Why package bookers are key to boosting occupancy & revenue

Research shows that travel packages attract high-value travelers: those who book multi-item trips stay longer, book earlier, and cancel less than those that book individual trip elements.¹  So what is a travel package? A package is a bundled booking transaction containing at least two major travel products, such as flights, hotel rooms, car rentals, and approved services.²

When you incorporate Expedia Group into your distribution strategy, you have the opportunity to bundle your rooms in package promotions that deliver results—such as fewer cancellations and more reliable demand share to increase revenue. Packages are flexible and can be configured to complement your revenue management strategy. You can target to specific markets, or limit the offering to travelers booking a specific period in advance, staying a specific number of nights, or booking within a specific date range.

Travelers who book packages often use OTAs to search for flights and hotels, and 61% of package bookers booked on an OTA like Expedia.³ When choosing where to plan and book a trip, package bookers prioritize an easy to use website (43%),⁴ emphasizing the importance of providing travelers with more choice and seamless end-to-end booking experiences.

Our package promotions provide travelers with a price discount when a participating hotel is booked as part of a trip and offer you a unique opportunity to increase visibility by cross-promoting your hotel alongside more than 500 airlines, over 120 car rental companies, and more.

Partners who offer package promotions benefit from increased visibility across Expedia Group brands, as well as access to our B2B Distribution Network of more than 60,000 partners spanning travel agencies, airlines, and corporate travel companies.

Our Traveler Value Index study found that getting a discount for booking a package is among the top three most appealing deals to travelers.

As package pricing is opaque, you can capitalize on consumer preferences in travel booking by offering discounts while protecting your published rates. Opaque pricing enables you to keep your rates competitive while ultimately increasing your revenue potential.

Pro Tip: Rev+ provides you with rate intelligence so you can easily see how your package rates compare to your competitive set. These insights are designed so you can identify the gaps and take action to capture more share from these travelers. 

Package promotions are a high-impact solution if you want to increase reach and conversion from travelers who book earlier, stay longer, and are less likely to cancel.

Pro Tip: Be aware of popular booking periods and adjust your booking window in Partner Central to accommodate for longer trip planning lead times for package bookers.

On average, properties with a package offer see over 5% increase in gross booking value. This increases to over 10% outside of the U.S. and to over 10% at properties with more than 25 rooms.⁸

Sapporo View Hotel Odori Park in Japan partnered with Expedia Group to offer package promotions that would support their strategy of attracting more domestic and international travelers outside of Hokkaido. Since travelers usually need to book a flight to get to the property, capturing package share is key for the hotel.

Data and insights from Partner Central revealed that Sapporo View Hotel Odori Park was well below the average package share in the market, which helped the partner understand the value of setting up packages to stay competitive in the market.

The hotel was able to customize its package promotions and use sophisticated targeting to optimize visibility with the desired audiences, including targeting specific markets and countries by providing better rates for international travelers and adjusting for seasonality. In addition to packages, their larger promotion strategy with Expedia Group included discounts for length of stay, mobile bookings, and Members Only Deals.

Are you ready to build a stronger distribution strategy and tap into the power of package promotions? Sign in to Partner Central and set up a new package promotion to help boost your occupancy and revenue.