Russia's Ostrovok besting Expedia in hotel booking choices
Skift Take
Booking.com has built its success on the pay-at-the-hotel model, and if more online travel agencies such as Ostrovok and Expedia transition to hybrid models, it will be interesting to see if that forces Booking.com to make changes of its own.
Five years from now it will be commonplace for online travel agencies to give customers the dual option of prepaying or paying at the hotel, and Russian online travel agency Ostrovok.ru is leading the way in the sophistication of its hybrid model.
Until recently, OTAs have offered one option at a time, either pay at the hotel using the agency/commission model or prepay with the merchant model. But, Expedia Inc. over the summer began changing things up and rolling out its Expedia Traveler Preference program on Expedia.com and Hotels.com, giving guests th
