In today’s digital age, online travel agencies (OTAs) have become an essential tool for hotels to boost bookings. These platforms offer a way for hotels to reach a wider audience and maximize their revenue potential.
With so many OTAs available, it can be overwhelming for hotels to choose the right ones. In this blog, we will discuss the top OTAs for hotels to boost bookings.
Table of Contents
1. Booking.com
Booking.com is one of the largest OTAs in the world, with over 28 million listings. It is a popular choice for hotels due to its user-friendly interface and vast features.
Hotels can offer different room types and rates, promotions, and real-time availability. The platform also provides a range of payment options, making it easy for guests to pay for their stay.
Additionally, Booking.com offers a loyalty program called Genius, which rewards guests for booking through their platform. For hotels, being part of the Genius program can help increase bookings and brand awareness.
One of the standout features of Booking.com is its reputation management tool. It allows hotels to manage their online reputation by monitoring and responding to guest reviews. This helps hotels to improve their ratings, attract more bookings, and build guest loyalty.
2. Expedia
Expedia is another popular OTA, with over 400 million annual visitors. The platform offers a range of features, including the ability to offer different room types and rates, promotions, and real-time availability.
Expedia also offers a rewards program called Expedia Rewards, which motivates guests to book through their platform. Hotels can also take advantage of Expedia’s marketing tools, such as targeted advertising and email marketing.
One of the standout features of Expedia is its dynamic packaging tool. It allows hotels to create customizable packages that include flights, hotels, and car rentals. This helps hotels to attract guests who are looking for a complete travel package and increases their revenue potential.
3. Agoda
Agoda is a popular OTA that specializes in the Asia-Pacific region. The platform has over two million properties in over 200 countries.
Agoda offers a range of features, including real-time availability and the ability to cater to different room types and rates.
Agoda also offers a loyalty program called Agoda Rewards, which rewards guests for booking through their platform. For hotels, being part of the Agoda Rewards program can help increase bookings and brand awareness in the Asia-Pacific region.
One of the standout features of Agoda is its multi-language support. It allows hotels to reach a wider audience by offering their listings in multiple languages. This is especially important for hotels in the Asia-Pacific region, where there are many different languages spoken.
4. Hotels.com
Hotels.com is an OTA that has over 500,000 properties in mor than 200 countries. The platform offers a range of features, including the ability to offer different room types and rates, promotions, and real-time availability.
Hotels.com also offers a rewards program called Hotels.com Rewards, which encourages guests to book through their platform. Hotels can also take advantage of Hotels.com’s marketing tools, such as targeted advertising and email marketing.
One of the standout features of Hotels.com is its secret prices tool. It allows hotels to offer discounted rates to guests who are signed up for the platform’s email newsletter. This helps hotels to attract more bookings and build guest loyalty.
5. TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor is a popular travel website that allows users to leave reviews and ratings for hotels and other travel-related businesses.
In addition to reviews, TripAdvisor offers a booking platform that allows guests to book stay directly through their website. For hotels, having a strong presence on TripAdvisor can help increase bookings and brand awareness
One of the standout features of TripAdvisor is its popularity among travelers. According to a study, 95% of travelers read reviews before booking a hotel, and 76% of travelers consider online reviews valuable; TripAdvisor being one of the most trustworthy sites. This makes TripAdvisor an important platform for hotels to manage their online reputation and attract more bookings.
6. Trivago
Trivago is an emerging popular OTA and a metasearch engine that compares prices from different booking platforms, including Booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com.
The platform allows users to filter by price, location, and ratings to find the best deal for their desired stay. For hotels, being listed on Trivago can help increase their visibility and attract more bookings.
One of the standout features of Trivago is its rate intelligence tool. It allows hotels to monitor their competitors’ rates and adjust their own rates accordingly. This helps hotels to stay competitive and attract more bookings.
7. Kayak
Kayak is another OTA that compares prices from different booking platforms, including Booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com.
The platform allows users to filter by price, location, and ratings to find the best deal for their desired stay. For hotels, being listed on Kayak can help increase their visibility and attract more bookings.
One of the standout features of Kayak is its explore tool. It allows users to enter their desired destination and see a map with the best deals in that area. This helps hotels to attract travelers who are open to different destinations and looking for a good deal.
8. Airbnb
Airbnb is not technically an OTA, but it has become a major player in the hospitality industry. The platform allows hosts to rent out their homes or apartments to travelers.
For hotels, partnering with Airbnb can offer a way to reach a new audience and offer alternative accommodation options. Additionally, hotels can take advantage of Airbnb’s marketing tools, such as sponsored listings and email marketing.
One of the standout features of Airbnb is its focus on unique and authentic experiences. This can be appealing to travelers who are looking for something different than a traditional hotel stay. By offering unique and authentic accommodations, hotels can attract more bookings and stand out in a competitive market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Choosing the right OTAs for your hotel can be challenging, but it is important to consider the platform’s reach, user base, and available features. By partnering with the right OTAs, hotels can increase their bookings, reach a wider audience, and maximize their revenue potential. It is important to note that each OTA has different commission rates and fees, so carefully evaluate each platform’s costs and benefits.
In addition to partnering with OTAs, hotels can also take advantage of other marketing channels to increase bookings, such as social media, email marketing, and targeted advertising.
By diversifying your marketing strategy and partnering with multiple platforms, hotels can create a strong online presence and increase their bookings in the competitive hospitality industry.
