And this blog is going to be all things metasearch engines and how hotels can make the most out of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s get to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Table of contents<\/h4>\n\n- What are Hotel Metasearch Engines?<\/a><\/li>\n
- The Role of Metasearch in the Hotel Industry<\/a><\/li>\n
- Difference Between Metasearch and OTA<\/a><\/li>\n
- Tips to Make the Most Out of Metasearch Engines<\/a><\/li>\n
\n- Optimize your booking engine<\/a><\/li>\n
- Choose the right metasearch engine<\/a><\/li>\n
- Optimize your metasearch listing<\/a><\/li>\n
- Maintain rate parity<\/a><\/li>\n
- Monitor constantly<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ask for help if you are struggling<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
- FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
What are Hotel Metasearch Engines?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLet me help you understand what a meta search engine is with an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, you want to buy a new smartphone. Now, instead of checking out every mobile brand website, you can explore all of them on Amazon. You can check specifications, prices, and even compare them on one single platform. Isn\u2019t that convenient?<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/pre>\n\n\n\nA hotel metasearch engine works the same way. Travellers enter search terms and the engine delivers search results that include hotels from various online travel agencies (OTAs) and other booking sites all in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s not all. Travellers can also compare those hotels (based on any factor) to find the one that suits their preferences best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, here\u2019s a piece of additional information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you notice, I have mentioned it as \u2018Hotel Metasearch Engine\u2019<\/em> on the subheading and not just \u2018Metasearch engine\u2019. And if you ask why, it\u2019s because there are metasearch engines available for almost every domain. You can literally compare anything from clothing to electronics to airfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI don\u2019t want you to go to some electronics metasearch and look for hotels.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n(Okay! That wasn\u2019t funny. But never mind)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Role of Metasearch in the Hotel Industry<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEvery hotel wants to be seen easily by travellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And metasearch engines present hoteliers just that. It provides a platform to advertise their hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the years, the importance of metasearch engines has increased in the hotel industry. During the initial days, they weren\u2019t able to grab a great share of the pie. But today, the picture is vastly different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a report, about 72.5% of travellers use metasearch engines<\/a> to find a hotel to book. <\/p>\n\n\n\nYou can imagine how much of an impact it has made in the industry. And I am sure that you now understand why your hotel should be using metasearch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if you have been shying away from adding metasearch to your booking channels, then I must say, it\u2019s high time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hotel metasearch engines make it extremely easy for your guests to find your property. And the more visibility you have, the more likely you are to drive revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Difference Between Metasearch and OTA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMANY people think metasearch engines and OTAs are the same (if not the same then at least similar to a great extent). However, that\u2019s not the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The major difference between the both is that OTAs sell inventory and metasearch engines don\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main focus of OTAs is to reduce the work for travellers. Hence, they allow travellers to book directly through the OTA website<\/a>. While metasearch lets guests compare hotel rates from various sites<\/p>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s a table for your better understanding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"difference](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBut! There\u2019s always a BUT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Things are sort of changing. Certain metasearch engines are now displaying booking buttons to let travellers book directly from the metasearch results. And this is mostly because of the emerging opportunities in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again, there\u2019s a downside to this as well. In one of my previous blogs<\/a>, I have mentioned that OTAs gather guest details that SOMETIMES bother hotels. And with this new feature by metasearch engines, the scenario could become sort of similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBut that\u2019s a completely different story. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nFor now, let’s focus on the topic at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tips to Make the Most Out of Metasearch Engines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nNow that you have learned about metasearch engines, let me help you with some tips to increase bookings through hotel Metasearch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#1 Optimize your booking engine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis one goes without saying, but still, let\u2019s discuss it quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I talked about the differences between metasearch engines and OTAs, I mentioned that metasearch engines don\u2019t sell inventory. Rather, they redirect travellers to the hotel website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But can a hotel acquire direct reservations without a booking engine<\/a> (or a booking engine that isn\u2019t effective)? It’s unlikely!<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe basis for increasing direct bookings<\/a> in a hotel is an optimized booking engine. Meaning, you need to ensure that you have a booking engine on your website that is absolutely well-structured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n- It should support other devices such as mobile and tablet bookings<\/li>
- It must be user-friendly<\/li>
- It must include proper room and rate structure<\/li>
- The booking process should be as simple as possible<\/li>
- It should also include a secure payment gateway etc.<\/li>
- Must support or work in sync with Google\u2019s free hotel booking links<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These are just some of the points to consider. However, when you go about optimizing your booking there are a lot of other things involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do let me know if you would want me to write a dedicated blog on booking engine optimization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, if you\u2019re planning to get one for your website, here\u2019s something that can help you out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/span>
