Trade sources report that Amazon is expanding its hotel booking business in a big way. Although it has offered extreme markdowns on limited numbers of hotels for some time, the new move will apparently be into the mainstream of competitive-price bookings.
Amazon is apparently starting small, around the first of the year, with an initial focus on hotels within the extended New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle areas. As with other booking agencies, Amazon’s postings will include editorial content about destinations and activities.
For now, the extended program will post roughly the same prices you would see on Booking.com, Expedia, or any other major hotel-search online travel agency (OTA). (Amazon and the other big OTAs apparently take 15 percent to 20 percent off the top when they book hotels. That’s a big bite.) The only differentiating point, at least so far, is that hotels will accept Amazon local discount credits for all or some of the purchase price.
Given Amazon’s tremendous clout in the marketplace, its program certainly competes with the established OTAs. Beyond acceptance of discount vouchers, however, it remains to be seen if and how Amazon will become a go-to hotel buying site or just one of the gang. We’ll keep you posted.
You Might Also Like:
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Related
Top Fares From
Today's Top Travel Deals
Brought to you by ShermansTravel
Greece: 9-Night Vacation, Incl. Meteora &...
Exoticca
vacation $2099+Amsterdam to Copenhagen: Luxe, 18-Night Northern...
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
cruise $12399+Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati
85OFF.com
Car Rental $19+