Understand metasearch engines for hotels and their role in direct bookings and visibility.
Metasearch engines are online platforms that aggregate hotel room rates and availability from various online travel agencies (OTAs) and the hotels' own websites into a single search result page. Users can compare prices from multiple sources side-by-side, often with direct links to book on the chosen platform. Examples include Google Hotels, TripAdvisor, and Kayak.
Metasearch is vital for hotels because it offers a significant opportunity to drive direct bookings by showcasing their official website rates alongside OTA listings. A hotel can optimize its metasearch presence to highlight competitive direct booking offers, potentially converting a user who might otherwise book through an OTA, thereby reducing commission costs.
Related terms
- OTA
- Direct booking
- Billboard effect
- Rate parity
