$RATEGAIN

RATEGAIN RELEASES APMEA HOTEL BOOKING REPORT; FLAGS AI SEARCH DISRUPTION 🤖🏨 • 📊 RateGain launched the APMEA Direct Booking Friction Report 2026, covering hotel booking journeys across the region • 🔍 Report warns that AI-powered search is changing customer discovery patterns and could push hotel websites out of the booking journey • 👀 42% of hotels do not appear on Page 1 for unbranded search queries, reducing visibility to potential guests • 💰 63% of hotels offer higher rates on their own websites than OTAs, leading to loss of direct bookings • ⚡️ 72% of hotel websites fail the 3-second load benchmark; average mobile load time stands at 4.1 seconds • 🛒 Guests require an average of 4 clicks to complete a booking versus a global benchmark of 3 clicks • 🔒 44% of hotels disclose taxes and fees only at the final payment stage, impacting customer trust and conversions • 🌏 Singapore and Thailand emerged as regional leaders in website speed and direct booking experience • 📈 RateGain highlighted that hotels moving to unified digital platforms have seen up to 5x growth in direct revenue within 90 days 🟢 Impact: Positive (Strengthens RateGain's positioning as an AI-powered travel technology provider while highlighting the growing need for its digital marketing, distribution and direct booking optimization solutions.)