Hotels Fuel U.S. OTA Growth as Air Bookings Decline | Travel Research – Industry Events – PhoCusWright Conference.

OTA air bookings to drop 7% in 2013 as air suppliers succeed in driving direct bookings via online and mobile channels.

Its now hotel and lodging, not air fairs, that is the OTAs growing business.

“OTAs have focused on building their more profitable hotel businesses as they have watched air bookings fizzle, and these investments are paying off,” says Lorraine Sileo, senior vice president, research at FoCusRight. “Hotels are pushing to drive direct bookings, but the OTAs’ aggressive marketing tactics – paired with a distinct advantage in mobile hotel bookings – will keep hotels’ and OTAs’ share of online bookings steady through 2015.”