1) Advanced Technology
It’s no secret that technology has become an integral part of every business. As an OTA, it’s essential to collaborate with a hotel API supplier that offers flexibility and scalability that aligns with your platform. A supplier with advanced technology and reliable hotel booking API is crucial. Furthermore, having a smooth integration, a rigorous certification process, comprehensive documentation, and technical support are all essential factors to consider.
2) Competitive Pricing
It is essential to ensure that the hotel API supplier offer competitive rates that align with your business models and target audience be it budget travelers or luxury seekers, or corporate.
- Frequent Updates: Verify the supplier provides frequent and accurate price updates to avoid discrepancies and customer dissatisfaction.
- Reasonable Commissions: Negotiate commission rates that are fair and allow your OTA to achieve its revenue goals.
- Customization Flexibility: Choose a supplier that allows you to configure and use custom rates for specific customer segments.
- Member Benefits: If you have a membership program, look for a supplier that offers closed user group (CUG) rates for your members.
- Inventory Range: Consider the type of accommodation your target market seeks. For example, a good coverage of affordable options like 3 or 4-star hotels, hostels, and apartments. Focusing on these key aspects can help you select a hotel API supplier that supports your business model, pricing strategy, and customer needs, ensuring that your online travel agency platform can achieve its revenue goals.
3) Massive Inventory
Selecting the right hotel booking API supplier with a proper inventory is crucial. Your customers have a wide range of preferences when it comes to hotels, so you need a supplier that offers a vast selection of properties in popular destinations such as Expedia, Agoda, and more. Choosing suppliers that provide real-time availability and rates can help your OTA offer accurate and seamless booking experience for your customers.
4) Rich Hotel Content
Accurate hotel information is crucial for travel businesses that includes details like room availability, photos, star ratings, and even geocodes for mapping. With this information, customers can make confident booking decisions. In turn, this builds trust and loyalty, ultimately boosting sales.
5) Destination Specific Suppliers
One of the most important aspects of running OTA is to partner with destination specific suppliers as they have a strong presence in their region. They can also provide you with the best hotel inventory, products and competitive prices which can then generate a good number of sales. Thus, identifying what destination your customers might like to visit, you can choose a particular supplier in the region to expand your reach as well as revenue.
6) Prioritize Data Security
Choose a supplier with a strong commitment to protecting your customers’ information. Look for evidence of compliance with industry regulations and security best practices. This might include robust encryption protocols, firewalls, and other measures to safeguard sensitive data.
7) Seamless Customer Experience
Prioritize suppliers offering exceptional online customer support. A robust operational infrastructure is equally important. They should handle post-booking confirmations efficiently and address customer inquiries promptly, ensuring a smooth experience for your travelers. Consider a supplier that offers 24/7 support to address booking issues quickly, minimizing customer frustration and ensuring a smooth experience.
8) Contractual Terms
The supplier you choose could make or break your OTA’s success. That’s why it’s crucial to ensure that their contract terms align with your business objectives and goals. You need to make sure that the contract includes all the essential details, such as the supplier’s obligations, your obligations, pricing, termination, and dispute resolution.
A contract with unclear or unfavorable terms could lead to misunderstandings and conflicts that could hurt your business in the long run. To avoid this, work with a supplier that offers flexible contract terms and is willing to negotiate terms that work for both parties.
By paying attention to these details, you’ll be setting your OTA up for success and ensuring a strong partnership with your supplier.
Building a Strong Partnership
To ensure a successful collaboration, consider a supplier’s reputation for providing high-quality hotel inventory and reliable service. Research online reviews, testimonials, and references from other OTAs. Ideally, speak with existing clients to gauge their satisfaction.
