It’s the old guard versus the new. Wary of the traction being generated by new-age hotel booking sites like Oyo Rooms and Zo Rooms, incumbents MakeMyTrip, GoIbibo and Yatra have collectively removed listings from these properties from their sites.
Hotel rooms bookings generate some of the highest margins for these companies, and experts believe this that this move is aimed at protecting their market share. Oyo Rooms and Zo rooms have been gaining significant ground in the space, fueled by providing standardized services and heavy discounts.
GoIbibo is launching its own brand of budget rooms, GoStays, that will compete with the likes of Oyo and Zo.
Oyo Rooms and Zo Rooms seem relatively unconcerned about the development. “Online travel agencies have been a longstanding business channel for us, but in current scenario it contributes to less than 10% of business,” said Kavikrut, chief growth officer at OYO Rooms. “There will be a small dip in bookings, but our growth from our app and other associations will more than make up for it,” he added. “This transition is is not a shock for us,” said Paavan Nanda, cofounder at Zo Rooms. “Our growth is mostly driven by our app and website.”
The online hotel booking industry is currently a hot favourite among investors, with both Oyo Rooms and Zo Rooms having raised large amounts and have further rounds of funding in the offing.