You may want to reconsider the design of your logo: https://scoutapp.com/
This seems impossibly similar to be an accident.
Well there's only so many ways a dog can point. I think it's more likely just an unfortunate coincidence.
Show HN: Scout – See lower direct hotel rates as you browse online travel agents
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Re: Show HN: Scout – See lower direct hotel rates as you browse online travel agents
#12Nine months ago, an article "For Hotels, There’s No Room Left for Online Travel Agencies" sparked some interesting discussion on HN [1]. Many of the topics discussed informed the development of our new product, Scout. The perception of many travelers is that the best hotel prices are to be found at the big online travel agencies. The hotel chains have recently been attempting to alter this perception by offering lowe…
I'd appreciate a "how we make money" section on the site. It's not clear how (if?) you do, and that scares me a bit when considering an extension that'll run on sites that take my credit card.
I would also want to see a privacy policy before installing something like this.
Re: Show HN: Scout – See lower direct hotel rates as you browse online travel agents
#13So, installing an extension which requires "Read and change data on all websites you visit" to save a few bucks isn't going to happen.
Re: Show HN: Scout – See lower direct hotel rates as you browse online travel agents
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd appreciate a "how we make money" section on the site. It's not clear how (if?) you do, and that scares me a bit when considering an extension that'll run on sites that take my credit card.
Roomkey is a joint effort by a number of large hotel groups, similar to how Hulu started. Their goal is to increase hotel direct bookings.
How is that different than a regular travel agency. It’s still a middle man taking a cut.
Re: Show HN: Scout – See lower direct hotel rates as you browse online travel agents
#15You may want to reconsider the design of your logo: https://scoutapp.com/
Uncanny
Re: Show HN: Scout – See lower direct hotel rates as you browse online travel agents
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd appreciate a "how we make money" section on the site. It's not clear how (if?) you do, and that scares me a bit when considering an extension that'll run on sites that take my credit card.
I would also want to see a privacy policy before installing something like this.
Regardless of whether a privacy policy makes you feel comfortable, their ability to observe all of your browser activities is difficult to ignore.
A rogue employee spying on people (happens a lot, we read), or the company accidentally saving your data and then being hacked, or any number of other potential privacy issues... probably isn't worth the small amount of money you might be able to save sometimes. At least for me it's not.
On the other hand, all but the most careful internet users are probably giving away nearly all of their personal information and records of their activities anyway, so maybe it's a moot point.
Re: Show HN: Scout – See lower direct hotel rates as you browse online travel agents
#17So, installing an extension which requires "Read and change data on all websites you visit" to save a few bucks isn't going to happen.
Hmmmm
Re: Show HN: Scout – See lower direct hotel rates as you browse online travel agents
#18I've spent the last three years building a hotel property management system. I hate OTAs. They are gross middlemen who charge criminally high commissions to hotel operators. And as much as I philosophically support what you're doing here, both Roomkey in general and Scout in particular, you're barking up the wrong tree.
At the point where a customer is searching on Expedia or booking.com, you've lost. These sites have aggressive reward programs and are tuned machines to get people to buy.
The better approach is actual property-level differentiation that makes people want to stay at a particular hotel. If your customer sees hotel inventory as essentially fungible, which is what most of the undifferentiated inventory on booking/expedia is, they're going to pay commodity prices for it.
The chains need to step up and market directly to consumers, and GIVE ME A REASON TO LIKE THEM. Right now it's all sort of meh. Hilton, Hyatt, Rodeway, whatever, I just don't care, give me the lowest price and I'm there.
Re: Show HN: Scout – See lower direct hotel rates as you browse online travel agents
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Roomkey is a joint effort by a number of large hotel groups, similar to how Hulu started. Their goal is to increase hotel direct bookings.
How is that different than a regular travel agency. It’s still a middle man taking a cut.
No it isn't.
The big chains are fighting to stay relevant against the channels (Expedia, Priceline, Airbnb). Franchisees don't want to pay 6-8% of revenue to a chain and then another 10-15% to a channel. They're going to pick one or the other, and right now, my bet is on the OTA or "online travel agency" aka Expedia.
This battle is existential for the chains (they're out of business if they lose). They need to be seen by member properties as "worth it" or the properties will "de-flag" and go independent, getting bookings directly from the channels. They're trying every play in the book, from merging to get more bargaining power (Marriott's purchase of Starwood), creating their own tech stack to drive direct bookings for member hotels (this), and trying every loyalty trick known to man.
In the long run the current situation isn't stable. Franchisees aren't going to pay for both a channel and a chain. The chains couldn't get their shit together enough to bring the individual properties bookings (what you're supposedly paying that 6% of revenue for) and they're going the way of the dodo. That's what's really going on here.
Roomkey et al is the chain-funded effort to fight back against Expedia, etc. They're going to lose unless they get serious about fighting Expedia and co. head-on. The problem is, they're fighting a battle where Expedia already has a strong, fortified position and it's going on be on their (Expedia's) terms. I don't see how this ends well for the chains.
Re: Show HN: Scout – See lower direct hotel rates as you browse online travel agents
#20I've spent the last three years building a hotel property management system. I hate OTAs. They are gross middlemen who charge criminally high commissions to hotel operators. And as much as I philosophically support what you're doing here, both Roomkey in general and Scout in particular, you're barking up the wrong tree. At the point where a customer is searching on Expedia or booking.com, you've lost. These sites hav…
Not wanting to be stupid (ok.. losing battle) but what exactly are these huge expedia rewards? I've done quite a lot of travel and booking through them, and frankly, I am unsure what benefit I've got from it.