Orbitz objects
Orbitz Worldwide said it would pursue "legal remedies" to address travel search engine Kayak.com’s decision to take hotel bookings on its website through a partnership with the Travelocity Partner Network. Read More
For the first time, travel search engine Kayak.com will take direct hotel bookings on its website through a partnership with the Travelocity Partner Network.
Kayak’s model has been to transfer users to online agencies or to hotel supplier websites for purchases.
Kayak said the ability to book hotels will be fully released on the company’s sites and iPhone application in the coming weeks.
"Our users value that we give them choices on where to book, though some people would prefer to complete their purchases without leaving Kayak," Kayak CEO Steve Hafner said in a statement. "For people who use Kayak's mobile app in particular, this will make booking much easier."
Robert Birge, Kayak’s chief marketing officer, further explained that 5 million people have downloaded Kayak to their smartphones and are often transferred to hotel sites that do not have mobile-enabled websites, which is a "roadblock" to their purchase.
Kayak is launching the feature through the Travelocity Partner Network, meaning Travelocity will process the transactions and provide customer service for Kayak.