Finding the Right Hotel: What Websites to Use

Today, it’s all about ‘going digital’. We’ve become a digital nation, and that means that we’re increasingly likely to turn to the internet for help in finding a holiday deal. 25 percent of travellers claim to use social media for travel planning, for example, compared to just 23 percent that use the more traditional holiday brochure, and 10 percent that rely on travel agent knowledge. We’re moving away from ‘direct’ holiday resources, and branching out to more flexible forms of information.

And this is a GOOD thing! Especially for our bank accounts. Using alternative booking sites, rather than travel agents or hotel websites, is commonly cited as one of the best ways to secure an attractive rate. Why? Well, what it all comes down to is the growing importance of digital advertising, and the complex business relationships occurring between hotel brands and distribution systems.

Maintaining Online Presence

In a world dominated by the web, it’s essential for hotel brands to maintain a strong online presence and promote their business, which is why many are using ‘global distribution systems’, or GDS, to work with price comparison websites and online travel agents (OTAs). However, with GDS becoming more advanced in recent years, it means OTAs can frequently offer better rates. It works like this:

* Hotels pay OTAs to advertise and promote their brand
* GDS provides the OTA with real-time availability information
* OTAs can adjust their rates based on this data, eg. lower rate for last available room * Hotels increase rate through their own website to claw back original advertising costs

Choosing a Travel Site

So what websites should you be using to find the right hotel, at the right price? Online travel agents, price comparison websites, and digital directories such as Yazoomer are all good starting points. Of course, it’s not just about cost, either. A further advantage is that these websites will provide both subjective and non-subjective information. While a hotel website may advertise a ‘kid’s pool’, a review on an OTA website may go into more detail, such as ‘a large kid’s pool with slides that’s even got a baby section for the little ones’. If you know where to look, the internet is a quick and easy way to ensure we’re getting the best value for money when we travel. It pays to be travel savvy! 

Alpha Travel is a Yazoomer community Premium advertiser. Check out details of their online travel deals here