Bookings.com says it is The Cheapest Paid Marketing for Hotels

Bookings.com Daren Huston on Direct Bookings vs OTAS says that Booking.com is the cheapest way for hotel to reach their markets.

As he puts in “First of all, we always pride ourselves on being the cheapest way to do your marketing. If you ask any owner, or any hotel, why they’re all on Booking.com, when they can all leave tomorrow, the reason is, it’s the cheapest way to do paid marketing.”

Just as importantly he  talk openly about the need for hotel to balance direct bookings vs distribution via OTAs


http://markhat.com/booking-com-darren-huston-on-direct-bookings-vs-otas/

Online Travel Sites Battle For Share But account for only 16% of USA market- Investors.com - MARKHAT.COM

While OTAs Account for Only 16% of USA Travel Market, they are in a fierce battle for domination with Expedia and Priceline taking 74% of the US Online Travel market.

http://marketinghotelsandtourism.com/otas-account-for-only-16percent-of-usa-travel-market/

Is TripAdvisor Strategy on Shaky Ground - SeekingAlha thinks so

SeekingAlpha, LN Investors looks at the rise and pitfalls facing TripAdvisor from an investment and financial point of view. It suggest that while TripAdvisor may be a more attractive stock than its direct competitors, their are problems ahead!
http://markhat.com/tripadvisor-strategy-on-shaky-ground/ Its move into the one stop booking business is being met and well be met with growing competion and already its margins are falling!

Travel Bookers Shift to Brand Sites -eMarketing - MARKHAT.COM

New Phocuswright study confirms that Travel Bookers Shift to Brand Sites and away from OTAs
http://markhat.com/travel-bookers-shift-to-brand-sites-from-otas-emarketing

In this article MarkHat.com looks at the trends and offers tips and free reports on power marketing strategies that will help hotels provide effective systems for travel bookers.