Major Travel Affiliates- Are They Joking?

How can this be?

[Heartlander]

I recently started a new travel oriented site, and already had a few travel related affiliate programs lined up.
Figuring I happen to have a business trip coming up, I thought I'd go through the process of signing up through one of my search boxes- save a few bucks by making a few bucks.

Well, I had no idea these things are so damn secretive about what you are paying for until after you've given them your credit card number!
There is a link while going through the process that goes to this:

When do I learn the hotel's name?
Quick answer: Immediately after booking.

Here's more:

Once you book your room, we immediately complete your reservation and show you the full
hotel information:.........

Excuse me...but how the hell are we supposed to make any money with that?
I certainly didn't book anything after seeing that- would you? (gasp)

This is a major online travel site affiliate partnership, mind you.
So how often do people plan for travel without even knowing WHERE the hotel is located, let alone what amenities it has?

[edited by: Heartlander at 1:41 am (utc) on Aug. 7, 2006]

[eljefe3]

I would think these types of sites/programs have an agreement with the hotels to not publish their names as the price you get with these types of sites is much less than the hotel wants to advertise. Most of these types at least allow you to pick an area, class of service etc. so you have a pretty good idea of what you'll be getting.

[hunderdown]

I've booked hotels on a site like that. Got a very nice rate--about half the advertised--for the location I wanted. That's just the way it works.

Let's face it, among the hotel chains, are there meaningful differences between them within the price range each one targets? I certainly don't care what chain I stay at. I just want a good price. And it's those chains that you will be booking rooms at.

(If someone has committed to a chain to get reward points, they'd book directly with them, so you aren't losing that business.)

[gamiziuk]

Heartlander, I know which travel site you are referring to. I would not put their links on my sites for the same reason.

There are other places with other options you can look into.
Hotels.com, login at ian.com (Hotels, flights, car rentals, cruises)

There also was Lodging.com, which was bought by Orbitz. I still have accounts with Lodging, but I do not see a way to sign up as a new affiliate. They may have discontinued new signups.

[edited by: eljefe3 at 2:11 am (utc) on Aug. 8, 2006]

[Heartlander]

Actually my site caters to business travelers- so amenities are probably very important to our visitors- hence the reason the affiliate I was using wouldn't be so, ummm..."Hot".

Thanks for the tips!

[hunderdown]

Actually my site caters to business travelers- so amenities are probably very important to our visitors- hence the reason the affiliate I was using wouldn't be so, ummm..."Hot".

I guess I didn't make myself clear. My point was that for a given price range--let's say $100-125 a night--what you get from the chains in terms of amenities is not going to vary much from one company to another. In the instance I cited, I got all the amenities a typical business traveler would want, and paid a good bit less than the going rate.

Having said that, it's a site that people tend to go straight to, so probably not a good candidate for affiliate marketing.

[BriGuy20]

One company (with a famous-again spokesperson) has made this their primary business model (I think they've branched out into the know-what-hotel-you're-booking-first area just recently). Since I'd say the general public has some idea how this model works, I don't think you'd have a problem converting customers. You might want to offer the price-first model side by side with the company-first model to give your visitors a choice.

[Heartlander]

Having said that, it's a site that people tend to go straight to, so probably not a good candidate for affiliate marketing.

I've always wondered myself what the point of a travel affiliate is anyway, given that one can simply go right to the site.
Although, a specific travel related site may offer much more that appeals to it's visitors- and "Hey, while we're here we may as well book our trip."

I did end up finding a better alternative, BTW = )

[edited by: Heartlander at 10:49 pm (utc) on Aug. 9, 2006]