Travel site Skift has noticed that a few indie hotels are now offering up rooms at regular rates through Amazon Local. This development, says Skift, "is a big departure from the steeply discounted, distressed inventory that has been the mainstay of Amazon Local over the past couple of years." What doth this move portend? Amazon is angling to attract hotels "on an ongoing basis," writes Skift, "and not just when they have rooms to sell at 40 percent or 52 percent cheaper than published rates."
Participating properties include Gleneden, Oregon's Salishan Spa & Golf Resort and the Ocean Place Spa & Resort in Long Branch, New Jersey. Okay, not exactly the Hilton chain. But everybody has to start somewhere.
Expedia, beware!