Groupon says its travel business -- Groupon Getaways with Expedia -- is growing at a robust pace and attracting new customers.
The number of Groupon Getaways offered grew to more than 540 deals during the first three months of 2012, up 45% from the fourth quarter of 2011, according to Groupon CFO Jason Child, who revealed the numbers during the company's first quarter earnings call yesterday.
In North America, Child said, 30% of Groupon Getaways' purchasers during the quarter "were first-time Groupon customers."
The Expedia-supplied Getaways' offers largely revolve around hotel flash sales.
"These are customers we might have [not] gained access to had it not been for expansion in the Getaways and we now have the opportunity to sell them products and services from across our entire suite," Child said.
No word on whether the upswing in Getaways' purchasers was similarly positive for Expedia, and its brand, although in the past officials have said they are pleased with the Groupon partnership.
In addition to Getaways and Groupon's standard deals, ranging from restaurant offers to teeth-whitening appointments, the company recently has been offering deals through a Goods category. The latter business includes everything from messenger bags to electronics.
For the first quarter of 2012, Groupon recorded a net loss of $3.6 million, compared with a net loss of $113.9 million a year earlier, on $559.3 million in revenue, an 89% increase.
Groupon's operating income in the first quarter of 2012 was $39.6 million compared with an operating loss a year earlier of $117.1 million.