Booking is copying Expedia's most durable asset
The company is folding Booking.com, Agoda, and Priceline into one B2B entity run by Agoda's CEO — a bet that the most valuable OTA business is the one hotels never see
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Direct Booking Hotels: Why Market Share Battles Mask Economic Wins
After a decade-long campaign for direct bookings, major hotel chains have secured better economics and lower commissions despite OTAs maintaining market dominance in 2026.
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Amsterdam Court Backs Key Booking.com Arguments in German Hotel Price Parity Case
An Amsterdam court has upheld key elements of Booking.com’s position in a long-running dispute over hotel price parity rules in Germany, a decision that could have significant implications for online travel agency relationships and hotel…
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PayPal, Sabre, and Mindtrip Launch Groundbreaking End-to-End AI Experience for Travel Industry
In an era where convenience and personalization are paramount, a groundbreaking partnership between Sabre Corporation, PayPal, and Mindtrip is poised to transform how small businesses engage with the travel industry. This strategic collaboration…
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Airbnb makes decisive move into hotels as experts warn of brand shift
Airbnb has officially entered the hotel market, marking a significant strategic shift for a company once defined by spare rooms, local hosts and the promise of “living like a local”.
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China's market regulator probes Trip.com over suspected abuse of market dominance
China's market regulator has opened a formal investigation into online travel platform Trip.com Group for suspected abuse of its dominant market position and monopolistic practices, according to an official notice released on Wednesday…
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Can the future of hotel reviews be completely AI-generated?
I feel that the scenario is no longer speculative. It is, if anything, the natural extension of where reputation systems are already heading. It is easy to imagine Tripadvisor, Google or any major OTA replacing the old free text box with a short…
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Booking.com and hotels increasingly go their separate ways
Hotels are reporting a significant recent drop-off in sales from online travel agencies (OTAs), particularly Booking.com, after “leaning” away from them in recent years, alongside other broader industry trends…
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The Five Stages of Rate Parity Acceptance
Rate parity is an evergreen topic. I wrote an article on rate parity for hotels in 2023, and all the way back in 2015. It’s an issue that seems to stir up a lot of concern at the asset management and property levels…
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Research: OTAs Dominate as Primary Source in AI-Powered Hotel Discovery
Cloudbeds has released a new report titled The Signals Behind Hotel AI Recommendations. The study is the first in the hospitality industry to examine in detail how generative AI platforms identify and recommend hotels to travelers…
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How GDS Commission Shares Impact Global Hotel and Agency Revenue
Part one of this two-part series explores the global landscape for GDS commission shares, which represent tens of millions of dollars in revenue for travel management companies and agencies. A better understanding of gaps by region, country, and…
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How to overcome revenue managers’ aversion to the direct online channel?
Recently, a revenue manager reacted to my LinkedIn post about independent hoteliers’ overdependence on the OTAs by stating Even with the best intentions, money and talent, there's no way independents can beat the big OTA's in search and make money…
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Hotels + OTAs: A love-hate relationship that needs to change
Online travel agents (OTAs) have been made the arch-enemy of hotel direct bookings – a narrative we’ve seen across the sector due to the volume of bookings and high commission costs they command. But if hotels can reframe their thinking, OTAs are a…
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Europe gains pricing control as hotels tackle rate parity
The European hotel market is leading in price parity by outperforming OTAs and Metasearch engines with more aggressive pricing, according to the World Parity Monitor by 123Compare.me, giving hotels real-time control of its pricing distribution…
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How the DMA Protects OTA Giants and Destroys Independent Hotels. The EU’s Digital Market Disaster
When the European Union introduced the Digital Markets Act (DMA), it was supposed to revolutionize the digital economy, it promised fairness but delivered chaos.
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Great news about direct hotel bookings or simply wishful thinking?
Skift Research came with its much anticipated Hotel Distribution Outlook 2024. In this report, based on the wishes of both branded and independent hoteliers surveyed, Skift Research predicts that by 2030, direct digital channels will have overtaken…
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The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled on price parity clauses in contracts between an important hotel reservation platform and hotel establishments. The CJEU has determined that these clauses must be analyzed under the rules on…
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