Theory: Travel Agency Platforms

3. Travel agents

The following chapter will shortly outline the different online travel agents. Some might be more commonly known than others but the less well known one might be an interesting read for you and your business. By diversifying your knowledge of these travel agencies, you can diversify your income and the people you share your place with.

TripAdvisor

An online travel and dining site, TripAdvisor.com is primarily focused on user reviews and other user-generated content. But it also includes an integrated hotel booking service. The business was established in 2000 and has its headquarters in Needham, Massachusetts, in the United States.
Tourism Sector: Food & Beverage, Accommodation, Entertainment & Recreation


Link: tripadvisor.com


AirBnB

With the majority of its homes situated outside of major hotel areas, Airbnb is renowned for giving customers access to a variety of distinctive lodging options throughout the globe. As the home-sharing giant enters the online hotel distribution business, Airbnb has transformed the travel accommodations sector. According to Airbnb's website, this travel company has a wide range of offerings that are available to practically everyone, from air beds in flats to magical castles. As you can verify your guests' identities, Airbnb offers a certain level of security. Also, feedback from past hosts can help you determine how your visitor behaves while a guest.

Tourism Sector: Accommodation, Entertainment & Recreation


Link: Airbnb.com

Booking.com

One of the biggest and most well-known travel websites in the world, Booking.com, books more than 1.5 million nights every single day. (Top Online Travel Agencies, 2022) More than 50 million verified guest reviews of properties in more than 200 countries can be found on its website and mobile apps, which are available in 43 different languages.

Tourism sector: Accommodation, Travel and Tourism


Link: Booking.com

Vrbo

In the industry, VRBO is regarded as a pioneer. They offer homeowners a platform to advertise their holiday homes online in more than 100 different nations. Also, they connect with a large group of tourists that could become your visitors. Property managers can also use VRBO's listing services in addition to homeowners. When customers pay for their reservations on Vrbo, they can also get travel insurance. In addition to being well-known for being a component of one of the biggest travel organizations in the world, VRBO is highly regarded as a reliable business.

Tourism Sector: Accommodation


Link: vrbo.com

Olivers Travels

Oliver's Travels brings      your over 1900 unique and quirky luxury villas and chateaus from all across the globe. Each property is handpicked by their team to ensure the best quality for their customers. With nearly 20 years of experience in the field, they have sent over 100,000 happy customers on holiday each year.

Tourism Sector: Accommodation


Link: https://www.oliverstravels.com/

Skyscanner

Skyscanner is an aggregator website that compares costs from all OTAs, airlines, hotels, and car rental firms using a metasearch engine. Skyscanner frequently identifies the greatest deals and enables travelers to save significantly on lodging and travel. Once you've made your choice, Skyscanner will transfer you to the third party's booking page so you can finalize your reservation and book your flight.

Tourism Sector: Travel & Tourism


Link: skyscanner.net

Hostel World

With more than 12 million ratings from travellers, HostelWorld is a prominent OTA for hostel-focused accommodations worldwide. They also include hotels, bed and breakfasts, and other low-cost lodging options in their portfolio. Using its mobile app and online booking tools, Hostelworld wants to be a pioneer in social travel by meeting the demands of travellers who wish to connect with others while exploring their surroundings. Twenty different languages are supported by their website and app.

Tourism Sector: Accommodation


Link: https://www.hostelworld.com/

Bonappetour

A community marketplace called BonAppetour links tourists with nearby home cooks to provide a special home-dining experience wherever in the world. Their goal is to make eating at home a crucial component of every unforgettable trip experience. You can opt from a variety of distinctive eating experiences provided by our carefully chosen host community, such as a paella making session on a terrace in Barcelona, a sumptuous Italian feast with a "nonna" in Rome, and a traditional tea ceremony experience in Tokyo. Numerous BonAppetour travelers repeatedly tell us that their BonAppetour experience was the best part of their trip. Together with the billions of other tourists and visitors around the world, we can't wait to share this experience with you.

Tourism Sector: Entertainment & Recreation


Link: https://www.bonappetour.com/


HotelTonight

Owned by Airbnb, HotelTonight is a travel agency and metasearch engine that may be accessed through a website or mobile app. In the Americas, Europe, Japan, and Australia, it is used to make last-minute lodging reservations.

Tourism Sector: Accommodation


Link: https://www.hoteltonight.com/

All Trails

A mobile app for travel and fitness called AllTrails is used for leisurely outdoor pursuits. For outdoor pursuits including hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and winter sports, people frequently use AllTrails. Users of the service have access to a database of trail maps that also contains user evaluations and photos. Both online and offline use of these resources is possible, depending on the subscription status of the user.

Tourism Sector: Entertainment & Recreation


Link: https://www.alltrails.com/

Hopper

With the use of their own algorithm and historical data, the travel software Hopper, which is available on iOS and Android, seeks to help users cut the cost of airfare. Although several users reported using Hopper more as a research tool before booking directly with the airline or hotel, Hopper is free to download and you can choose to make a reservation straight through the app. According to the business, it can anticipate flight rates up to a year in advance with a 95 percent accuracy rate.

Tourism Sector: Accommodation, Travel & Tourism


Link: https://hopper.com/

Yelp

Yelp Inc. is an American firm that creates the Yelp.com website and the Yelp mobile app, both of which publish reviews submitted by the general public about establishments. Additionally, it runs the table reservation service Yelp Guest Manager.

Tourism Sector: Food & Beverage


Link: https://www.yelp.com/

WithLocals

Travelers can book private, customized tours with local hosts through the experiential tourism firm Withlocals. Withlocals is used as an example of the role and impact of the sharing economy on tourism - notably culinary tourism - and consumer demand for "authenticity" and "experiences," describing itself as seeking to achieve "mass personalization" rather than providing group or package tours.

Tourism Sector: Food & Beverage, Entertainment & Recreation


Link: withlocals.com

Klook

Klook provides their customers with joyful experiences, anytime, anywhere. They      offer things from best getaway deals to entrance to recreational parks, best restaurants in the city and even hotels and transportation to get their customers from point A to point B. It is a one stop shop for travellers.

Tourism Sector: Food & Beverage, Entertainment & Recreation, Accommodation, Travel and Tourism


Link: klook.com


GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is an online travel agency and marketplace for tour operators and excursions situated in Berlin. Both an iOS and Android mobile app and a website are available for access. GetYourGuide offers tickets for several tourist destinations as well as tours and excursions, activities like cooking lessons.

Tourism Sector: Entertainment & Recreation


Link: getyourguide.com


HappyCow

In order to help travelers and people everywhere locate plant-based / vegan options and wholesome cuisine, HappyCow was established in 1999. They are staffed by vegans and vegetarians and are administered by vegans from a vegan point of view. People from all over the world who are fervent about the vegan lifestyle as a healthy, ethical, and environmentally sustainable way of living now make up their online community. HappyCow is an ever-evolving internet center that provides millions of users with information about restaurants and health food stores each month

Tourism Sector: Food & Beverage


Link: https://www.happycow.net/