The hospitality industry is growing exponentially and its growth is estimated to reach $5816.66 billion by 2027. Travel agents sell countless services in a single day with the help of hospitality suppliers, out of which the hotel booking segment is the busiest one. Hotel room bookings are widely done through online booking portals and engines.
Apart from offering successful bookings, finding and offering the best hotel deals online brings loyal customers for travel agencies. Travel managers can find attractive hotel deals either with the help of an API or through channel managers. Let us read this blog to understand both the approaches and find which of them brings the best hotel deals online for customers.
What is a hotel booking API?
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a tool that is integrated into the hotel agency’s booking portal. Its main objective is to fetch updated and reliable information straight from different hotel inventories.
Details like the room availability, prices, exclusive discounts, etc. are directly displayed on the booking portal with the assistance of an API. This helps in serving the travel agency’s audience with discounted room prices and exclusive deals.
What is a channel manager?
Channel managers are often used by hotel chains to manage their room prices and inventory across multiple channels or platforms. However, online travel agencies have also started using channel managers these days for similar purposes.
They integrate these channel managers into their booking portals, which act as a central management system for managing the multiple bookings.
Hotel booking API vs Channel manager
Cost-effectiveness
Hotel booking APIs cost relatively less than channel managers. For channel managers, travel agencies pay a subscription fee that means recurring payments. Hotel booking APIs, on the other hand, have a license based cost that is often less expensive. It is always better to go for a cheaper option when all the other features offered are the same.
Complete control
Travel agents are always on their toes as they constantly search for the best deals for their customers. Managing so many bookings and audience preferences is not a cakewalk. But a hotel booking API simplifies this task by giving the travel agency complete control over the hotel’s inventory. This helps travel managers in their hunt of finding the best hotel deals for their audience.
However, channel managers fail to provide the full control of hotel inventories since they are not directly connected with the hotel’s internal system.
Customization options
Travel agents searching for customized booking portals should invest in a hotel booking API since it offers more customization options. These API allow travel agents to modify the hotel packages according to their customers’ preferences.
Better reach
Channel managers surpass hotel booking APIs in this realm. They help travel agencies connect with a wide range of hotels and suppliers. This means that they get access to a fairly large pool of inventory, which ultimately gets them access to the exclusive deals.
How to use Hotel booking APIs for best hotel deals?
Travel agents can adopt the following strategies to grab the most amazing deals for their customers:
Bulk bookings with APIs
Hotel booking APIs make bulk bookings a smooth task. Travel agents that make bulk bookings with a hotel chain often get better discounts, which can then be offered to the customers. Bulk bookings give a solid chance to travel agencies for making better negotiations with the service provider.
Use API aggregators
API aggregators combine hotel inventory from multiple platforms, giving travel agencies the opportunity to compare prices and seal the best deal.
Real-time Pricing
Hotel booking APIs are proficient in accessing real-time information from hotels, which also includes getting the latest room prices. With the updated room costs, travel agencies can offer dynamic packages at lesser rates.
Discounts On Packages
Creating customized packages may sound like a hefty task but it comes with its benefits. API gets travel agents the best deals for their customers, especially on travel packages. Since travel packages are a combination of different services and travel products like hotel rooms, flights, etc. one can always find hidden offers on such packages. Having an API gets travel agents the required information, including the latest deal.
Key takeaways
A Hotel booking API is considered a powerful tool by many travel agencies. Apart from getting updated information on hotel inventory, APIs also allow travel agents to create custom packages that best match their customer’s needs.
Many travel agencies use a combination of API and channel manager to double their benefits. While this may lead to additional costs, the fusion can get travel agencies the best hotel deals. With the channel manager’s reach and APIs customization, travel agents can get powerful deals and attain customer satisfaction. Travel companies seeking help with API and channel manager integration can always contact TBOHolidays for quick assistance with the integration process.
Best Hotel Deals Online FAQs
Channel managers often cost higher than APIs because they come with monthly subscription costs.
The API can be effortlessly integrated into a hotel booking portal. You can take help from a professional service provider for integrating the API into your online booking engine.
Yes, these API make the booking engine customizable. This allows travel agencies to offer modified packages to their customers.
Pratyush Kumar Srivastava is a seasoned expert in B2B travel writing with years of experience in the industry. With a deep understanding of the intricacies of travel technology, supplier relationships, and market trends, Pratyush offers valuable insights to help businesses optimize their travel booking strategies. Passionate about innovation and efficiency, he is dedicated to guiding travel agencies through the complexities of modern distribution channels to achieve growth and success.
