[amirs]

To play the devil's advocate here - I do the same as you, but last month when I booked a 3 week vacation Booking offered better prices than the hotels themselves. They also didn't pull any stunts like other hotel aggregators do (show you a price and change it when you get to the checkout). I also had a single instance in the past where I wanted to prolong my stay at a hotel, and the hotel clerk told me I'd get a better deal if I booked through Booking, which I did.

Generally I think you're right, but I guess it depends.

[jaclaz]

The difference is on the "kind" of Hotel.

A "traditional" hotel will (should) have a proper "bookings/reservation" procedure a "modern" one may well rely entirely on booking.com or similar.

Moreover it depends on the "incentives" (or lack thereof) of the actual people at the reception, in large hotels (or chains of hotels) why employee/clerk - say - #215 (possibly a low paid intern) would want to actually work to make your reservation (as you can do it yourself online, less work and responsibilities for him/her).

If you think a bit about it, when you book on one of these sites, you take all responsibilities about dates (arrival departure) people (number of people in each room) types of rooms (like two/three bed, queen size or king size bed, etc.) type of accomodation (with/without breakfast).

It is not entirely uncommon that people arrives on the "wrong" date or has miscalculated the days of stay (rare but happens from time to time), or - this happens quite often - having booked a single use room for two people or similar, simply because of a slip on the finger or not having read the whole page of info on the accomodation.

If you write or (when possible better) talk with the reception, usually they can verify your request and offer you more options (like - say - a "family room" for 4 people instead of two doubles, or a room with a large balcony if you are traveling with a pet).

[fsflover]

> Booking offered better prices than the hotels themselves

In this case, you can contact the hotel and ask for a better offer. Works sometimes.

[jhugo]

I've tried this many times and the hotel usually says "I guess you should book it online then"

[dep_b]

That's so weird huh? I really don't understand it.

[jhugo]

My guess is that they have some separate incentive from Booking.com etc to drive bookings through those platforms. The same places usually have a proudly displayed bullshit "9.9 average on Booking.com" somewhere in the foyer.

[nostrebored]

It’s because booking purchases the rooms wholesale, and typically well in advance of the stay dates. They can offer you a lower price because hotels use them to make their business more predictable.

[gunnihinn]

I work at Booking. We do not do this and never have. Other OTAs do, like Expedia. It’s the merchant vs. agent model.

[nostrebored]

Oops, sorry!

[jhugo]

I hear this a lot, but do you have a source? They should have got absolutely wrecked at the start of the pandemic if they were doing this.