[atmosx]

Out of curiosity how do these websites work? (e.g. like booking.com) They build an API and the HOTEL connects it's system this API and then info about rooms/scheduling/prices/pictures are available?

The financial goes by % I guess. You get a % for every booking through your website. But what happens on the technical side?!

[tbrick855]

TripExpert is using expedia's affiliate program. You can signup as an affiliate in a few minutes. They give you a link that takes your users to expedia's site to complete the booking. You get a small percentage of the bookings made via your link.

Hotel.com which is owned by expedia connects to hotels via a Global Distribution System (GDS) like Sabre or Pegasus. All reasonable sized hotel's connect to one of the GDS's (there are 3-4) and travel agents and OTA's like expedia and priceline also connect to them. Getting access to one of the GDS systems takes time and costs a lot. The GDS's speak XML using the Open Travel Alliance's spec. Travel agents typically make a 10% commission on books they make. Hotels pay the commission to the TA and usually a couple of dollars per booking to the GDS. Expedia and the other big OTA's do it differently, making deals with each hotel company and charge much higher commissions.