Articles tagged “hotelbeds”

In an I-just-saw-an-elephant-fly moment, Marriott International will be directing businesses to Expedia Group to access certain Marriott wholesale rates. Bedbanks, tour operators, and smaller online travel agencies that play games with room rates are put on notice.

The collapse last week of Amoma suggests that an industrywide crackdown on online travel agencies that violate hotel contracts is getting serious. For example, many hoteliers have wanted Hotelbeds to crack down on bad behavior by some agencies. The distributor of wholesale rates has responded by taking action.

If — or when — a backlash comes, it would upend the business models of a wide swath of travel industry companies. It would also put many businesses specializing in surveillance of consumers at risk.

InterContinental Hotels Group has frequently been contrarian over the years when it comes to travel distribution. The chain recognizes that not all guests are brand loyal, and that it is wise to maintain healthy relationships with online travel agencies and metasearch engines.

Oyo has had plenty of success in its home market of India going direct to consumers, but if it’s to continue its global expansion plans it needs more routes to market.

While clearly not a game-changer in the same way Tourico Holidays or GTA was, the deal does expand Hotelbeds’ ancillary portfolio, giving it greater reach in what is a growing market.

The acquisition of Destinations of the World seals WebBeds as the second largest B2B bedbank player, but incumbent Hotelbeds need not worry – for a very long time.

Although Hotelbeds still sells ancillaries, its main focus is on accommodations and the rebrand makes that clear.

Do hotels really need to be flagged under a big brand if online travel agencies are most effective at selling rooms? Hotelbeds' Joan Vila thinks hotel chains may be forced to wind down some brands that aren't succeeding in the marketplace.

Business-to-business platforms are largely invisible to the traveling public but they have a big role to play behind the scenes. Hotelbeds Group sees an opportunity to consolidate within the sector.