A joint press release issued by ICE Portal and Leonardo in May of 2006 states, "Current research indicates that moving images, such as animated images and virtual tours, generate 46 percent more bookings than still images."

Research by Gómez travel-related products and services are the #1 purchase made by consumers over the Internet. Additionally, while only 15% of all hotel bookings are made over the Internet, 65% of all travel bookings are researched online. The Internet has become the top choice for consumers to investigate travel destinations, whether for business or leisure. From the last research (July 2006) Hotel Virtual Tours increase on-line bookings by up to 85% and The estimated Return on Investment (ROI) for Hotel Virtual Tours is less than 4 weeks.

Virtual Tours are becoming increasingly popular as a means of enabling internet users to view any location in "real life" over the internet. They are also proving successful in helping online companies to gain the exposure and market presence they require in an entertaining new way.

Showcasing the main attractions of a town or city using a Virtual Tour can help encourage the undecided tourist and holiday maker to make the decision to visit.

Opens the Property / Hotel / Resort doors to the online public in a detailed and fast-loading virtual reality environment,