The world has shrunk within the palms. The tasks which previously would take hours are now accomplished in just a few clicks. In simple words, life is made easy. The impact of the faster adoption of digital infrastructure has revolutionised the tourism industry a lot. People who previously preferred offline bookings are now shifting towards online bookings.
So what had probably led people to move towards online? How did this shift happen with hotel bookings? What advantages do we get with these hotel booking apps?
Let’s explore the answers to these questions in this short, informative blog.
What made people shift to online hotel booking?
1. Ease of booking
Initially, people had to strain themselves by physically visiting hotels to enquire about room availability, price, and other details. Though having a computer made the bookings simpler, many weren’t familiar with handling them or surfing the internet.
Then came the era of online hotel and travel booking apps. They are commonly referred to as ‘online travel aggregators’. These platforms offer you a one-stop solution to book hotels as well as travel tickets.
An article by The Economic Times, published on 12th Jan 2016, stated that only 25% of hotel bookings were made online. But in another article released on 17th August, 2022, it highlighted that 74% of Indians prefer online mode for all travel-related bookings. That’s a significant rise, and is expected to rise further.
2. Authentic information and user reviews
Gone are the days when people were unable to find the best hotels and also the authentic details.
The hotel booking platforms now offer you a wide variety of hotels in all price ranges. The hotel details are now enriched with authentic details on the amenities provided by the hotel, images, location on the map, and user reviews. So knowing more about the hotels and verifying their service quality is now made easy.
3. Price comparison made simpler
It is practically difficult to find prices by physically visiting various hotels, and it is cumbersome to personally contact them.
With online booking platforms, you can easily shortlist hotels using price filters and compare them. So comparing prices is simple now.
4. The ‘near me’ needs a special mention
Before digitisation, people relied on the words of the locals to find the best hotels, especially in a new place. The suggestions by locals are usually biased, especially in tourist and pilgrimage destinations, because of the commission they receive from hotels.
The ‘near me’ came as a boon. Now you just have to click on the ‘near me’ button to see all nearby hotels. Don’t forget to turn on your location! Further, you can also use the location filter to shortlist and compare hotels in a particular location you prefer.
You can also search ‘hotels near me’ on Google to find the best hotels along with user ratings and reviews. A blog by Tech Magnate states that ‘near me’ hotel searches saw a growth of 19.71% on a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) basis. This indicates how helpful people find this feature.
5. Wider acceptance of UPI and other online payment modes
You book a hotel room, but are shocked to see someone else staying there. What’s the thing? Hotels can confirm the booking only when at least a small amount is paid as an advance.
With the help of online payment modes, the hotels can offer various payment modes. Online platforms feature payment gateways in compliance with the RBI Guidelines and Regulations. These payment gateways allow you to make secure and fast transactions online.
A press release published on the website of the Public Information Bureau (PIB) highlights a 46% rise in UPI transactions just in 2023. Given below is the UPI transaction volume in 2024, presented on the official website of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), India.
6. AI took the show
Manually sifting through features and reviews of various hotels leads to straining yourself. What if someone helps you to do that?
Take recourse on AI bots to help you in searching and finding the right hotels. In India, only a few platforms offer AI assistance to help you search and find the right hotels you need.
Beyond assisting you in searching and finding the right hotel, booking apps offer a personalised experience based on your past booking patterns.
Conclusion
The data by Mordor Intelligence states that the Indian Online Accommodation Market is expected to grow by a 10% CAGR to reach $14.58 billion by 2030. It indicates that more people are expected to use online platforms for hotel booking.
Choose the right hotel booking app, and enjoy a happy stay!