- \n
- Optimize your booking engine<\/a><\/li>\n
- Choose the right metasearch engine<\/a><\/li>\n
- Optimize your metasearch listing<\/a><\/li>\n
- Maintain rate parity<\/a><\/li>\n
- Monitor constantly<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ask for help if you are struggling<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
- FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
What are Hotel Metasearch Engines?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Let me help you understand what a meta search engine is with an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, you want to buy a new smartphone. Now, instead of checking out every mobile brand website, you can explore all of them on Amazon. You can check specifications, prices, and even compare them on one single platform. Isn\u2019t that convenient?<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
A hotel metasearch engine works the same way. Travellers enter search terms and the engine delivers search results that include hotels from various online travel agencies (OTAs) and other booking sites all in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s not all. Travellers can also compare those hotels (based on any factor) to find the one that suits their preferences best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, here\u2019s a piece of additional information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you notice, I have mentioned it as \u2018Hotel Metasearch Engine\u2019<\/em> on the subheading and not just \u2018Metasearch engine\u2019. And if you ask why, it\u2019s because there are metasearch engines available for almost every domain. You can literally compare anything from clothing to electronics to airfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don\u2019t want you to go to some electronics metasearch and look for hotels.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Okay! That wasn\u2019t funny. But never mind)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Role of Metasearch in the Hotel Industry<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Every hotel wants to be seen easily by travellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And metasearch engines present hoteliers just that. It provides a platform to advertise their hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the years, the importance of metasearch engines has increased in the hotel industry. During the initial days, they weren\u2019t able to grab a great share of the pie. But today, the picture is vastly different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a report, about 72.5% of travellers use metasearch engines<\/a> to find a hotel to book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can imagine how much of an impact it has made in the industry. And I am sure that you now understand why your hotel should be using metasearch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if you have been shying away from adding metasearch to your booking channels, then I must say, it\u2019s high time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hotel metasearch engines make it extremely easy for your guests to find your property. And the more visibility you have, the more likely you are to drive revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Difference Between Metasearch and OTA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
MANY people think metasearch engines and OTAs are the same (if not the same then at least similar to a great extent). However, that\u2019s not the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The major difference between the both is that OTAs sell inventory and metasearch engines don\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main focus of OTAs is to reduce the work for travellers. Hence, they allow travellers to book directly through the OTA website<\/a>. While metasearch lets guests compare hotel rates from various sites<\/p>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s a table for your better understanding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But! There\u2019s always a BUT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Things are sort of changing. Certain metasearch engines are now displaying booking buttons to let travellers book directly from the metasearch results. And this is mostly because of the emerging opportunities in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again, there\u2019s a downside to this as well. In one of my previous blogs<\/a>, I have mentioned that OTAs gather guest details that SOMETIMES bother hotels. And with this new feature by metasearch engines, the scenario could become sort of similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that\u2019s a completely different story. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
For now, let’s focus on the topic at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tips to Make the Most Out of Metasearch Engines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now that you have learned about metasearch engines, let me help you with some tips to increase bookings through hotel Metasearch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#1 Optimize your booking engine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This one goes without saying, but still, let\u2019s discuss it quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I talked about the differences between metasearch engines and OTAs, I mentioned that metasearch engines don\u2019t sell inventory. Rather, they redirect travellers to the hotel website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But can a hotel acquire direct reservations without a booking engine<\/a> (or a booking engine that isn\u2019t effective)? It’s unlikely!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The basis for increasing direct bookings<\/a> in a hotel is an optimized booking engine. Meaning, you need to ensure that you have a booking engine on your website that is absolutely well-structured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- It should support other devices such as mobile and tablet bookings<\/li>
- It must be user-friendly<\/li>
- It must include proper room and rate structure<\/li>
- The booking process should be as simple as possible<\/li>
- It should also include a secure payment gateway etc.<\/li>
- Must support or work in sync with Google\u2019s free hotel booking links<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These are just some of the points to consider. However, when you go about optimizing your booking there are a lot of other things involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do let me know if you would want me to write a dedicated blog on booking engine optimization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, if you\u2019re planning to get one for your website, here\u2019s something that can help you out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/span>
- Choose the right metasearch engine<\/a><\/li>\n
![\"difference](\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/T8zQQfJnMf_pTEnBH_bhNHOxyJ17C06668I5jzNTP6T2x3Gll1uD11A9i1IpNHU8ShEyhiU2ktwms8HVfd2qoST-zYdeUv7O9nMh2SpsE8ydp7SOBskZfW_HeCvvGDy4ZK0mz6P0\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Know](\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/502973\/87a037f1-154e-4e50-8076-5d89066b577f.png\")
<\/a><\/span>