SEATTLE
Amazon.com, Inc. is reportedly readying a foray into the online hotel bookings industry, according to an exclusive report from Skift, a popular travel news and marketing website.
According to the news report, Amazon will initially showcase properties located near major cities, including those within driving range of New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle, and the service is expected to go live early in the new year.
Skift reportedly "checked in" with reps of three independent hotels, two of which had signed up with Amazon’s new service and one that was considering the possibility. In Amazon’s business model, properties would enter their room types, availability, pricing information, and images into an Amazon extranet and would pay a standard 15 percent commission to Amazon for any prepaid bookings, according to the hoteliers interviewed for the report.
Amazon would reportedly flesh out the content on its Amazon Travel platform with editorial on attractions and other things to do in the destination. Skift also reported that, at least at first, Amazon would focus on hotels—not air travel or other products.
Meetings Focus will provide updates as the situation evolves.
