Is Online Booking Website Still Relevant In The OTA Era? | Forecepts

Is Online Booking Website Still Relevant In The OTA Era?

Is Online Booking Website Still Relevant In The OTA Era?

Is Online Booking Website Still Relevant In The OTA Era?

With dominant players like Expedia and Trip.com pouring massive marketing budgets into the online travel space, it's fair to ask: Is it still relevant for travel agencies to go online?

For agencies aiming to compete purely on price in the mass market, the answer may lean toward no. The race to the bottom for the cheapest fare is difficult to win against OTAs backed by scale and resources.

However, online presence remains essential—particularly for agencies with:

Niche audiences
High-value ticketing (e.g., Business or First Class)
Exclusive or tactical campaigns with specific airlines
Hybrid service models that combine automation with human expertise

Case Studies: Flatbeds (Australia)

FlatBeds specializes in Business Class airfares and caters to a premium travel segment. We developed a custom flight booking engine that’s seamlessly integrated with a headless CMS, allowing the publication of:

Airline news and updates

In-depth experience articles on cabin products and lounges

Curated premium fare deals

The booking engine supports both simple point-to-point itineraries and serves as a lead-in for complex bookings requiring personal consultation. One standout feature is integrated seat selection during booking—a capability not commonly found on many OTA platforms, providing additional convenience and transparency for travelers seeking comfort and control.

A Sabre profile integration ensures travelers maintain a single profile across both online and offline channels, creating a frictionless experience from self-service to expert support.

Case Studies: Sweet Travel (Kaohsiung, Taiwan)

Sweet Travel focuses on student fare ticketing, a niche often underserved by major OTAs. They also run tactical promotions for airlines like China Airlines and EVA Air, offering exclusive bundled deals to select destinations.

We’ve partnered with Sweet Travel since 2017 and are currently developing a revamped version of their platform, set to launch in July 2025, featuring:

NDC (New Distribution Capability Integration)

Flight + hotel bundling for flexible travel packages

If you're a travel business exploring how a customized flight booking platform can support your unique offerings and grow your online presence, we’d love to help. Let’s build something tailored to your audience and strategy.

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Building An Online Flight Booking Website: Challenges and Our Solution

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Building An Online Flight Booking Website: Challenges and Our Solution

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Building An Online Flight Booking Website: Challenges and Our Solution

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