notitur.com August 24, 2026

Distribution

Wholesaler

A wholesaler or bedbank buys rooms at a net rate and resells them to agencies, tour operators and other OTAs worldwide. It gives reach into distant markets, but it is a classic source of disparity when those rates end up leaking into public channels below price. Hotelbeds is the best known example.

Example A net rate given to a wholesaler resurfaces on an Asian OTA 12 euros below the hotel's own site.

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Disparity

Disparity happens when the same hotel shows different prices across channels for the same dates. It usually...

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Merchant model

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Allotment

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Rate parity

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FAQ

What is a wholesaler in the hospitality industry?
A wholesaler, also called a bedbank, is a company that buys hotel rooms at net rates and resells them to travel agencies, tour operators and other OTAs around the world. Hotelbeds is the most well-known example.
How does a hotel wholesaler work?
The wholesaler procures blocks of rooms from hotels at a net rate, loads them into its platform and distributes them to commercial partners, who then add their own markup. The hotel bills the wholesaler for the entire block, shifting occupancy risk to the wholesaler.
What is the difference between a wholesaler and a tour operator?
A wholesaler only buys and resells individual services like hotel rooms, while a tour operator packages transport, accommodation and activities into a single product. For instance, Hotelbeds acts as a pure bedbank and does not build combined itineraries.

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