The best hotel reservation sites serve as intermediaries between travelers and hotels. These platforms include online travel agencies and metasearch engines, which can be used by travelers to search for and book accommodation
Online reservation platforms are important because they make it easier to attract guests and fill vacancies. A growing number of people book hotels online after using these websites to compare prices and facilities.
In this article, you will learn about hotel reservation sites, why they matter and how they work. You will also have access to a list of 10 of the very best hotel reservation sites for generating bookings.
Table of Contents:
- What is a Hotel Reservation Site?
- Why is a Hotel Reservation Site Important for Hotels?
- 10 of the Best Hotel Reservation Sites for Hoteliers
- Understanding Hotel Booking Engines
- Exploring the Top Online Travel Agents
What is a Hotel Reservation Site?
A hotel reservation site is an online platform that enables guests to make bookings with hotels or similar accommodation businesses. A platform of this kind can also make it easier for guests to compare hotels.
Examples of hotel reservation sites include hotel metasearch engines and online travel agents (OTAs). Potential hotel guests can use these platforms to find accommodation based on their preferred destination or arrival and departure date. These platforms often work in partnership with hotels, gaining access to the latest room availability data.
Many of the best hotel reservation sites also have a smartphone app that will offer similar functionality.
Why is a Hotel Reservation Site Important for Hotels?
Hotel reservation sites are important for hotel owners and other senior figures because they provide access to a wider audience. Customers who may not know about your hotel may find it on an OTA or hotel metasearch engine.
The best hotel reservation sites are not only an additional distribution channel, but also a valuable marketing platform. Many of these platforms will allow you to create and manage a listing, highlighting all of the best qualities of your hotel. In some cases, you can also use the platform to view and manage customer feedback.
Ultimately, the primary value of hotel reservation websites is their ability to generate more bookings for your hotel. This means you can minimize the number of vacancies you have at any given time and improve your overall financial results. Third-party websites can be especially valuable during times of the year when demand is low.
As an added bonus, building a presence on these platforms can also provide you with greater visibility on search engines. For instance, your hotel listings on these platforms may appear on Google or Bing’s search results. You can even use different platforms to target different keywords, maximizing your online visibility.
10 of the Best Hotel Reservation Sites for Hoteliers
In the sections that follow, you will be able to learn about 10 of the best hotel reservation sites for hoteliers who are looking to increase the number of bookings they generate.
Booking.com is a popular online travel agency website based out of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It is owned by Booking Holdings – the leading OTA brand by revenue – and sells hotel rooms, flights, and other travel products.
The importance of Booking.com is largely connected with its popularity and overall scale. The Booking.com mobile app is the most downloaded travel agency app, while the platform supports bookings for over 3 million lodging businesses.
Booking.com was initially founded in 1996 as Bookings.nl. The Booking.com business name and website address date back to 2000, and there was a merger between Booking.nl and another similar platform called Bookings Online.
Expedia is an online travel agency and metasearch engine. It was created in 1996 and has emerged as one of the biggest and best hotel reservation sites, while also selling flights and package deals.
Both the Expedia website and smartphone app have emerged as major platforms and important distribution channels for hotels. They matter because many travelers turn to online platforms to compare hotels and make a reservation.
The Expedia brand has also built a reputation for innovation and embracing the latest technology-related travel and hotel trends. For example, it was one of the first OTA platforms to implement ChatGPT for travel planning.
Priceline.com is an online travel agency that places a strong emphasis on discounted hotel rooms. The platform is owned by Booking Holdings, which also owns Booking.com and a variety of other online travel brands.
The emphasis on deals and discounts makes Priceline an important platform for those in the hotel industry who are looking to fill vacancies. Its value can also be highlighted by the fact that it is available in over 200 countries.
At one time, Priceline was known for its unique ‘Name Your Own Price’ bidding feature. However, this feature was gradually removed from the platform and has been unavailable when booking hotels since 2020.
Agoda is another subsidiary of Booking Holdings and one of the biggest online travel agency and hotel metasearch platforms. The company headquarters is located in Singapore, while other major operations are based in Thailand.
The Agoda platform is extremely important because it provides guests and hotels alike with excellent access to the Asian market. At the same time, it is a global platform that is popular in many countries.
In addition to selling hotel rooms and other reservations, Agoda sells flights and other forms of travel. Agoda is also viewed by many as one of the best hotel reservation sites for customer service, thanks to 24/7 support.
Video: How To List Property On Agoda
Tripadvisor is an online travel agency and metasearch platform based in Needham, Massachusetts, United States. Users can use the website to search for, compare, and book travel, including hotel rooms.
What makes Tripadvisor one of the best hotel reservation sites is its focus on user reviews. This helps other users decide where to stay and provides hotels with the ability to stand out from rivals.
