OTA preferred partners: What are they and how do they benefit your hotel listing?

But what does that distinction really mean for you as a hotelier? Is it just marketing or are there real advantages for your distribution strategy and overall success? In short, it signals to you that the connection is fast, stable, feature-rich and recommended by the OTA.

Lighthouse users benefit from preferred partnerships with three major global OTAs: Agoda, Booking.com and Expedia.

This blog explains in detail what OTA preferred partners are and why they are so valuable for independent hotels.

Frequently asked questions about OTA management software

Can I use a Property Management System (PMS) instead of a Channel Manager to manage my OTAs?

These two systems are complimentary rather than interchangeable. Despite some overlapping features, a channel manager offers some key distribution functionalities that a PMS doesn’t, which help you eliminate double work, avoid overbookings and secure more bookings:

• It offers a much larger range of OTA connections – including smaller local players – so you can diversify your channels without adding to your workload.

• A quality channel manager updates availability considerably faster when all channels are connected directly, thus reducing the risk of overbookings.

• OTA-preferred channel managers enable you to set channel-specific promotions and rate plans without having to log into the extranet of these OTAs.

• Through the content API certain OTAs offer, you can easily create new room types and rate plans within the channel manager, and update them on these platforms.

Will using a preferred partner improve my OTA ranking?

Yes, the reliable data synchronization and usage of features like mobile rates or last-minute deals help you meet the OTA’s criteria for added visibility.

Can preferred connectivity reduce the risk of overbookings?

Absolutely. Faster, more accurate availability updates mean your listings reflect your real-time inventory – always and across all platforms.

Do I still need to create an account on the OTAs and log into their extranet?

In most cases, yes – you generally need to create an OTA account first, before your software provider can establish the connection. An exception is Agoda’s Self Connect functionality, which allows you to set up your account within the channel management tool that has this feature built in. Working with a preferred connectivity partner significantly reduces the time and effort involved in setting this up, and limits how often you’ll need to manually log into each OTA’s extranet.

Is the Lighthouse Channel Manager preferred partner of OTAs?

Yes, Lighthouse’s Channel Manager – part of our complete platform for independents – has been Premier Partner of Booking.com for over a decade and has a Preferred Partnership status with global booking platforms Expedia and Agoda.

What is an OTA preferred connectivity partner?

Preferred or premier partners are software providers that have been officially recognized by OTAs for delivering high-quality, reliable and feature-rich connections. It’s essentially the OTA’s way of saying: “We’ve tested this software, it integrates well with our platform, and we recommend it.”

To maintain their preferred partner status, providers are held to high standards by the OTA, including:

• Fast and stable connection quality

• Accurate synchronization of rates, restrictions and availability

• Seamless integration of new OTA features

• Minimal error and overbooking rates

The OTA seal of approval for connectivity partners

Guaranteed better performance

OTAs hold their preferred connectivity partners to strict criteria with the goal of maximum API integration. The connection has to be maintained and optimized continuously to limit errors, improve performance and expand capabilities.

For you as a hotelier, this increased performance translates to:

• Faster updates: Rates and availability are synchronized in real time, reducing the risk of overbookings, outdated listings or incorrect inventory being shown to travelers.

• Lower error rates: The connection is constantly monitored and optimized to avoid technical issues.

• Better OTA visibility: OTAs want to show accurate listings from reliable, guest-friendly properties. When your tool sends accurate and timely updates to the OTA, it limits the number of listing disruptions, failed bookings and negative reviews, which in turn helps your listing appear higher in search results.

Easy connection to new OTAs

Expand your online visibility without the hassle. OTA-preferred connectivity partners are dedicated to simplifying the initial set-up and the mapping process, so you can connect new OTAs with far less back-and-forth.

As Lighthouse is preferred partner of Agoda, you can even create your account directly within our platform and your property details are automatically transferred. After a quick review, your contract with Agoda is all set up and you get access to the extranet, where you can start creating room types and rate plans for your new listing.

Simplified connections make diversifying your distribution mix more accessible to independent properties. This is key to your success, as connecting to multiple booking channels is the secret to reaching more potential guests and maximizing bookings.

Direct relationship with OTAs

Preferred connectivity partners work closely together with OTAs – not just on a technical level, but also strategically.

Because Lighthouse is a preferred/premier partner of Booking.com, Expedia and Agoda:

• Our teams are in regular contact with theirs.

• We receive early access to new features, APIs and beta (testing) programs.

• We enjoy faster technical support than other providers, so any connectivity issues from either side can be resolved without delay.

“Our close collaboration with these OTAs directly benefits Lighthouse customers,” Višnja Pucić states. “We share valuable feedback and concerns from hoteliers, and the OTAs help us improve our product, so our users can make the most of everything their platforms have to offer.”

Lighthouse’s long-standing premier partnership with Booking.com also entails these advantages:

• We have a seat at their advisory board, allowing us to weigh in on decisions that affect our customers.

• The Booking.com team organizes workshops to help us optimize our integration with their platform.

• We are invited to their events, so we’re always aware of the latest developments.

“We make sure the steady communication flow between the OTA and Lighthouse reaches the hotelier as well – via the product itself, but also through support and marketing – so they’re always up to speed.” Višnja adds.

Lighthouse is a preferred partner of Booking.com, Expedia and Agoda

Booking Holdings (which includes Booking.com and Agoda) and Expedia Group are the two largest players in online travel booking. Together, they account for more than 40% of the global OTA market share, driving huge volumes of bookings, especially across Europe, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region. For hotels, being visible on these platforms is simply a must.

As a preferred or premier connectivity partner of all three, Lighthouse offers its users the peace of mind that their OTA connections are fast and reliable. Prices and availability update instantly across platforms, reducing the risk of errors or overbookings. Crucially, this translates to enhanced visibility and a greater booking potential on these major platforms.

Promotions and special deals can be activated directly from within our Channel Manager, without logging into different extranets. On top of that, our Smart Distribution feature lets you automate your promotional strategies on these major OTAs to boost visibility, bookings and revenue effortlessly.

Get the most out of the world’s biggest OTAs

Many Lighthouse customers have reported more OTA bookings since switching to our platform. That’s because they benefit directly from:

• Faster and more reliable synchronization of rates, restrictions and availability.

• Easy, centralized access to advanced features like promotions.

• Simplified onboarding and mapping when connecting new channels.

• Expert support backed by close OTA relationships.

Do you want to manage more channels with less hassle and boost reservations? Request your free trial of Lighthouse’s solution for independents below.