In the online hospitality industry, search engines and metasearch engines are important for helping users find the best deals and information. Although both types of engines retrieve information, there are some key differences between them.
A search engine, such as Google or Bing (Google being the most popular search engine with a market share of around 92%), is a tool that lets users type in keywords or phrases and then shows a list of websites or web pages that match the search. The search engine uses algorithms to go through and organize the internet, giving users lots of different results. These results can include websites, pictures, videos, news articles, and more. Search engines have a lot of information from all over the internet.
Popular Search Engines
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- Market share: 92.58% to 91.62% (Jan-Dec 2023)
- Dominates market on all devices: desktop, mobile, and tablet
- Desktop market share: 81.74% and mobile market share: 95.49%
- Microsoft Bing
- Search engine market share varies from 2.83% to 12.31%. It is positioned as the top alternative to Google.
- Yahoo
- Market share of 1.12% as of December 2023. It is expected to make a strong comeback in 2024 with a revamped search experience and the possibility of integrating artificial intelligence.
- Baidu
- Baidu is the most popular search engine in China, with a 60.87% market share in the country and a global market share of 0.96% as of December 2022. It was founded by Robin Li and is similar to Google, as it also focuses on AI and voice-assisted search.
- Yandex
- A widely used search engine, especially in Russia, that has a large presence worldwide.
- DuckDuckGo
- Known for its focus on privacy and not tracking user data.
- Ask.com
- Offers a unique question-answering format for search queries.
- Aol.com
- Maintains its position as a recognizable search engine.
On the other hand, a metasearch engine, such as Trivago or Kayak, Google Hotel Ads, HotelsCombined, or Tripadvisor, works differently. It doesn’t have its own database of indexed websites. Instead, it gathers search results from multiple search engines and shows them to users in one combined list. Metasearch engines act as intermediaries, allowing users to compare results from different search engines at the same time. This can be especially helpful in the hotel industry, where users can compare prices and availability across various hotel booking websites.
Key Differences Between Search Engine and Metasearch Engine – Metasearch Engine for Hotels
Top Metaserch Sites
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- Google: Offers ad placement bidding and a “verified” check mark for credibility.
- Tripadvisor: Displays rates from various channels and is known for its extensive monthly web visits.
- Kayak: Owned by Booking Holdings, it covers hotels, flights, rental cars, and more.
- Trivago: Owned by the Expedia Group, it has an international user base.
Metasearch engines in the hospitality industry search multiple hotel booking websites and combine the results into one display. This lets users compare prices, availability, and other details across different platforms without visiting each one separately. Metasearch engines also offer user reviews and ratings, helping travelers make informed decisions when booking accommodations.
In general, search engines and metasearch engines both help you find information. However, metasearch engines are more focused on gathering results from different platforms in one convenient location. This is especially helpful in the hospitality industry, where users can compare prices and find the best deals on different hotel booking websites.
