OTA
News and analysis relating to Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and their impact on hotel bookings, commission structures, rate parity, and digital distribution. Coverage includes OTA-hotel relationships, regulatory updates, and strategies hoteliers are using to manage their presence on major platforms like Booking.com and Expedia.
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Jun- 2025 -13 JuneHotel Brands
BWH Hotels GB launches new website to reduce reliance on OTAs
BWH Hotels GB has overhauled its digital platform in a move aimed at boosting direct bookings and reducing reliance on online travel agencies (OTAs) across its network of more than 230 independent UK hotels. The newly launched website, which features faster load times and a simplified booking process, forms part…
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May- 2025 -15 MayNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief – 15/5/25
Airbnb is expanding its platform to include a wide range of services and experiences, aiming to rival traditional hotels by offering more than just accommodation. In response to guest demand, the company is launching services like private chefs, massages, spa treatments, personal trainers, and more in 260 cities. CEO Brian…
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15 MayHotels
UK hospitality sector sees 7% uptick in direct bookings in Q1
Direct bookings in the UK hotel sector has seen a robust growth of 7% year on year rather than going via a third party OTA’s (Online Travel Agents such as Booking.com and Tripadvisor), according to recent in-house research by BestBookDirect.com. The research, which sought the views of a random sample…
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Apr- 2025 -8 AprilFeatures
The future of AI in UK hotels
The hospitality industry is in the midst of a transformative shift driven by artificial intelligence (AI). As technology continues to evolve, AI is becoming increasingly integral to operations across hotels of all sizes. From streamlining content management to improving the guest journey, AI is enhancing both the efficiency of hotel…
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Jan- 2025 -23 JanuaryFeatures
How hotels can tackle Budget changes now
The implementation of the Autumn Budget 2024 comes at a time when many hotels have been grappling with balancing the books to ensure they remain profitable. By April 2025, businesses need a plan of action to tackle the additional costs that are set to hit the industry to a tune…
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Jul- 2024 -30 JulyHotels
Horwood House doubles revenue after new booking strategy
Luxury country house hotel Horwood House has recently doubled its booked revenue following the implementation of a new digital booking strategy. The positive upturn in revenue comes as the result of a new partnership with hotel technology provider and booking specialist Net Affinity. The hotel in Buckinghamshire is currently owned…
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Jun- 2024 -24 JuneFeatures
Effective strategies to advertise and promote your hotel
In the competitive arena that is the UK hospitality industry, effective advertising and promotion are important to attract guests and ensure business growth. As advertising has become increasingly digital it has both made it easier for hotels to build awareness whilst also making it more difficult to reach people in…
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Mar- 2024 -13 MarchFeatures
How can hotels maximise direct bookings?
The primary goal for any business striving for consistent revenue is to boost sales. To enhance profitability and cultivate positive guest relationships in your hotel, it’s crucial to recognise the advantages of securing direct bookings. While there are numerous benefits to increasing the share of direct bookings, the most significant…
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13 MarchPeople
Almost 70% of hoteliers considering quitting due to stress
Nearly 70% of hoteliers in the UK are considering quitting the industry as a result of stress according to a survey from Profitroom. In a survey of 1000 general managers 72% of hoteliers describe their stress levels as “high” during peak Christmas and summer periods. Adapting to the dynamic market…
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Nov- 2023 -10 NovemberSponsored
OTA Insight rebrands as Lighthouse amid launch of a Unified Commercial Platform
OTA Insight, the global leader in cloud-based market intelligence for the travel and hospitality industry, has rebranded to Lighthouse. The rebrand consolidates multiple products and acquired companies into a single, unified commercial platform. This shift marks a significant milestone in the company’s continued evolution as a unified platform that fundamentally…
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