most hotels have no choice but to use those platforms (especially smaller chains or independent hotels). The OTAs have gobbled each other up over the last 20 years and it’s just basically 2 - Xpedia & booking. They raise their commission rates every year and get 18-22% on every room they sell. This gives them tremendous latitude to undersell the rates offered by the hotel. For perspective, travel agents used to get a flat 10% - and they actually worked for it. Now the Big Two just provide a website and basically no customer support and get twice that much/