TripAdvisor announced today that it will be partnering up with Microsoft’s Bing search engine to allow users to effortlessly compare hotel prices, availability and ratings. The results will also be displayed on the new TripAdvisor Windows 8.1 app that integrates with Bing Smart Search on Windows 8.1 devices, now available to download from the Windows Store.
In TripAdvisor’s press release, Nathan Clapton, vice president of global mobile partnerships at TripAdvisor informed us that "Research shows that hotel prices can differ by as much as 25 percent between different booking providers, and we are focused on helping travellers make an informed decision," which in turn will hopefully lead travellers to getting cheaper bookings at their favoured accommodation.
With TripAdvisor being the world’s largest travel website, the merger provides travellers the tools they need to search and book the hotel that best meets their needs with “just a single tap or click”. For any of you who have used TripAdvisor before, you will know that it’s a good place to get impartial reviews to help you plan your trip and many of you probably never book an unfamiliar hotel without checking it! Even a couple of years ago people noticed what is now called ‘The TripAdvisor effect’. The price comparison tool Microsoft has integrated into Bing also allows users to compare hotel prices and availability at a glance.
Following its recent deal with Yelp and Twitter, Microsoft continues to add partnerships to its Bing search engine, but no specific financial terms between Microsoft and TripAdvisor has been revealed so far. However some may say that it’s stepping on Kayak’s turf which became Microsoft’s travel technology partner back in 2011.
Personally I use TripAdvisor quite a lot and with the new app and Bing search engine integration being the first collaboration for TripAdvisor’s metasearch product, along with information gathered from over 125 million reviews across 3.1 million locations, I might be looking at Bing or trying this Windows app out next time I book a hotel room.
