Flash sales online have continued to grow in popularity, particularly in the apparel and home categories as new entrants emerge to compete with Gilt Groupe, RueLaLa, HauteLook and others. Visits to a custom category of 17 websites offering Online Flash Sales increased 235% year-over-year for the week ending April 24, 2010. Last year, the Gilt Groupe expanded into the travel category with Jetsetter to offer luxury travel products at discounted rates. Today, Travel + Leisure magazine and LuxuryLink announced the launch of an invitation-only, private sale travel website targeted to the luxury travel space called Vacationist. Offerings like Jetsetter and Vacationist could certainly help attract additional travel buyers to luxury properties, which are still feeling the impact of the economic downturn and decreased consumer spending. Visits to a custom category of Luxury Hotel websites are relatively flat, up only 4% when compared to the same week last year and down 14% from the same week 2 years ago. Both websites offer a more upscale experience to help sell distressed inventory without eroding the brands of the luxury properties.