Expedia Is Now Helping Marriott Sell Hotels on the Chain's Website
Skift Take
When it comes to relationships, hotel chains and online travel agencies have a lot of baggage but Marriott and Expedia, at least, are being open-minded and are taking advantage of each other. Expedia is becoming a technology provider for hotels in a move that has parallels with the way rival Booking.com's BookingSuite division is providing market intelligence and website services for properties. Where this all ends up is anyone's guess.
Yes, at first glance it does seem "a little counter-intuitive."
Expedia Inc., which gets the majority of its revenue from selling hotel stays and has been battling with the major chains over their direct-booking efforts, is now helping Marriott International sell more hotel rooms away from Expedia turf and on Marriott's sites.
Starting September 1, Expedia began powering flight and hotel vacation packages for Vacations by Marriott. Expedia provides the technology, as well as flights, ground transportation, and tours and activities, and Marriott provides its own hotels.
It's a white-label deal -- Expedia's first with a hotel -- and there's no Expedia branding on the Vacations by Marriott site. Users can save money by pairing flights and hotels in a package and they can earn Marriott Rewards points when they book.
The site has the "look and feel" of E
