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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the Financial Standards Accounting Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-07 "Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures", which expands annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. ASU 2023-07 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential effect that the updated standard will have on our financial statement disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09 "Income Taxes (Topics 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures", to expand the disclosure requirements for income taxes, primarily requiring more detailed disclosure for income taxes paid and the effective tax rate reconciliation. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted and can be applied on either a prospective or retroactive basis. We are currently evaluating the ASU to determine its impact on our income tax disclosures.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition
The Company follows Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606), under which revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.
The Company's revenues consist of (1) advertising revenues and commissions, derived from and generated in connection with purchases made by Travelzoo members, (2) membership fees and (3) other.
Advertising Revenues
Advertising revenues are generated from the publishing of travel and entertainment deals on the Travelzoo website, in Top 20 email newsletters, in Standalone email newsletters and through the Travelzoo Network. The Company also generates transaction-based commission revenues from the sale of vouchers (our Local Deals and Getaways offerings), operation of our hotel booking platform and limited offerings of vacation packages.
Specifically, for fixed-fee website advertising, the Company recognizes revenues ratably over the contracted placement period. For Top 20 email newsletters and other email products, the Company recognizes revenues when the emails are delivered to its members. For cost-per-click advertising, whereby an advertiser pays the Company when a user clicks on an ad (typically served on Travelzoo properties or Travelzoo Network partner properties), the Company recognizes revenues each time a user clicks on the ad.
The Company also offers clients other advertising models whereby an advertiser pays the Company based on the number of times their advertisement is displayed (whether on Travelzoo properties, email advertisements, Travelzoo Network properties, social platforms or other media properties). For these instances, the Company recognizes revenues each time an ad is displayed.
For transaction-based advertising revenues, including from products such as Local Deals and Getaways prepaid voucher sales, hotel platform bookings and vacation package sales, the Company evaluates whether it is acting as principal (thereby reporting revenue on a gross basis) versus agent (thereby reporting revenue on a net basis). Accordingly, the Company reports transaction-based advertising revenues on a net basis, as third-party suppliers are primarily responsible for fulfilling the underlying good or service, which the Company does not control prior to its transfer to the customer.
For Local Deals and Getaways prepaid voucher sales, the Company earns a fee for acting as an agent on the sale, while vouchers can subsequently be redeemed for goods or services with third-party merchants. Commission revenues are, accordingly, presented net of amounts due to third-party merchants for fulfilling the underlying goods and services, and net of estimated future refunds to consumers, as the terms of the vouchers permit. Certain merchant contracts allow the Company to retain the proceeds from unredeemed vouchers. With these contracts, the Company estimates the value of vouchers that will ultimately not be redeemed and records the estimate as revenues in the same period.
Commission revenues generated from bookings on our hotel platform are recognized ratably over the periods of guest stays, net of an allowance for estimated cancellations, based upon historical patterns. For bookings of non-cancelable reservations, where the Company’s performance obligation is deemed to be completed upon the successful booking, the Company records commission revenue at such time.
In certain instances, the Company’s contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations, whereby the Company allocates revenues to each performance obligation based on its standalone selling price. The Company determines standalone selling prices based on overall pricing objectives, taking into consideration the type of goods or services, geographical region of the customers, rate card pricing and customary discounts. Standalone selling prices are generally determined based on the prices charged to customers when the good or service is sold separately.
The Company relies upon certain practical expedients and exemptions provided for in Topic 606. The Company expenses sales commissions when incurred, as the amortization period would be one year or less, which are recorded in sales and marketing expenses. In addition, the Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less, and contracts for which it recognizes revenues at the amount to which it has the right to invoice for services performed.
Membership Fee Revenues
Membership fee revenues are generated from subscription fees paid by Travelzoo, Jack's Flight Club and Travelzoo META members. We recognize subscription revenues ratably over the subscription periods.
Travelzoo membership has historically been free, however, on January 1, 2024, Travelzoo introduced an annual membership fee of $40 (or local equivalent) for new members in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Germany, with the 2024 annual fee waived for existing members as of December 31, 2023.
Other Revenues
Other revenues include licensing fees, fees generated from the existing retail business acquired by the Company when it acquired MTE.
