A hotel booking engine is a specialized type of booking engine that is designed specifically for the hotel industry.
NB: This is an article from RateGain
It allows customers to search for and book rooms at hotels directly through a hotel’s website or mobile app. The hotel booking engine typically allows customers to search for available rooms based on various criteria, such as date of stay, number of guests, room type, and price.
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It also allows customers to view detailed information about each room, including photos and amenities, and to make reservations and complete transactions online. Some hotel booking engines also offer additional features such as the ability to add or modify reservations, or to make special requests such as extra beds or early check-in.
How does an online booking engine work?
An online booking engine works by connecting customers with suppliers of travel products and services, such as airlines, hotels, rental car companies, and tour operators. The booking engine acts as an intermediary, allowing customers to search for and compare products, make reservations, and complete transactions online.
When a customer visits the website of a company that uses an online booking engine, they can use the search function to find available products and services based on their desired travel dates, destination, and other criteria. The booking engine will then search through the inventory of the suppliers it is connected to and return a list of options that match the customer’s search criteria.
Once the customer has found a product or service that they want to book, they can proceed to the reservation process. The booking engine will then collect the customer’s personal and payment information, and will use this information to make the reservation with the supplier. The customer will then receive a confirmation of their reservation via email.
The online booking engine will also handle the payment for the transaction, by charging the customer’s credit card or through other payment methods available and the payment will be processed through a secure payment gateway.
In summary, an online booking engine works by providing a user-friendly interface for customers to search, compare, and book travel products and services, while also handling the backend processes of connecting with suppliers, collecting customer information, and processing payments.
What is the necessity of an online hotel booking engine?
An online hotel booking engine is necessary for several reasons:
- Increased Efficiency: An online booking engine allows customers to make reservations and complete transactions 24/7, without the need for human assistance. This means that the hotel can take bookings even when the front desk is closed, increasing the efficiency of the hotel’s operations.