Hotel Distribution 2020 Part I: The Channel Mix
Skift Take
Report Overview
Hotel distribution is a complex process. In a market where demand fluctuates strongly, and a myriad network of channels compete for sales of the same room inventory, hotels need to understand how the different channels operate and have a clear strategy in place to allow for the best possible distribution of their rooms.
Skift Research has put together two reports to tackle this crucial element in hotel operations. In this first report, we focus on providing a greater understanding of the key issues that are shaping the channel mix, focusing on the major channels of direct booking, OTAs, and bed banks and wholesalers. We also discuss the role of metasearch engines.
Together with the second report, which will focus on the technology landscape and tech vendors that enable hotel distribution, this series provides a consensus view of the key issues and main opportunities for hoteliers, tech vendors, and distribution platforms to come out of the current pandemic-induced crisis.
What You'll Learn From This Report
- How hotels distribute their rooms to a complex web of channels, and how the COVID pandemic has impacted this
- How direct bookings have grown as part of the channel mix, and the importance of Net RevPAR
- The size and reach of the largest OTAs, and how their relationship with hotels has evolved
- The role of bed banks in the hotel distribution landscape, and how disruption might be coming
- How the hotel metasearch bidding process works, and why Google will only grow its influence
- How we expect COVID, and other disruptions, to impact the future of hotel distribution
