Seattle, Wash.–Expedia, Inc., the world’s largest online travel company, today announced EPC Points of Interest, a new tool available in Expedia Partner Central (EPC) which allows properties to create a custom list of cultural landmarks, activities, and experiences in their local neighborhoods that can be viewed on their property’s listing. EPC Points of Interest is designed to enable hotels to differentiate themselves on Expedia sites and enhance the consumer shopping experience.
When determining which hotel to book, consumers rank location above amenities, price, and ratings, showcasing its importance in the decision-making process, according to a 2016 study by Sullivan & Company. For business travelers, location is even more critical, with 73 percent saying it is the single most important factor when selecting a hotel, according to Choice Hotels’ Road Warrior Survey from 2014. To capitalize on this key consumer insight, EPC Points of Interest makes it easy for hotel partners to highlight unique local activities and landmarks that appeal to travelers.
“Location is king. Guests want to experience the best our city (Seattle) has to offer with the limited time they are here. Our property location is unique; it is the only hotel in Pike Place Market so it’s critical that guests understand our proximity to the market when they are researching their options. Images, descriptions, and a map help us inform potential guests not only of our unique location, but also our close location in comparison to other landmarks in Seattle such as the waterfront and museum,” said Troy Thrall, director of sales and marketing at the Inn at the Market.
EPC Points of Interest allows hotels to generate up to 10 nearby must-sees for any property and customize as they see fit. They can tailor the landmarks list to appeal to their target traveler demographic. Hotels can further customize their local recommendations with unique photos and local tips for each point of interest for further differentiation and brand integration. EPC Points of Interest can be added and updated by hoteliers from the EPC website, and will soon be available in the mobile app.
“Location has been identified as the primary factor that determines hotel choice across all travelers around the globe, so it became a priority at Expedia to enable our hotel partners to differentiate based on this critical factor,” said Benoit Jolin, vice president, lodging product at Expedia, Inc. “EPC Points of Interest is highly customizable, so not only does it identify nearby sites of interest, it allows hotels to add custom photos and tips to really personalize the experiences to their brand and property.”
