Booking.com’s Newly-Deployed Product Features Help Manage Traveler Expectations

People today are increasingly time-poor, and so when it comes to daily life planning - or planning for those bigger life moments such as traveling and going on vacation - there is an expectation to be able to do this with the utmost ease. In fact, almost one third (30%)^* of global travelers agree that technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, makes a vacation booking process easier, and over six in 10 (65%)** agree that accommodation booking websites offer an easy way to find unique accommodation that’s outside of the main tourist areas. In today’s digital age, developments in technology not only help facilitate the travel search and booking process, it’s also improving the in-destination experience as well.

With a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, Booking.com has deployed the latest in emerging technologies to introduce a first-of-its-kind Quality Rating system for apartments, holiday homes and villas. Similar to the long-established hotel star rating system, this new and objective Quality Rating system is designed to help guests find and compare properties that match their requirements more easily, wherever they want to go in the world. The benchmarks are based on a machine learning algorithm that looks at over 400 factors, including guest previous booking behavior and the facilities and amenities provided at the property. In addition, Booking.com has also introduced a new property configuration function, which displays key information such as the number (and type) of bedrooms, beds and bathrooms to help guests easily find the right home to match their needs.

Travelers can take advantage of these new functions when searching for an apartment, holiday home or villa and can also benefit from these tips to make the most out of a trip – from booking to actually being on vacation:

• Make the most of vacation days – With limited time off each year, maximize vacation time by planning trips around public holidays, or by adding vacation days on either side of a business trip
• Take advantage of the reliable information at your fingertips - Time-poor travelers can create peace of mind in the knowledge that a property meets their expectations by checking its Quality Rating score and property configurations on Booking.com. Simply filter by “Star Rating” to find the apartments, holiday homes and villas with the Quality Ratings to best match your needs
• Enjoy every aspect of the journey – To be more efficient with time while traveling, seek a transportation option that offers a dual purpose, such as taking in the wider surroundings with a scenic train ride to the final destination
• Don’t try to do it all – Make the most of time away by reaching out to the host in advance to leverage their local knowledge and advice to help prioritize the must-do sights and experiences when exploring a new destination
• Avoid the crowds - Maximize vacation time away by exploring various attractions early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the crowds and losing precious time stuck in line(s)

Methodology:

^*Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of adults who have taken a trip in the last 12 months/plan to take a trip in the next 12 months. In total 21,500 respondents were polled (including 1,000 each from Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, China, Brazil, India, US, UK, Russia, Indonesia, Colombia and South Korea; and 500 each from Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Croatia, Taiwan, Mexico, Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore and Israel). Respondents completed an online survey between 10th August to 30th August 2018.

^**Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of adults who have taken a trip in the last 12 months/plan to take a trip in the next 12 months. In total 22,000 respondents were polled (including 1,000 each from Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, China, Brazil, India, US, UK, Russia, Indonesia, Colombia and South Korea; and 500 each from New Zealand, Thailand, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Croatia, Taiwan, Mexico, Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore and Israel). Respondents completed an online survey between 9th August to 28th August 2019.