DirectBooker, an aggregator connecting hotels to artificial intelligence (AI) assistants, has announced supply agreements with five hotel chains including BWH Hotels and Radisson Hotel Group.
The company, a PhocusWire Hot 25 Startup for 2026, has also launched an app in ChatGPT and a connector in Claude.
U.S.-based DirectBooker said the hotel partnerships cover properties across Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
The startup was founded by executives from Tripadvisor and Google Travel—Steve Kaufer, Richard Holden and Sanjay Vakil—based on the direct booking opportunity AI-mediated search opens up for hotels.
The company uses model context protocol (MCP) to deliver real-time availability, rates and inventory to AI platforms.
CEO of DirectBooker Vakil believes hotels have a chance to “reset the dynamic” and shift bookings away from online travel agencies.
"Our partners understand that the moment to build this supplier-aligned infrastructure is now, before OTAs dominate the economics of this channel the way they did with traditional search,” he said.
"More travelers are using AI every day to plan their next trip, and at BWH Hotels, we’re committed to meeting our guests where they are. Partnering with innovative start-ups like DirectBooker allows us to move faster and test bold ideas with disruptors who are reshaping how travelers discover and engage with our brands," said Bill Ryan, chief technology officer of BWH Hotels.
Velit Dundar, VP of global ecommerce at Radisson Hotel Group said the partnership with DirectBooker strengthens the hotel group’s presence across AI platforms.
The startup is also working with hotel distribution and booking platforms including Cendyn, eviivo, Mirai, SiteMinder and Roiback to help small groups and independent properties with visibility on AI platforms.
“Through our partnership with DirectBooker, Mirai’s hotel clients will be able to compete for visibility in emerging AI-driven channels, reaching travelers with their direct rates and offers alongside the largest brands and recovering demand currently intermediated by OTAs,” said Pablo Delgado, managing partner and CEO America of Mirai.
Watch Kaufer, Holden and Vakil discuss the shifting hotel distribution landscape at The Phocuswright Conference 2025.
Reinventing hotel booking with AI - Holden, Kaufer and Vakil with Chris Hemmeter