VIDEO: Hotelbeds on the opportunity for hotels in the airline distribution channel

Hotels are missing out on the multi-billion dollar opportunity that the airline distribution channel presents.

While it’s hard to estimate the total value of of hotel accommodation sold via airlines, Hotelbeds believes it could be about $2 billion of the $100 billion of total ancillary revenue for carriers.

At the World Aviation Festival 2019 in London, PhocusWire spoke to Jon French, director of strategic partnerships for Hotelbeds, about the opportunity for both hotels and airlines.

He discussed how the airline distribution channel is one of the fastest growing channels for hotels and particularly, he believes, for about 120 airlines that have a sizeable leisure presence.

French added that while today sales via airlines are a small proportion of total hotel sales, distribution with existing airline partners is significant.

He pointed out some of the benefits including that the channel creates high-value, incremental business.

French also touched on the challenges of knocking on airlines’ doors.