Question 1

Is HotelOnline an OTA?

Accepted Answer

No. HotelOnline is a B2B hospitality technology partner. We help hotels bring their own properties online, manage their operations and share rates and availability with their own websites and connected third-party channels. We do not operate a consumer marketplace or offer direct B2C bookings on a HotelOnline booking site. When a guest makes a direct reservation with a HotelOnline Website Booking Engine, they book on that hotel’s own website.

Question 2

What is the difference between an OTA, a booking engine and HotelOnline?

Accepted Answer

An online travel agency (OTA) is a consumer-facing marketplace where travellers can discover and reserve stays. A booking engine is the reservation path on a hotel’s own website. HotelOnline provides the hospitality technology that helps hotel teams run their properties, maintain accurate availability and rates, support their direct website bookings and connect to selected third-party sales channels.

Question 3

What does a channel manager do for a hotel?

Accepted Answer

A channel manager helps a hotel publish and maintain rates and availability across connected online sales channels. When availability or pricing changes, it can help keep that information aligned so hotel teams have less repeated manual updating to do and guests are less likely to see outdated availability.

Question 4

What does a hotel PMS help a team manage?

Accepted Answer

A property management system (PMS) supports the hotel’s day-to-day operational work. Depending on the hotel’s configuration, that can include reservations, arrivals and departures, guest folios, room readiness, housekeeping coordination and payments. Its purpose is different from online distribution: it helps the hotel team run the property itself.

Question 5

Can a hotel use direct booking and OTA distribution together?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Direct website reservations and third-party distribution have different roles. A hotel can use its own website to give guests a direct booking route while also making selected inventory available through connected third-party channels. Connected hotel technology helps the team keep the operational and distribution view aligned.

Question 6

I'm already on Booking.com. Can I also be on other OTAs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A hotel can work with more than one online travel agency when its distribution setup supports those connections. A channel manager can help keep rates and availability aligned across the channels you choose, reducing repeated manual updates and helping the team avoid showing outdated availability.

Question 7

Can I have direct bookings on my website if I'm already on an OTA?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Direct website bookings and OTA distribution can work alongside one another. Your hotel website gives guests a direct way to check availability and reserve with you, while selected third-party channels can help extend reach. The key is to manage availability and rates thoughtfully across those channels.

Question 8

Is there a better way than email to receive direct online bookings?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A website booking engine gives guests a clearer online reservation path than sending an email request. It can present available rooms and rates at the time of booking, capture the reservation details in a structured way and help the hotel team respond with a more reliable operational record.

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