While OTAs dominate the online travel industry in India, relatively new but promising element in the travel distribution channel - meta-search engine - is getting more attention from travelers than ever.
Meta-search engines aggregate search results from multiple search engines and present them as a single output to the user. Meta-search engines do not have their own database or repository of travel products, they route user's query through multiple websites of OTAs and suppliers and present the search findings in the form of list to the user.
In a way, travel meta search engines enable the user/traveler to view and compare offers/quotes from multiple OTAs and suppliers on their web page. Unlike some OTAs, meta-search engine provide complete details about the fare including taxes and surcharges hence present unbiased report.
Travel meta-search players do not have their own booking engine and have different revenue model from OTAs. Meta-search engines follow 'pay per click' or 'pay for lead/action' model e.g. whenever a user clicks on any of the search results displayed on the website, meta-search engine directs the user to a website of an OTA or airline. Meta-search engine charge OTA or airline on per click basis. Charge rates generally vary with products i.e. hotel. airline, car rental. etc. OTAs also earn advertising revenues.
Travel meta-search engine market is quite matured in western countries such as US, UK and some European nations; however, it is relatively new in the Indian context. Over the past few years, Indian market has witnessed emergence of few travel meta search engine players such as IXiGo, Mobissimo, Kayak and Zoomtra. Despite being in the industry for more than 2 years, meta-search engines struggled to gain substantial share in the online travel market pie during early days, primarily due to inadequate support from airlines. However, nowadays, companies like IXiGo have moved from traditional airline-only model to air+hotel model. It has recently added bus and rail to its portfolio. The company has also launched its mobile platform in order to target India's 60 million GPRS enabled phone users.
Increasing popularity of meta-search engines amongst travelers has grabbed attention of VC investors when Singapore based investment fund BAF Spectrum invested in IXiGo.
With gradually increasing competition in the market, meta-search engines need to upgrade their features such as innovative search or display options, fare forecasting, auction based pricing, etc.
Meta-search engines aggregate search results from multiple search engines and present them as a single output to the user. Meta-search engines do not have their own database or repository of travel products, they route user's query through multiple websites of OTAs and suppliers and present the search findings in the form of list to the user.
In a way, travel meta search engines enable the user/traveler to view and compare offers/quotes from multiple OTAs and suppliers on their web page. Unlike some OTAs, meta-search engine provide complete details about the fare including taxes and surcharges hence present unbiased report.
Travel meta-search players do not have their own booking engine and have different revenue model from OTAs. Meta-search engines follow 'pay per click' or 'pay for lead/action' model e.g. whenever a user clicks on any of the search results displayed on the website, meta-search engine directs the user to a website of an OTA or airline. Meta-search engine charge OTA or airline on per click basis. Charge rates generally vary with products i.e. hotel. airline, car rental. etc. OTAs also earn advertising revenues.
Travel meta-search engine market is quite matured in western countries such as US, UK and some European nations; however, it is relatively new in the Indian context. Over the past few years, Indian market has witnessed emergence of few travel meta search engine players such as IXiGo, Mobissimo, Kayak and Zoomtra. Despite being in the industry for more than 2 years, meta-search engines struggled to gain substantial share in the online travel market pie during early days, primarily due to inadequate support from airlines. However, nowadays, companies like IXiGo have moved from traditional airline-only model to air+hotel model. It has recently added bus and rail to its portfolio. The company has also launched its mobile platform in order to target India's 60 million GPRS enabled phone users.
Increasing popularity of meta-search engines amongst travelers has grabbed attention of VC investors when Singapore based investment fund BAF Spectrum invested in IXiGo.
With gradually increasing competition in the market, meta-search engines need to upgrade their features such as innovative search or display options, fare forecasting, auction based pricing, etc.
