Is it OK to book a hotel with a third-party?


Is it OK to book a hotel with a third-party? A lot of hotels punish people for booking through third-party sites. They don't like paying the commission and would rather you booked with the hotel directly. The consequence is that you get the worst room within the room category you book a lot of the time.


Why are hotels cheaper through third-party?

It is typically cheaper to book a hotel room through a third party website because these websites often have access to exclusive discounts and deals that the hotels themselves do not offer.


What is an example of a third party reservation?

Third Party Booking means using an internet travel site such as Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak, Hotels.com and the like, where a traveler may research and book travel reservations.


Why do hotels randomly upgrade your room?

You may get an upgrade because the type of room you booked is unavailable or there's an issue with your room and the hotel staff want to go out of their way to make things right. If you don't luck into an upgrade, you may be able to sweet-talk your way into one.


Is it cheaper to book a hotel when you get there?

On average, the same-day rate of a hotel room is 10% cheaper than booking in advance. But this comes with a caveat. Don't rely on this strategy if you're traveling to a busy tourist city or a town where a large event is happening. You might be fortunate, but most people book rooms well in advance.


What is the best booking system for hotels?

According to HotelTechReport's rankings, which are based on real user reviews and software specs, the best hotel booking engine is Cloudbeds, which was voted #1 at the 2021 HotelTechAwards. Other top booking engines include Bookassist, SiteMinder, NetAffinity, and Avvio.


Why do hotels prefer direct booking?

Direct booking is a crucial component of the distribution mix for hoteliers because it helps them to increase revenue, improve guest experience, and reduce dependency on online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Expedia and Booking.com.


What are the two types of hotel booking?

There are two types of hotel booking sources, including Direct and Indirect booking.


What percentage of hotel bookings are direct?

In 2019, only 11.8% of bookings were made directly. In 2021, this figure climbed to 21.5%, an increase by 82% in two years. In the first quarter of 2022, the share of direct bookings was on average 19.3%, which indicates that booking directly remains significantly more popular than was the case in 2019.


Is it better to book with a hotel directly?

Reality is, hotels tend to offer the best rate when guests book directly with them. At the same time, hotels are very clear about their prices in order to avoid any misunderstandings that might affect the guests' experience. Because of this, when you book directly with a hotel, prices are final and free of hidden fees.


Do hotels treat you different if you book through Expedia?

No, hotels do not give lower quality rooms to people who book through third-party sites like Hotels.com or Expedia. In fact, many hotels offer exclusive discounts and promotions for customers who book directly with them.


Why do hotels want direct bookings?

Direct booking can be more profitable for hotels because it eliminates the commission fees that are typically charged by OTAs. These fees can range from 15-30% of the room rate, which can significantly impact the hotel's bottom line. By encouraging guests to book directly, hotels can increase revenue and profitability.