How the new integrated flight and hotel booking solution will transform the hospitality industry
Booking Engine 04/02/2025
The hospitality industry is continuously seeking new ways to enhance direct sales, reduce cancellations, and create seamless experiences for travelers. One of the most promising advancements in this area is the emergence of an integrated flight and hotel booking solution in the accommodation's direct channel booking process. This system, designed to work directly within a hotel’s website, offers a transformative approach to boosting revenue and improving the customer journey.
For many hotels, direct sales reach a plateau when focused solely on room bookings. Integrating flight options opens the door to entirely new market segments. This is especially impactful for destinations reliant on air travel, such as islands or long-haul markets. By catering to travelers from regions with strong package vacation traditions hotels can tap into a broader audience that might otherwise rely on tour operators or online travel agencies (OTAs). Additionally, some hoteliers, after consulting with their guests, have discovered that up to 60% of those who did not book directly would have done so if the option to reserve flights had been available.
Traditional flight-and-hotel booking options often involve redirecting users to external platforms, creating friction and a disjointed user experience. In contrast, native integration within a hotel’s booking engine ensures a seamless process. Travelers remain on the hotel’s official website throughout, enjoying a fluid and intuitive experience without interruptions or URL changes. This not only enhances user satisfaction but also helps hotels retain control over the booking process.
As the industry continues to evolve, integrated solutions like these represent a significant shift in how hotels approach direct sales. By eliminating barriers and creating confidence throughout the booking journey, hotels can not only enhance their competitiveness but also deliver superior experiences for their guests.
Currently, the only solution of this kind available in the market is Oceanflights, developed by Maarlab and integrated by Paraty Tech into their booking engine. Oceanflights allows hotels to seamlessly incorporate flight options into their direct booking process. As Raúl Domínguez, CEO of Maarlab, states, “This solution proposes a new model of collaboration and technological integration that will change the rules of the game in the commercialization of tourism experiences in the coming years.” Gina Matheis, CEO of Paraty Tech, adds, “Our goal is to equip hotels with tools that enhance their competitiveness, providing a unique traveler experience while strengthening the direct channel.”
Expanding Market Reach
For many hotels, direct sales reach a plateau when focused solely on room bookings. Integrating flight options opens the door to entirely new market segments. This is especially impactful for destinations reliant on air travel, such as islands or long-haul markets. By catering to travelers from regions with strong package vacation traditions hotels can tap into a broader audience that might otherwise rely on tour operators or online travel agencies (OTAs). Additionally, some hoteliers, after consulting with their guests, have discovered that up to 60% of those who did not book directly would have done so if the option to reserve flights had been available.
Seamless integration: A game-changer
Traditional flight-and-hotel booking options often involve redirecting users to external platforms, creating friction and a disjointed user experience. In contrast, native integration within a hotel’s booking engine ensures a seamless process. Travelers remain on the hotel’s official website throughout, enjoying a fluid and intuitive experience without interruptions or URL changes. This not only enhances user satisfaction but also helps hotels retain control over the booking process.
Benefits for hoteliers
- Increased direct sales: By offering flight-and-hotel packages, hotels can boost direct bookings by 10-15%, capturing customers who might otherwise book through intermediaries.
- Reduced cancellations: Adding non-refundable flight tickets to reservations reduces cancellations by up to 94%, providing greater booking certainty.
- Enhanced market insights: Hotels gain access to real-time data on flight routes and demand, enabling them to optimize marketing strategies and tailor their offerings.
- Pricing flexibility: Package deals allow for greater price opacity, enabling hotels to adjust rates strategically and minimize the impact of competitor pricing.
Benefits for travelers
- Simplified booking process: Travelers can book flights and accommodations in one seamless transaction, eliminating the stress of coordinating separate reservations.
- Trust and security: Booking directly through the hotel’s website provides a sense of security, supported by industry certifications such as ATOL and IATA.
- Better value and service: With no intermediaries, travelers enjoy competitive prices and a more personalized experience tailored to their needs.
A Vision for the future
As the industry continues to evolve, integrated solutions like these represent a significant shift in how hotels approach direct sales. By eliminating barriers and creating confidence throughout the booking journey, hotels can not only enhance their competitiveness but also deliver superior experiences for their guests.
The current landscape
Currently, the only solution of this kind available in the market is Oceanflights, developed by Maarlab and integrated by Paraty Tech into their booking engine. Oceanflights allows hotels to seamlessly incorporate flight options into their direct booking process. As Raúl Domínguez, CEO of Maarlab, states, “This solution proposes a new model of collaboration and technological integration that will change the rules of the game in the commercialization of tourism experiences in the coming years.” Gina Matheis, CEO of Paraty Tech, adds, “Our goal is to equip hotels with tools that enhance their competitiveness, providing a unique traveler experience while strengthening the direct channel.”