The Traveling and hotels industry is one of the most important sectors within the wider hospitality sector. It provides overnight accommodation, meals and other services for people traveling from one place to another. Hotel accommodation is the most popular option and includes establishments that provide access to beds in private rooms, almost always with en suite bathrooms.

Bed and breakfasts are smaller establishments that offer a home away from home experience for travelers. They are often converted from private homes and may be a low-cost option or offer luxury facilities. Airbnb is an online marketplace for people to rent their personal space for a night or more, with many properties being reviewed by the platform before being added to the site.

Guiding booking choices with personalization improves the guest experience, secures future bookings and builds loyalty. For example, a hotel can automatically suggest restaurants or activities to book when a rewards program member books or a guest selects business travel as their reason for visiting. These machine-learning tools also respond to requests for additional information, such as when a yoga class is taking place or what time dinner is served.

OTAs can help hotels achieve specific business goals, such as achieving high average daily rates or increasing bookings during non-peak periods. They can also attract new guests who might otherwise be hard to reach with traditional marketing programs. Moreover, they can offer options such as room packaging to encourage guests to stay longer and more comprehensive packages that include air and ground transportation.