Skift Take
Convergence is happening big time these days as online travel companies around the world, driven by the varied and changing accommodations' needs of their customers, are rapidly expanding and will continue to broaden their array of lodging options.
These are times of upheaval in the lodging industry, online and offline.
Just consider what's going on. TripAdvisor, which is starting to become a force in hotel bookings, is aggressively adding Airbnb-style apartment rentals for owners anywhere on the planet. Airbnb, which already offers everything from rooms to condos and yurts, is starting to onboard professionally managed vacation rentals.
Hotel chain Hyatt recently invested in and partnered with luxury home site Onefinestay and the two feel their accommodations' offerings are complementary. Hotel-power Expedia this week began adding vacation rentals to its sites in France and Germany.
Rio de Janeiro-based Hotel Urbano acquired short-term rental site House of Rio to meet the needs of travelers where demand outstrips hotel availabilities.
Meanwhile, Booking.com, which already offers 767,000 hotels, apartment hotels and vacation rentals, if you count about 60,000 under renovation or in the pipeline, is, like TripAdvisor, beginning to add Airbnb-type homestays.
It's All About the 'One Customer'
Priceline Group CEO Darren Huston articulated the dynamics