Customers can also use the website to easily find out useful information about hotels. This includes their facilities, amenities, and other key features, such as the types of rooms on offer and the hotel technology available.
Airbnb can be best described as an online accommodation marketplace and was initially focused on short-term homestays. However, the website has since evolved, and it now offers a much wider range of lodgings, including hotels.
As a platform, Airbnb is one of the best hotel reservation sites for boutique hotels and other properties that offer unique experiences or design features. It is a site where smaller or more obscure hotels can thrive.
Airbnb is notable for providing individuals with the opportunity to rent out individual rooms within their homes. For this reason, the platform often attracts travelers seeking affordable accommodation options.
The Hotels.com platform originally launched in 1991 as the telephone-based Hotel Reservations Network. The Hotels.com name itself stems from early in the 21st century, when the brand was purchased by the Expedia Group.
As a platform, Hotels.com is regarded as one of the best hotel reservation sites targeting the American market. One of the standout features of the service is a rewards program, which incentivizes customers to make more bookings.
In addition to its main offerings for hoteliers, it should be noted that Hotels.com also publishes the Hotel Price Index twice a year. This is an insightful market research document, exploring industry trends related to pricing.
Video: What is the best hotel booking site!? | Expedia vs. Hotels.com vs. Booking.com
Travelocity is an online travel agency and another brand operated by the Expedia Group. The service launched in 1996 and quickly developed a reputation for innovation, becoming a pioneer in the field of self-service travel bookings.
Aside from its history, Travelocity’s importance can be explained by its reach, as it attracts more than 12 million unique visitors every month. This helps to make it one of the best hotel reservation sites to focus on.
Travelocity is based in Dallas, Texas, in the United States, and offers hotels, flights, packages, and car rentals. The platform also provides last-minute deals and a variety of special offers aimed at budget-conscious travelers.
Orbitz.com is a popular hotel metasearch engine and online price aggregation tool. It was founded in 2001, is owned by the Expedia Group, and is based in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States.
One of the killer features that helps to place Orbitz among the best hotel reservation sites is its extensive search functionality. Users can search for everything from LGBT-welcoming hotels, to vacation packages.
The platform offers a membership program, allowing guests to benefit from discounts of 10% or more on a variety of travel products. In addition to hotels, the service also provides flights, package deals, and car rentals.
Founded in 2005, HotelsCombined is a hotel metasearch engine and one of the best hotel reservation sites for price comparisons. The company is based in Sydney, Australia, and offers search options for hotels, flights, and packages.
HotelsCombined is an important platform because it provides a variety of tools for quick and easy price comparisons. The service aggregates valuable information about hotel ratings, features and room rates.
The website is available in more than 40 different languages and can be especially useful for hotels aiming to reach the Australian market. A price alert feature helps to make it easier for guests to find cheap deals.
Understanding Hotel Booking Engines
In addition to using some of the best hotel reservation sites to receive bookings, you need to make sure your own hotel website has a great booking engine. This allows you to generate direct bookings, which are the most profitable type. A great booking engine should be customizable, easy to use, and provide support for multiple languages.
In the “Booking Engine Hotels: How to Choose the Right Hotel Booking Engine” article, you will find a lot more information on booking engines for hotels, why they are so valuable, and what to consider when exploring booking engine providers. You can also find a breakdown of the most significant features to focus your attention on.
Exploring the Top Online Travel Agents
Online travel agents like Booking.com and Expedia are among the best hotel reservation sites for both customers and hotels. These platforms sell rooms to guests on behalf of hotels and earn a commission for the bookings they are able to generate. For hotels, they also double as a hotel marketing platform, increasing brand awareness.
In the “Online Travel Agents (OTAs) to Increase Your Hotel Bookings” article, you can access more information about OTAs, how they work, why they are important, and how they earn a commission. In addition, you will be able to read details about 12 of the best OTAs to turn to if you want to attract more guests.
Did You Like This Article About Best Hotel Reservation Sites?
You might also be interested in the following articles:
- Tips to Increase Bookings Through Hotel Metasearch
- Tips To Increase Your Hotel Bookings Through OTAs
- Hotel Websites Where Hoteliers Can Sell Packages (Including Examples)
- Online Travel Agents (OTAs) to Increase Your Hotel Bookings
- The Most Important Online Distribution Channels for Hotels
The online platforms listed are among the very best hotel reservation sites for those working in hotel management to focus efforts on. By optimizing listings on these platforms, you can enhance brand awareness, expand your reach, attract guests who may otherwise be unaware of your hotel, fill vacancies and increase your hotel revenue.
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This article is written by:
Hi, I am Martijn Barten, founder of Revfine.com. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I specialize in optimizing revenue by combining revenue management with marketing strategies. I have successfully developed, implemented, and managed revenue management and marketing strategies for individual properties and multi-property portfolios.
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