Travelzoo Reports Fourth Quarter 2023 Results

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Travelzoo® (NASDAQ:TZOO):

Revenue of $21.1 million, up 14% year-over-year
Consolidated operating profit of $4.5 million
Non-GAAP consolidated operating profit of $5.2 million
Cash flow from operations of $1.4 million
Earnings per share (EPS) of $0.27

Travelzoo, the club for travel enthusiasts, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023. Consolidated revenue was $21.1 million, up 14% from $18.6 million year-over-year. In constant currencies, revenue was $20.8 million, up 12% year-over-year. Travelzoo’s reported revenue consists of advertising revenues and commissions, derived from and generated in connection with purchases made by Travelzoo members.

Net income attributable to Travelzoo was $3.7 million for Q4 2023, or $0.27 per share, compared with $0.20 in the prior-year period. Net income attributable to Travelzoo from continuing operations was $3.3 million for Q4 2023, or $0.24 per share, compared with $0.20 in the prior-year period.

Non-GAAP operating profit was $5.2 million. Non-GAAP operating profit excludes amortization of intangibles ($0.4 million) and stock option expenses ($0.4 million). Please refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the tabular reconciliation below.

“Q4 concluded a strong year for Travelzoo, with each quarter achieving year-over-year revenue growth, profitability and positive cash flow from operations,” said Holger Bartel, Travelzoo’s Global CEO. “We will continue to leverage Travelzoo’s global reach, trusted brand, and strong relationships with top travel suppliers to negotiate more exclusive offers for members. It is in times of large increases in travel prices that Travelzoo is most valuable for consumers. Travelzoo members enjoy high quality travel experiences that represent outstanding value.”

“With more than 30 million members, 8 million mobile app users, and 5 million social media followers, Travelzoo is loved by travel enthusiasts who are affluent, active, and open to new experiences.”

Cash Position

As of December 31, 2023, consolidated cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $16.4 million. Net cash provided by operations was $1.4 million.

Travelzoo North America

North America business segment revenue increased 5% year-over-year to $13.8 million. Operating profit for Q4 2023 was $4.0 million, or 29% of revenue, compared to operating profit of $4.2 million in the prior-year period.

Travelzoo Europe

Europe business segment revenue increased 34% year-over-year to $6.3 million. In constant currencies, Europe business segment revenue increased 27% year-over-year. Operating profit for Q4 2023 was $832,000, or 13% of revenue, compared to operating profit of $42,000 in the prior-year period.

Jack’s Flight Club 

Jack’s Flight Club business segment revenue, which is impacted by the accounting for an intragroup marketing agreement, increased 11% year-over-year to $949,000. Revenue from unaffiliated customers increased 29% year-over-year to $1.1 million. Jack’s Flight Club is a membership subscription service in which Travelzoo has a 60% ownership interest. The number of premium subscribers increased 21% year-over-year. Revenue from subscriptions is recognized monthly pro rata over the subscription period (quarterly, semi-annually, annually). Non-GAAP operating loss for Q4 2023 was $61,000, compared to a non-GAAP operating profit of $220,000 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP operating loss excludes amortization of intangibles ($0.2 million) related to the acquisition of Travelzoo’s ownership interest in Jack’s Flight Club in 2020. The Q4 2023 operating loss was caused by marketing expenses in connection with growth in members.

New Initiatives

New Initiatives business segment revenue, which includes Licensing and Travelzoo META, was $155,000. Operating loss for Q4 2023 was $104,000.

In June 2020, Travelzoo entered into a royalty-bearing licensing agreement with a local licensee in Japan for the exclusive use of Travelzoo’s brand, business model, and members in Japan. In August of 2020, Travelzoo entered into a royalty-bearing licensing agreement with a local licensee in Australia for the exclusive use of Travelzoo’s brand, business models, and members in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. Under these arrangements, Travelzoo’s existing members in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Singapore will continue to be owned by Travelzoo as the licensor. Travelzoo recorded $23,000 in licensing revenue from the licensee in Japan in Q4 2023. Travelzoo recorded $9,000 in licensing revenue from the licensee in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore in Q4 2023. Licensing revenue is expected to increase going forward.

Members and Subscribers 

As of December 31, 2023, we were 31.1 million members worldwide, up from 30.4 million as of December 31, 2022. In North America, Travelzoo had 16.2 million unduplicated members as of December 31, 2023, consistent with December 31, 2022. In Europe, Travelzoo had 9.2 million unduplicated members as of December 31, 2023, up from 9.0 million as of December 31, 2022. Jack’s Flight Club had 2.4 million subscribers as of December 31, 2023, up from 1.9 million as of December 31, 2022.

Discontinued Operations

In March 2020, Travelzoo decided to exit its Asia Pacific business and operate it as a licensing business going forward. Consequently, the Asia Pacific business has been classified as discontinued operations. Certain reclassifications have been made for current and prior periods between the continued operations and the discontinued operations in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Income Taxes

A provision of $1.6 million for income taxes was recorded for Q4 2023, compared to an income tax expense of $1.1 million in the prior-year period. Travelzoo intends to utilize available net operating losses (NOLs) to largely offset its actual tax liability for Q4 2023.

Looking Ahead 

For Q1 2024, we expect continued growth in revenue, albeit at a smaller pace than 2023. We expect higher cash flow from operations and higher profitability. In December 2023, we announced the introduction of a membership fee for Travelzoo beginning January 1, 2024. Existing members as of December 31, 2023, are exempt from the fee during 2024. Therefore, we do not anticipate to generate membership fee revenue from existing members before 2025.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management calculates non-GAAP operating income when evaluating the financial performance of the business. Travelzoo’s calculation of non-GAAP operating income, also called “non-GAAP operating profit” in this press release and today’s earnings conference call, excludes the following items: impairment of intangible and goodwill, amortization of intangibles, stock option expenses and severance-related expenses. This press release includes a table which reconciles GAAP operating income to the calculation of non-GAAP operating income. Non-GAAP operating income is not required by, or presented in accordance with, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). This information should be considered as supplemental in nature and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may not be the same as similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Conference Call

Travelzoo will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter 2023 results today at 11:00 a.m. ET. Please visit http://ir.travelzoo.com/events-presentations to

download the management presentation (PDF format) to be discussed in the conference call
access the webcast.

About Travelzoo

We, Travelzoo®, are the club for travel enthusiasts. Our 30 million members receive exclusive offers and one-of-a-kind experiences personally reviewed by our deal experts around the globe. We have our finger on the pulse of outstanding travel, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences. We work in partnership with more than 5,000 top travel suppliers—our long-standing relationships give Travelzoo members access to irresistible deals.

Certain statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, expectations, prospects and intentions, markets in which we participate and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts. When used in this press release, the words “expect”, “predict”, “project”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “seek” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including changes in our plans, objectives, expectations, prospects and intentions and other factors discussed in our filings with the SEC. We cannot guarantee any future levels of activity, performance or achievements. Travelzoo undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

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