Our Hotel Brokerage Breaks Down Airbnb’s OTA Announcement

Recently, Airbnb announced that they would start listing hotels on their site. It’s quite the script flip. Originally, hotel owners were wondering if Airbnb would be the next big competitor and if they had to worry about it taking away business. Now it looks like Airbnb may actually help hotels to drive business. Today our hotel brokerage experts assess this announcement and analyze how it will affect hotel owners.

Airbnb the New OTA?

Airbnb has made quite the name for itself in the travel industry over the past few years. With millions of users and bookings and an IPO on the way, it’s easy to see how much people love the concept. Moving into the online travel agency space may be a bold move, but it also makes sense. If people can find a better deal at a hotel, they may opt to stay there. Now all of their options will be located in one place, making it easier to compare and contrast booking options. The ability for users to weigh all of their options will be sure to attract even more new users, and hotel owners can definitely take advantage of this.  

How to Adapt

Right now, Airbnb is only including boutique and independent hotels in their listings, but they may consider bringing franchised hotels into the fold if they see demand for it. If you own a boutique hotel, our hotel brokerage experts recommend seriously considering listing your hotel on Airbnb. For one, they’re offering to charge a lower rate than most OTAs. Also, they have a huge built-in user base looking for unique experiences. If your hotel is unique, it’s sure to stand out in the listings. In short, it doesn’t seem like there’s much to lose by putting your hotel on the app.

On the other hand, if you own a franchised property, our hotel brokerage experts recommend just hanging tight and watching for updates. As we mentioned, Airbnb is probably already considering putting this offer out to franchised properties. If they see profits from this venture, there wouldn’t be much reason for them not to expand their offerings.  

Contact Our Hotel Brokerage Today

Our hotel brokerage is always staying on top of the latest trends in the industry. This is because we want our clients to be working with the most knowledgeable and experienced hotel brokers possible. At Southeast International Hotel Brokers, we work with you through every step of buying or selling your hotel, answering any questions you may have along the way. For more information, and to speak with a member of our hotel brokerage team, contact us today. Remember to keep up with our blog for the latest industry updates.