While this latest announcement initially talks of Priceline’s global hotel inventory, it later says “some of the online travel brands” will participate with Booking.com slated to go first and the development work already started.
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TripAdvisor added hotel inventory from Booking.com – 235,000 hotels worldwide – to its Instant Booking feature.
Priceline and Expedia Inc had initially declined to join TripAdvisor’s instant bookings platform, fearing the move would increase competition.
Booking.com, one of Priceline’s several online travel brands, will be the first to implement the partnership through its global network of accommodations.
TripAdvisor launched its instant booking platform to USA consumers in June 2014. Visitors to TripAdvisor’s site will be able to see Booking.com-branded hotel listings and click on the “Book Now” button.
This summer Google entered the travel market, launching its own direct booking service, while Airbnb is expected to steal a substantial amount of business from sites such as Booking.com as it continues to shake the foundations of the hospitality industry. Our mission is to help people experience the world, and we are constantly innovating how and where we engage with consumers to help them do this. The Needham-based company will notify customers that their hotel booking is powered by Booking.com, and Booking.com representatives will handle the customer relations.
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TripAdvisor shares jumped 24 percent to $82.85 and Priceline fell 2 per cent to $1,317.69 in early afternoon trading. Just before 10 a.m. Wednesday the TripAdvisor stock price was up almost 20 percent, to $80.
