewed Lofty Belhassine, LibertyTV.com manager, he told me that he expects his company to reach break-even point by the second quarter of 2002.
   
   Nevertheless, these optimistic forecasts will imply a huge increase of its income and a strong decrease of its expenses, implying that his customers will have to change the way they behave radically when making a purchase.
   
   Indeed, in 2001, the percentage of transactions that were made directly on LibertyTV.com Internet web site was 15% (for 85% through its call centre). Lofty Belhassine expects these online transactions to reach 25% in 2002.
   
   Such an increase of the online transactions will nevertheless imply a strong improvement of the site's current abilities in terms of eShopability.
   
   In order to become profitable in 2002, Lofty Belhassine expects a 227% increase of its advertising revenues (€5 million when it was only €2.2 million in 2001) and a 520% increase of its travel transactions (€65 million are expected in 2002 when they only accounted for €12.5 million in 2001).
   
   There is no doubt that such an expected growth might well seem rather optimistic. But Lofty Belhassine seemed very sure of himself and we will soon know whether or not he will be able to honour his bet.
   ...
   Nevertheless, Mr Belhassine told me some interesting facts about the way the current turnover is distributed geographically: the first country that contributes to LibertyTV's growth is Germany as it alone accounts for as much as 35% of the travel agency's turnover.Just after Germany, we have Holland and Belgium that account for just under 30% of LibertyTV.com turnover.

2. 2. e-tourism Newsletter eMetrics

   www.etourismnewsletter.com/arc - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/24/2002   Last Visited: 5/17/2003

   Lofty Belhassine, who is used to challenges and who also created Air Liberté, launched his own concept of online travel agency and dedicated channel television in November 1999: LibertyTV.com.
   
   Two years later, LibertyTV.com is being broadcast in Europe in as many as 33 million houses through Astra and Eutelsat but also through the cable via Noos in France.
   
   In 2001, the company lost €8 million for an income worth €14.7 million, made up €2.2 million resulting from advertising income and €12.5 million from travel bookings.
   
   Last March, when I interviewed Lofty Belhassine, LibertyTV.com manager, he told me that he expects his company to reach break-even point by the second quarter of 2002.
   
   Nevertheless, these optimistic forecasts will imply a huge increase of its income and a strong decrease of its expenses, implying that his customers will have to change the way they behave radically when making a purchase.
   
   Indeed, in 2001, the percentage of transactions that were made directly on LibertyTV.com Internet web site was 15% (for 85% through its call centre). Lofty Belhassine expects these online transactions to reach 25% in 2002.
   
   Such an increase of the online transactions will nevertheless imply a strong improvement of the site's current abilities in terms of eShopability.
   
   In order to become profitable in 2002, Lofty Belhassine expects a 227% increase of its advertising revenues (€5 million when it was only €2.2 million in 2001) and a 520% increase of its travel transactions (€65 million are expected in 2002 when they only accounted for €12.5 million in 2001).
   
   There is no doubt that such an expected growth might well seem rather optimistic. But Lofty Belhassine seemed very sure of himself and we will soon know whether or not he will be able to honour his bet.
   ...
   Nevertheless, Mr Belhassine told me some interesting facts about the way the current turnover is distributed geographically: the first country that contributes to LibertyTV's growth is Germany as it alone accounts for as much as 35% of the travel agency's turnover.Just after Germany, we have Holland and Belgium that account for just under 30% of LibertyTV.com turnover.