Is Booking.com A Tour Operator?

Booking.com is one of the world’s most popular websites for making holiday reservations. You can also book many other travel facilities such as car rental and flights. It operates in forty-three languages and is very easy to use. But is Booking.com a tour operator or travel agency?

What is a Tour Operator?

Booking a holiday with a tour operator is very convenient. The company devises a complete itinery for your entire holiday. You don’t have to worry about deciding where to stay or what to do. Everything is arranged for you including flights from various airports. Some package holidays are designed to highlight the best features of a destination. They’ll include accommodation in a specific hotel with set meal times. There will also be organised excursions to local tourist attractions. Other features include entertainment at night. You can often gain a discount due to the tour operator purchasing multiple rooms in a particular hotel. Visits to local attractions are also block booked at a reduced cost.

What is a Travel Agency?

There is more flexibility with a travel agency as it deals with holidays and business trips. All budgets are catered for. You’ll be offered a wide selection, from bed and breakfasts to five-star hotels. The travel agent doesn’t purchase the rooms, instead it acts on behalf of the hotels by promoting their accommodation. The travel agent usually earns a commission for arranging your hotel bookings, flights and attractions. Agencies generally show you a range of services and facilities that are available. It’s then up to you to choose the facilities you would like.

Is Booking.com a Travel Agency?

Booking.com was founded in Holland in 1996. It’s based in Amsterdam and has expanded into a global business. It uses a travel agency format. It has at least twenty-eight million accommodation listings, making it one of the largest online agencies. You can choose hotels, resorts, villa’s, B&B’s, or inexpensive guest houses in many interesting destinations around the world. You can also make separate bookings for apartments, flights, car hire, tourist attractions and taxis to take you to and from the airport. However, there are even more benefits when you book your holiday through Booking.com.

Benefits of using Booking.com

You can save money when making your holiday reservation with Booking.com. You only have to book two holidays to become a life-long member of Genius. This offers you a 10% discount on future bookings. A further three holidays increases your discount to 15%. Booking.com also offers inclusive packages. These economical deals are based on the accommodation you choose. They may include entertainment, exciting activities and unlimited food and drink.

Conclusion

Booking.com offers an amazing range of accomodation. As a travel agency, it offers you the freedom and flexibility to design your own package tour. You can also benefit from a lifetime of discounts on future holidays.