Hotel wholesalers: how to choose the best suppliers for the agency
Go Global, TBO, RateHawk, WebBeds, Hotelbeds and others offer a wide selection of accommodations. The difference for the agency is the available rates, payment terms, support and the actual cost of sales.
Hotel supplier You shouldn't choose based on the number of properties in the presentation. What matters more is how well it covers the destinations you're selling and what happens after the booking.
Wholesalers, or bedbanks, provide agencies with accommodation for resale. Many combine direct hotel contracts with offers from other suppliers. Meanwhile, the same hotel can appear through several distribution chains, with different prices and policies.
Five major suppliers: who fits the bill?
This is a selection of candidates for agencies in Central and Southeastern Europe, not a ranking of market share. The stated advantages should be verified in your own sales.
Yanolja Go Global: a wide range of options for individual itineraries
Go Global connects hotels, apartments and resorts with transfers and car rentals. Such a combination suits agencies that create customized trips, including multiple destinations and different types of accommodations.
In addition to the booking portal and API, there are ready-made integrations. Travelgenix, for example, allows the sale of Go Global accommodation on the agency's website, either independently or with flights. The advantage is the ability to offer a wider range of options without having to connect with each hotel separately. However, being part of Yanolli is not proof that it is automatically the most advantageous for Asia.
TBO: margin management and payment method
TBO is worth testing for Dubai and Asian destinations, where it lists directly contracted hotels, but also for European cities such as London, Paris and Istanbul.
Its offer combines different sources and pre-agreed prices and tariffs that change with demand. The agency can manage margins, and a portal, API, and various payment models are available. Credit options depend on the agreed terms. For an agency that charges travel in installments, this is a reason to carefully compare the due date of obligations to the payment from the traveler.
RateHawk: aggregating offers and sales tools
RateHawk combines numerous suppliers and direct hotel contracts. Its practical value for diverse sales is the ability to search multiple sources in one place. In addition to the portal and API, it offers the creation of hotel selections for the client, billing via a link, and a net and commission model.
The partnership between Agoda and Emerging Travel Group, The agreement, which belongs to RateHawk, announced in October 2026, foresees a mutually expanded offering. ETG thereby strengthens its selection in the Asia-Pacific region, while Agoda gains access to ETG's offering through RateHawk's API. This justifies new testing of Asia, but does not guarantee Agoda's retail prices.
WebBeds and Sunhotels: direct procurement and group programs
WebBeds combines directly contracted properties with additional suppliers. Sunhotels, its agency channel, evolved from selling European holiday destinations, and today offers a global offering through a portal and XML API.
For agencies that organize groups in addition to individual trips, separate processing of business, incentive, and student programs is interesting. This should be compared with a local DMC. However, a group inquiry should include special payment terms, deadlines for name and cancellation, rather than the group agreeing on unrelated individual reservations.
Hotelbeds and Bedsonline+: different tools from the same group
The Hotelbeds API is suitable for agencies that want to offer their services in their own system, while Bedsonline+ is focused on the daily work of travel consultants. Both belong to the HBX Group, and in addition to accommodation they also offer additional services.
The difference lies primarily in the way of working: either proprietary sales technology or a ready-made agency platform. Hotelbeds' documentation also shows an important contractual nuance: part of the net tariff has a mandatory selling price. The net amount therefore does not always mean complete freedom to set the margin.
As additional options, it is worth checking out DidaTravel, Restel, Stubu, and Bonotel.
One main partner, but not the only one
The recommendation is the main provider and a proven alternative, alongside a specialist when there is a specific need. The alternative should bring about a different level of availability, conditions, or quality of service, rather than just an additional bill.
Compare the sample of actual queries: the same hotel, room, food, age of children, cancellation and final price, including mandatory fees. Include peak times, when availability may be more important than a small price difference. Check whether the rates are market-driven and whether they can be sold independently or only as a package. When canceling, check the time zone of the deadline.
Calculate currency differences, card fees, deposit and refund period. Request a procedure in case the hotel cannot find a reservation or does not have a free room. Who contacts the hotel, who approves the replacement and who bears the additional cost?
Follow profit after the cost of processing the reservation, and not just the difference between the purchase and selling price.
Portal, white-label or API: calculate and maintain costs
For a smaller sales volume, start with a portal. A ready-made platform under your brand, or a white-label platform, can accelerate online sales. Having your own API makes sense when you need more control and have the resources to develop.
Include mapping, that is, identifying the same hotel and room from different sources, price verification, cancellation, accounting, and maintenance in your offer. Request a test of price changes and failed reservations, not just a simple purchase.
A technology aggregator can connect multiple suppliers through a single integration, but clarify whether it only provides technology or also contractual purchase terms.
GDS hotels: where do Amadeus, Travelport and Sabre fit in?
For business trips, all three systems are worth considering due to the contracted hotel rates and the ability to link accommodation with other parts of the trip.
GDS is not necessarily an alternative to the wholesaler. Amadeus offers Amadeus Value Hotels with net prices and an aggregator offer in addition to the classic content. Sabre also aggregates multiple sources, while Travelport supports corporate and consortium rates.
Instead, separate the booking system from the pricing source. Check the commission, payment, cancellation, and conditions for earning hotel points. A GDS agency can be the starting point; a vacation agency can be a supplement. The best combination comes from your bookings, not from a universal ranking list.
