Hotel Booking Engine Selection

[ClaudioHeilborn]

Hi there!

There´s a subject that comes to my mind every now and then, something which we always thought as a subject to discuss in a forum like moz´s: Hotel Booking engines, conversion codes, and overall user experience related to them.

In these days, we are trying to help one of our clients to select the best booking engine SEO wise, but basically really oriented in measuring conversions and conversions funnels, and with confirmed excellent overall user experience.

We are sick and tired on having booking engines which will “magically” change url once we get into the process of booking, this brings enormous doubts for the user who doesn´t really know where the hell is he putting his money (booking) hence, a very bad user experience. Not really sure we like iframes either, as we believe Google will not be able to access any data from the booking process once the iframe appears as we lose all control and also the possibility to handle conversion funnels or reading anything inside this frame.

Usually we have also problems “losing” adwords conversion and analytics codes which we have to check periodically getting into the booking engine and making trial acquisitions which are time consuming and boring… then when detected the fault, claim the supplier to re load codes again, as they have being "lost" (once again), probably in some irresponsable update of the booking engine.

Some Hotel Booking Engine Brands are “Google Hotel Finder” friendly (partners?), others, on the other hand, are completely ignored by Google and just OTA´s prices are displayed and offered by means of Google Hotel Finder, not showing official hotel rates and not even giving the possibility of making reservations using the “official” website.

Adding to this, we usually find naïve programming issues with infinite problems when changing languages, different currencies, trying to go back to your previous selections, no wonder why booking is having his day in this so competitive market.

Any good and thoroughly checked suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Claudio Heilborn @ MD Marketing Digital Spain