Some of the most underrated booking channels, regional OTAs are critical to help boost your visibility in key markets. Find out more about these hidden gems and how STAAH makes connecting to them effortless.
When hoteliers think of online travel agencies (OTAs), the big global names—Booking.com, Expedia, Agoda usually come to mind. And rightly so; they dominate the online distribution space and are crucial for visibility. But here’s the truth: not all OTAs are created equal. While global OTAs have the reach, regional OTAs often have the depth and that’s where the real opportunities lie.
If your property isn’t plugged into the right regional OTAs for your target markets, you could be leaving bookings and revenue on the table.
Let’s dive into why regional OTAs matter, which ones are rising across different parts of the world, and how STAAH makes connecting to them effortless.
Why regional OTAs deserve your attention?
Think of OTAs like local guides. A global OTA is like Google Maps, it’ll get you anywhere. But a regional OTA is like a local friend, it knows the shortcuts, the hidden gems, and the exact preferences of travelers from that region.
For hoteliers, this translates into better visibility among local travellers who trust and use regional OTAs; higher conversion rates because listings are tailored to regional markets, often in the local language and currency; and access to niche segments such as business travellers in Asia, religious tourism in the Middle East, or family holidaymakers in Europe.
Over-reliance on global OTAs can lead to missed opportunities. Global giants are fantastic for reach, but they don’t always provide the same resonance with regional travellers.
Regional OTAs to watch by market
Let’s look at some regions where local players are making a big impact.
Asia-Pacific: The powerhouses of local travel
Asia is home to some of the most vibrant regional OTAs. While Agoda and Booking.com are strong here, local players are equally influential.
- Traveloka (Indonesia): Huge in Southeast Asia, especially for mobile-first bookings and package deals.
- MakeMyTrip (India): Dominates India’s online travel space, highly trusted by domestic travellers.
- Goibibo (India): Another dominant Indian channel with a particularly strong mobile app coverage. Majority of its hotel bookings come from the app.
- Ctrip/Trip.com (China): A massive force in China and increasingly expanding globally.
- Rakuten Travel (Japan): Popular for domestic stays and Japanese travelers abroad.
Hotels targeting these markets can’t afford to skip these platforms. A boutique property in Bali, for example, could see stronger midweek bookings by being on Traveloka versus relying solely on Booking.com.
Middle East: Serving specific travel needs
The Middle East has unique travel drivers, from religious tourism to luxury escapes. Regional OTAs know these nuances best.
- WeGo (UAE): Popular for flights and hotels, with strong traction in GCC countries.
- Rehlat (Kuwait-based): Gaining traction among budget-conscious travelers in the region.
- Almosafer (Saudi Arabia): Trusted by Saudi travelers for both domestic and international stays.
For hotels aiming to tap into Middle Eastern guests—say, during Ramadan or peak holiday travel—being visible on these platforms is critical.
Europe: Local touch matters
Despite being well-covered by global OTAs, Europe has several region-specific players that drive significant demand.
- Lastminute.com (UK): Popular for spontaneous bookings and packages.
- HRS (Germany): A favourite among business travellers.
- Ostrovok (Russia): Serves Russian travellers looking for domestic and outbound stays.
For example, a ski resort in Austria could get more winter bookings via HRS than Booking.com alone, simply because of the OTA’s strong base of corporate travellers seeking retreats and conferences.
The Pain Point: Why many hotels miss out?
Here’s the challenge: most hotels are already stretched thin juggling multiple OTAs. Adding regional players can feel like “one more thing” to manage. Manually updating rates, availability, and promotions across multiple platforms is time-consuming and error-prone.
This often leads to over-reliance on global OTAs, missed visibility in high-value regional markets and risk of overbookings or inconsistent pricing.
And this is exactly where technology, particularly a robust channel manager such as STAAH, comes in.
How STAAH simplifies regional OTA connectivity?
The beauty of STAAH’s channel manager is that it doesn’t discriminate between global or regional OTAs. To the system, they’re all part of your distribution network, and you control everything from one dashboard.
Here’s how STAAH makes the difference.
1) Wide OTA network
STAAH connects to 2,000+ OTAs, including major regional players such as Traveloka, MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, WeGo, Almosafer and HRS. Wherever your guests are searching, your property can be there. With STAAH’s diverse integration range, you can be assured not just reach but also greater relevance in reach through the right mix of regional OTAs.
2) Instant connectivity
With real-time synchronisation, the moment you update rates or inventory in STAAH, the change reflects instantly across all connected OTAs—global and regional. No delays, no manual fixes.
3) Dynamic pricing
Not all OTAs work the same way, especially regional ones. With STAAH, you can tailor pricing and packages by market, ensuring competitiveness without undercutting profitability.
4) Seamless integration with your PMS and website
No more double entries. STAAH integrates with your property management system (PMS) and booking engine, so everything flows smoothly, reducing workload and improving accuracy.
5) Actionable insights
With detailed reporting, you can see exactly which OTAs (including regional ones) are driving bookings, allowing smarter channel mix decisions.
Real-World Wins: How STAAH Partners Succeed with Regional OTAs
Key takeaways for hoteliers
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Global OTAs are essential, but they shouldn’t be your only distribution channels.
- Regional OTAs bring targeted visibility. They know their markets and have loyal user bases you can tap into.
- Technology makes it easy. With STAAH’s channel manager, connecting to and managing regional OTAs is seamless and stress-free.
- The right channel mix matters. A balanced approach combining global reach and regional depth is the formula for higher occupancy and revenue.
Ready to expand your reach?
Regional OTAs are no longer the underdogs, they’re strategic allies in growing your bookings. By partnering with the right platforms and leveraging STAAH’s powerful connectivity, you can unlock new markets, boost visibility, and increase occupancy without increasing your workload.
