Booking.com, the Netherlands-based accommodation site, has followed other online players by introducing a flash deals section across its European sites.
Unlike others, Priceline-owned Booking.com is not partnering with a third party for the deals and claims existing relationships with hotels make the flash deals easy to create.
In July Expedia unveiled Groupon Getaways on its US site but the move was later questioned by Jeffery Boyd, chief executive of priceline.com, booking’s parent company.
Boyd was critical of Expedia sending consumers to another brand with the message that they could get a better deal.
His comments are supported research from usasbility specialist Usabilla which shows consumers are distrustful of being offered better deals when they come to a site.
A spokesperson for Booking.com says the value of flash deals could diminish if a number of sites were offering the same deals.
“booking feels there is sustainable value in offering unique deals that are not being promoted elsewhere.”
Read my blogpost about my experience with booking.com. A traditional travel agent that I got thru Tripology forewarned me. I didn’t listen. Read this: http://spagypsies.blogspot.com/2011/09/bookingcom-warning.html
This isn’t related to this article
@peggy – second time this week you’ve used the comments section of Tnooz to talk about your Booking.com experience.
Tut tut.
Especially now you’re annoying other readers.
Something that keeps popping up in my head is why it took so long for Booking and co to launch a flash deals section with all the inventory they have contracted. it’s not like Groupon or Voyage Prive has invented the concept after all.
why would they voluntarily reduce their margin if they don’t see volume in these sales diluting their core product?
if they now feel they should offer flash sales, this might be due to their observation that users tend to book more sponaneous.