Middle East Online Hotel Bookings Soar

Hotel price meta-search sites best for finding lowest rates

Dubai, UAE (July 14, 2013): Online hotel bookings are steadily gaining popularity in the Middle East as more consumers in the region use the Internet to search for affordable hotel rates. In 2012, hotel bookings from the GCC region totaled US$1.6 billion, 10% of which were made online according to PhoCus Wright's Middle Eastern Online Travel Overview.

Hotels across the UAE are well aware of their guests' growing preference for online bookings. In Abu Dhabi, the newly-launched Nehal Hotel reported that nearly half of their rooms were now booked online. Samer Al Kabalan, General Manager of the Nehal said, “The online travel industry in the Middle East is growing at a rapid pace. So far this year we have seen 45% of our bookings come from online sites.”

Wael El Behi, General Manager, Ramada Downtown Dubai, a property situated near the Burj Khalifa said: “Year to date as of end of June, 39% of our business mix is coming from the online segment which represent 46% of our revenue mix.”

With hundreds of hotel websites now available, consumers today face an overwhelming abundance of choice. To further complicate matters, these sites often post different rates for the same hotel, causing users to spend hours comparing prices online.

To resolve this dilemma, a meta-search engine like HotelsCombined.com instantly searches and compares room availability and prices from hundreds of major travel booking websites. By using HotelsCombined.com, travelers can find the best room rate available at any given point of time in their desired destination. The site provides one all-embracing set of search results so that the consumer can make a quick and informed decision. Once the user determines the hotel rate and room type they want, they can then complete their booking on the site where that room offer is available. 

Amer AlHalabi, Regional Manager of MENA for HotelsCombined, said, “With so many websites available for online hotel booking, it's hard for the consumer to know offhand where the best rate available is posted. A hotel room will always have different rates on different booking sites. Thanks to HotelsCombined, travelers can find the best room rate in just a single search.”

HotelsCombined.com is the world's largest search engine that combines all hotel deals from major travel sites into one free, quick and easy search. The site is available in Arabic as well as 38 other languages. For travelers that are on-the-go, the site is available as a smart phone app. 

About HotelsCombined:HotelsCombined is the world's leading hotel price comparison site, allowing travellers to find the best prices from all the best travel sites in one search. HotelsCombined searches hundreds of hotel price-sites at once with rates at up to 80 per cent off. More than 200 million people every year use HotelsCombined.com to find the best prices for 400,000 hotels in 120,000 destinations worldwide.

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