Online hotel reservations are rapidly gaining popularity as the Internet provides a convenient platform for tourists and business travelers to search for their ideal hotel that will be their sanctuary during their stay abroad. As long as you are armed with a computer connected to the Internet, anyone can have access to the extensive database of hotels that they can browse and compare before making an instant reservation with minimal effort and effort.

The information that is available on these sites is more than enough to aid in the decision-making process. We will now study how the Internet has revolutionized the hotel reservation process in recent years.

The evolution of the hotel reservation process over the years

Hotel reservation procedures used to be primarily in the hands of hotels and travel agencies, but they have rapidly evolved to become easily accessible to the online consumer after the advent of the Internet.

In the past, travelers had to go through hotels or travel agencies to make a hotel reservation over the phone or in writing. There was limited information on room rates, services and facilities available to the traveler, except through printed brochures or newspaper advertisements, which can easily be overlooked. In addition, it took some time to get a response from hotels and travel agents, which allowed the traveler less space to make a quick decision on their reservation or change it.

After the internet age, all kinds of information about hotels becomes much more accessible, including the means of booking hotels online through web portals run by hotels or online travel agents. This has allowed travelers to take full control of their hotel reservation procedures, including changing reservations or making a last minute reservation should the situation arise. In such situation, they can even enjoy discounts and offers from the hotel and search for the best deals on various websites.

Lots of information on online travel agency sites

Today, hotel information is available on the websites of many online travel agencies through the exchange of such information between large hotel chains and online travel agencies. This means that these websites can promote and market the rooms of different hotel chains to online visitors, thus serving as a powerful advertising platform for these hotels. Such advertising is a win-win situation, as online travel agents can receive commission payments for every booking made through their sites. Even thousands of smaller online travel sites are getting in on the act, as the largest agents share the information with them.

In effect, this creates a large hotel information database that can be accessed by all online travel agents, providing the traveler with up-to-date information and prices, meaning they don’t have to check directly with the hotel. The more hotels access these sites, the more similar the information will be, so some online travel agents might negotiate with hotels to charge specially discounted rates to consumers to entice them to book through their website.

Controlled and targeted marketing by booking directly on hotel websites

Unlike the barrage of information about various hotels that is available on online travel agency websites, hotel reservation websites with attached booking engines allow for much more personalized and targeted marketing to your guests. With more detailed information on their offerings, the addition of more images, and the use of sophisticated web design such as flash animation and videos, it would be easier for hotels to distinguish themselves from the package through their own websites. In addition, a secure online payment system would also be guaranteed to guests, especially if the hotel chain is reputable, as well as the elimination of additional reservation fees that could be charged by intermediary websites.

Select a trusted hotel online booking website

Since the Internet is home to many sites that offer online hotel reservation services, it is not always easy to find one that is trustworthy and takes your needs and concerns into account. It is very important to find a website that you can trust, not only in regards to the reliability of hotel information and the provision of room rates that are kept up-to-date, but, more importantly, one on the that you can rest easy when making an online transaction through it. Direct hotel booking websites may come to mind, but I will recommend an online portal that has these features.