[byeloe]

Just did a search for West Palm Beach on hotwire for Mar 12th and some of the results listed were from Hotels,com. The regular opaque listings were given as well. This is the 1st time that I have seen this, but maybe it isn't new since they had been teaming with Expedia for their package deals.

When you select a hotels .com listing you are given total price and hotel name. Check the Htels.com site directly and the price was the same

[byeloe]

Actually the total price is higher through Hotwire since they charge about $7 more in taxes and fees

[AaronJB]

I believe this started within the last week or so. Maybe I'm incorrect, but it seems to be (at least at first glance) filling in when there is not a discounted rate hotel available at that star level in that zone.

[thereuare]

Quote

.... it seems to be (at least at first glance) filling in when there is not a discounted rate hotel available at that star level in that zone.

This is correct... HOTWIRE will offer a "non-opaque" property when they don't have a hotel at the given star rating in the zone to offer.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Philip Stoev]

This is counterproductive for HOTWIRE, since it shows that Hotels.com has fares in the same ballpark as HOTWIRE, which can be refundable or not, but always give you the name of the hotel in advance.

[thereuare]

I disagree... in the vast majority of situations HOTWIRE is significantly cheaper than a 'retail' booking. As well, the Hotels.com offerings are only shown when HOTWIRE does not have opaque inventory in the zone at the designated star level... so there comparing HOTWIRE's opaque rate vs. Hotels.com's retail rate, since the two will never appear at the same time for the same star rated property in the same zone.

HOTWIRE is simply trying to "fill the gap" where an opaque hotel in the zone and star rating is not offered.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

[Philip Stoev]

Do a Hotwire seach for Madrid, Spain from Jul 14 to Jul 19th. You get 12 offers with roughly the same pricing category and star rating, and 7 of them, including the top 2 , are from Hotels.com.

[Colfax]

Hotwire and Hotels.com are owned by the same company. When Hotwire has no opaque inventory in a zone/quality level they'll offer something from their partner as an alternative, to try and keep your hotel spending "in the family".

If 7 of 12 Hotwire offers in Madrid come from Hotels.com that means no hotels in those classes/zones gave Hotwire any opaque inventory to sell; or that Hotwire's opaque inventory is more expensive than the full-priced alternative from Hotels.com.