Becoming the next big thing in online travel — easier said than done. Creating a travel portal like Expedia might seem like scaling Mount Everest, but it’s completely achievable with the right approach and resources. Whether you’re a tech entrepreneur or a travel industry veteran, this guide will turn that “what if” into a “what’s next.”
Research the market and pick a niche
Before you start coding or designing, you need to understand the landscape you’re entering. The travel industry is huge, and while it might be tempting to try and be everything to everyone (like Expedia), that’s a tough mountain to climb when you’re just starting out.
Start with thorough market research. Who are your potential customers? What are their pain points when booking travel? Are there any underserved segments in the market? Maybe there’s a growing demand for eco-friendly travel options, or maybe business travelers need better solutions for last-minute bookings.
Don’t just guess — look into the data. Read industry reports, conduct surveys, and analyze trends. The more you understand your potential market, the better positioned you’ll be to serve it effectively.
Once you’ve got a handle on the market, it’s time to carve out your niche. This is where you can really shine. Maybe you’ll focus on adventure travel for Gen Z, or you’ll create a portal specifically for luxury family vacations. Your niche is your identity — it’s what will set you apart in a void of generic travel sites.
Remember, you’re not just creating another booking platform; you’re solving a problem for a specific group of travelers. Keep this in focus as you move forward — it’ll guide every decision you make.
Get inventory
Now that you know who you’re serving, it’s time to gather what you’re serving. In the travel world, this means building your inventory of flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel services.
Unless you’re planning to negotiate contracts with every hotel and airline individually (spoiler: you’re probably not), you’ll need to connect with larger platforms and bed banks. These are essentially wholesalers of travel inventory, giving you access to a wide range of options to offer your customers.
Some popular options include:
- Global Distribution Systems (GDS) like Amadeus or Sabre for flights and car rentals.
- Bed banks like Hotelbeds or Sunhotels for accommodation.
- API connections to larger online travel agencies (OTAs) for a variety of travel products.
All these options have their pros and cons. GDS connections can be expensive but offer comprehensive flight data. Bed banks are great for hotel inventory but may have lower margins. API connections to other OTAs can provide a wide range of products but may limit your control over the user experience.
Your choice will depend on your niche, your budget, and your technical capabilities. Start small — you can always expand your connections as your portal grows.
For some products, especially if they’re core to your niche, you might want to establish direct connections with providers. This could mean working directly with boutique hotels, local tour operators, or niche airlines. While more time-consuming to set up, these direct relationships can give you unique inventory and better margins.
Design and build your travel portal
At this point, your vision starts to take shape. Designing and building a travel portal is a complex task that requires a mix of technical skills, user experience (UX) expertise, and industry knowledge.
First, focus on the user experience. Your portal should be intuitive, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. In our day and age, you’re not just selling travel – you’re selling dreams and experiences. Your design should reflect that, evoking the excitement and possibilities of travel.
Some features you’ll need to include:
- A search engine that can deal with complex queries.
- A booking engine that’s smooth and secure.
- User accounts for storing preferences and managing bookings.
- A content management system for travel guides and other information.
- Mobile responsiveness – because about 2 out of 3 people looking at travel websites use their phones or tablets.
But a great travel portal is more than just a pretty face. Under the hood, you’ll need properly working systems to handle inventory management, pricing calculations, payment processing, and more. You’ll also need to integrate with the inventory sources you identified in the previous step.
Unless you’re a tech professional with unlimited time on your hands, you’ll probably want to partner with a specialized development company for this step. Look for a team with experience in travel tech — they’ll understand the unique challenges of the industry and can help you avoid common pitfalls. Check out Zoftify — they’re an experienced travel portal development company specializing in creating custom tech solutions that can help bring your vision to life.
Market your portal
You’ve built it, but will they come? In the crowded online travel space, great marketing is what separates the Expedias from the also-rans.
Start by defining your brand. What makes your portal unique? What’s your voice? Are you the adventurous advisor who always pushes people out of their comfort zones, or the luxury expert who knows all the best hidden gems? Your brand should match what you’re good at and appeal to the people you want as customers.
Next, develop a multi-channel marketing strategy. This might include:
- Search engine optimization (SEO) to help travelers find you organically.
- Content marketing, like travel guides and destination information, to establish your expertise.
- Social media marketing to engage with your audience and showcase stunning travel imagery.
- Email marketing to nurture leads and keep past customers coming back.
- Paid advertising on search engines and social media to reach new potential customers.
In travel marketing, visuals are everything. Invest in high-quality images and videos that showcase the experiences you’re selling.
And don’t forget about partnerships. Collaborating with travel influencers, bloggers, or complementary businesses can help you reach new audiences and build credibility.
Maintain and grow
Launching your portal is just the beginning. The travel industry is constantly evolving, and your portal needs to evolve with it.
Regularly update your inventory and expand your offerings. If you started with just hotels, consider adding flights or experiences. If you’re focused on one region, think about expanding to new destinations.
Keep your technology up to date. The tech that powers online travel is always advancing, and you don’t want to be left behind. This might mean updating your search algorithms, improving your mobile experience, or incorporating new features like virtual reality previews of destinations.
Most importantly, listen to your customers. Gather feedback regularly and use it to improve your portal. What features do they love? What’s frustrating them? What additional services do they wish you offered? Your users are your best source of ideas for growth and improvement.
Finally, stay on top of industry trends. Attend travel tech conferences, read industry publications, and network with others in the field. The more plugged in you are, the better positioned you’ll be to spot new opportunities and stay ahead of the curve.
Conclusion
Creating a travel portal like Expedia is no small feat, but with careful planning, the right partnerships, and a lot of hard work, it’s within reach. Even Expedia started somewhere, so who knows? With the right idea and execution, your portal could become the next big name in online travel — and you will reap all the benefits.