Deferred Revenues
Deferred revenue primarily consists of deferred membership fees, customer prepayments and undelivered Company performance obligations related to contracts comprising multiple performance obligations. As of December 31, 2023, $1.5 million was recorded as deferred revenue for Jack's Flight Club, of which $1.2 million was recognized in the six months ended June 30, 2024, $569,000 was recorded as deferred revenue for Travelzoo North America and Travelzoo Europe, of which $532,000 was recognized as revenue in the six months ended June 30, 2024. As of June 30, 2024, the deferred revenue balance was $3.2 million, of which $2.0 million was for Jack's Flight Club and the remaining $1.2 million was for Travelzoo North America and Travelzoo Europe.
Reserve for Refunds to Members
Reserve for Refunds to Members
The Company estimates and records a reserve for future refunds on member purchases of Local Deals and Getaways vouchers, at the time revenue is recorded. We consider various factors such as historical refund timeframes from dates of sale, reasons for refunds, time periods remaining until expiration, changes in refund procedures and estimates of redemptions and breakage. Should any of these factors change, the estimates made by management will also change, which could impact the level of our future reserve for refunds to members. Specifically, if the financial condition of our merchant partners, on behalf of whom vouchers are sold, were to deteriorate, affecting their ability to provide the goods or services to our members, additional reserves for refunds to members may be required and may adversely affect future revenues as the liability is recorded against revenue.
The Company's refund policy is a 14-day refund period from date of purchase, with an option to extend refund eligibility until voucher redemption or expiration, for a surcharge. As of June 30, 2024, the expiration dates of unexpired vouchers ranged from July 2024 through December 2025; provided, that expiration dates may sometimes be extended on a case-by-case basis and final payments to merchants upon expiration may not be due for up to a year later.
As of June 30, 2024, the Company had approximately $4.2 million of unredeemed vouchers that had been sold, representing the Company’s commission earned. The Company estimated and recorded a refund reserve of $177,000 for these unredeemed vouchers as of June 30, 2024, which is recorded as a reduction of revenues on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and accrued expenses and other on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $5.2 million of unredeemed vouchers that had been sold representing the Company’s commission earned from the sale and estimated a refund reserve of $268,000 for these unredeemed vouchers as of December 31, 2023, as a reduction of revenues on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and accrued expenses and other on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
If our judgments regarding estimated member refunds are inaccurate, reported results of operations could differ from amounts previously accrued. Merchant payables of $16.7 million as of June 30, 2024 is recorded on the consolidated balance sheet, representing amounts payable to merchants by the Company for vouchers sold but not redeemed.
Identifiable intangible assets
Identifiable intangible assets
Upon acquisition, identifiable intangible assets are recorded at fair value and are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The carrying values of all intangible assets are reviewed for impairment annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable.
Goodwill
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of an acquired business over the fair value of the underlying net tangible and intangible assets. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate its carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company performs an impairment test by comparing the book value of the reporting unit to the fair value of the reporting unit utilizing a combination of valuation techniques, including an income approach (discounted cash flows) and market approach (guideline company method).
Operating Leases
Operating Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at inception. Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. The lease payments used to determine the operating lease assets may include lease incentives and stated rent increases. The Company does not include options to extend or terminate until it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the lease liabilities, as the Company’s leases generally do not provide an implicit rate. The Company elected not to recognize leases with an initial term of 12 months or less on its unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
The Company’s leases are reflected in operating lease ROU assets, operating lease liabilities and long-term operating lease liabilities on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. The lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Certain Risks and Uncertainties
Certain Risks and Uncertainties
The Company’s business is subject to risks associated with its ability to attract and retain advertisers and offer goods or services on compelling terms to our members.
The Company’s cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable are potentially subject to concentration of credit risk. Cash and cash equivalents are placed with financial institutions that management believes are of high credit quality. Accounts receivables are derived from revenue earned from customers located in the U.S. and internationally.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less on the date of purchase. Restricted cash includes cash and cash equivalents that is restricted through legal contracts, regulations or our intention to use the cash for a specific purpose. Our restricted cash primarily relates to refundable for leases.