Web Reservations International and Boo.com
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Loading ...In a previous post I mentioned a survey by Boo.com which prompted me to do a little more of my ow research into Boo.com and it’s parent company Web Reservations International. From what I can find through the WebResInt.com website, the company provides reservation services for 50,000 + accommodations providers around the world. Their business model is very interesting because they’re primary goal is to provide a non-gds distribution network for providers of all sizes including the small and independent providers. Needless to say, I am all for this type of network because it serves to provide access to an otherwise inaccessible product group and it gives providers a viable sales channel without the huge commissions or setup costs of using a GDS. By adding Boo.com to their stable of services, WebResInt is providing a younger, more sophisticated traveler with the ability to review and research destinations and providers before they book. Ultimately, the traveler is booking from a WebRes distributed provider, however, the difference is that WebRes doesn’t control the inventory or pricing. This means that the traveler is paying the market value for the product instead of a contrived value as is often the case with traditional distribution networks.
In summary, Boo.com is a good use of web 2.0 concepts to market product to online travelers. Will the site be successful in its goal of increasing bookings to its partners? If the site remains focused on the user content and not hotel room prices, then probably yes. Why? Because if community of users rally around a property then the site won’t have to.
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