When it comes to travel, we tend to focus on what’s familiar—what we see in front of the curtain. From a traveler’s perspective, that usually means the platforms and people we interact with when booking a flight or hotel.
Let’s break it down.
The Usual Suspects: How We Book Travel
1. Supplier Direct Websites
These are the airline or hotel’s own booking sites—think Delta.com or Hyatt.com. You’re booking straight from the source.
2. Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)
These platforms aggregate travel options across many suppliers. Examples include Expedia, Booking.com, and Priceline.
3. Metasearch Engines
Sites like Google Flights or Kayak don’t actually sell you anything—they simply compare prices and redirect you to other sites to complete your booking.
4. Travel Agents
Yes, they still exist! Whether it’s a well-known agency like Liberty Travel or your neighborhood “mom and pop” shop, travel agents can handle the booking for you.
In the travel industry, all of these are known as distribution channels—they help distribute travel content (aka flights, hotels, etc.) to travelers like you.
But that leads to a question…
Why So Many Channels?
Why don’t airlines and hotels just sell everything through their own websites?
Simple: reach.
It’s the same reason you can buy an iPhone on Apple.com, at the Apple Store, or even at Best Buy and Costco. No single channel can reach everyone.
In travel, sales = distribution + marketing. These third-party channels help suppliers extend their reach, fill more seats and rooms, and market more effectively to different customer segments.
Next up? We’ll peek behind the curtain—and explore how this web of connections really works.
DecodedTrips 
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