Amazon.com, the largest online company in the U.S. is set to break into the highly competitive travel market by launching an online hotel booking service in early 2015.
Reportedly called Amazon Travel, the service will initially offer users deals on a number of hand-picked hotels close to New York, Los Angeles, and its home city of Seattle. The new venture plans to target a largely niche market of independent and boutique hotels – setting itself apart from the competition which largely focuses on large chain properties.
Hotels will be able to post pictures, amenities, room availability and rates, and will hand over a standard 15 percent commission to Amazon for all prepaid bookings.