How Zaui Automates Online Bookings with Expedia
Tour and Activity operators using Zaui Software can now connect real time and automate bookings with the online powerhouse, Expedia.
Expedia is the latest Online Travel Agent (OTA) to join the Zaui Reseller Network with a direct API connection to the Zaui platform. This allows suppliers to access a massive pool of potential new customers and accept new reservations from the booking giant, hands free and in real time.
If you are already selling on Expedia, then you have a head start. You already know the sales potential of connecting to online resellers like Expedia, Viator, Veltra, Musement, SimpleNight and others. If you haven’t had experience with online resellers, have a look at our latest Zaui case study on the Tromsø Wilderness Centre to see how OTAs helped spur massive growth for this company.
How the Direct Integration with Expedia Works
Originally, bookings were delivered one-way via email, which needed to be checked for availability, entered into the system, and invoiced back to Expedia.
Now when a customer books a tour or activity on Expedia, Zaui checks inventory to ensure the space is available for the Expedia customer. When the space is confirmed, the booking is pushed directly to the supplier’s Zaui account and payment is made electronically to the supplier bank account based on the customer’s tour dates. If changes need to be made to the reservation, they can be done by Expedia, subject to the edit and cancellation rules set by the Zaui channel manager. Of course cancellations and edits to bookings coming from Expedia can also be made in Zaui.
This automated sales process greatly improves accuracy and efficiency, leaving tour and activity operators with more time to spend focusing on what matters most: providing an exceptional experience for their guests.
Expedia joins Viator, Musement and others as Zaui Software’s latest OTA integration
Why Should Tour and Activity Operators Use Expedia for Bookings?
Global Reach
Expedia is the world’s largest travel company. They have a massive portfolio of other giant travel companies like Hotels.com, Trivago, Orbitz and the Expedia Affiliate Network to name a few. They have the largest global network of trusted travel partner brands in over 70 countries that can package tours outside your tourism scope. In the US alone, Expedia accounts for nearly 70% of the total OTA market.
Access Users (Expedia Offers a Premium Experience)
Customers love Expedia’s ability to personalize travel search. Around 60 million travelers are searching Expedia listings each month for tours and activities. It offers suggestions and provides trusted third party reviews. Expedia’s travel apps have been downloaded more than 80 million times.
Reliable Bookings and Payments
Once your direct connection has been configured in Zaui, you can start selling right away. Expedia only makes money when you sell your tours or activities. Customers trust paying their money to Expedia…and you can trust that Expedia is going to pay you.
Expedia is the platform of choice for customers searching for tours and activities. Grow your tourism business with Zaui and plug into a direct connection with the world’s largest Online Travel Agents.
Sell Your Tours on the World’s Largest Marketplaces
Set up is simple. Start selling your tours and activities through online travel agencies like Musement, Viator, and Expedia today by contacting us at support@zaui.com.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No. Zaui’s pricing is fully pay-as-you-go. You aren’t locked into any long-term contract. In fact, leading platforms emphasize this flexibility. Similarly, Zaui lets you start and stop anytime. You can change or cancel your plan freely, so you only pay for what you use.
Absolutely not. Zaui’s pricing is 100% transparent. We disclose all fees up front with no surprise add-ons or “sneak-in” charges. In fact, Zaui’s plans include all core features “without additional fees”. Industry experts note that hidden fees undermine trust so we avoid them entirely. All costs are clearly outlined in our pricing, and there are no extra setup charges or undisclosed surcharges at checkout.
Zaui integrates with major payment gateways (e.g. Stripe) so you only pay standard credit-card processing rates (roughly 1.9%+$0.30/transaction) and we don’t mark them up. Only the published platform commission is added on bookings. You also have full control over who pays the commission, we let you decide whether to absorb booking fees or pass them on to customers. In short, you’ll only pay the transparent booking commission and normal gateway fees, nothing extra.
Your onboarding and support are included in the price. We provide white-glove setup help and ongoing 24/7 support at no additional cost. Our dedicated customer-success team will guide you through every step, ensuring a smooth launch. You won’t pay extra for training or service other than the onboarding fee; it's all built into your plan.
You can schedule a free demo with our team. Our Zaui ninjas will walk you through pe how Zaui can work for your business and highlight opportunities to grow with our advanced features all without any upfront payment. This way, you can feel confident it’s the right fit before making a commitment.
Of course. Zaui’s plans are fully flexible. You can upgrade or downgrade at any time to match your needs, without penalties. You can move to a higher tier or back down easily, and your billing adjusts automatically.
No. Zaui does not charge its commission on offline/manual bookings. “No fees on offline bookings” You only pay the commission when a booking is processed online through our system. Manual reservations (or bookings from partner channels we set up for you) incur no extra platform fee. (30% or less)
All of Zaui’s core features are included in your plan at no extra charge. We believe in value and transparency: Zaui provides over 15 advanced features (Google Things to do, reporting tools, marketing tools, reports, etc.) at no additional cost. Many competitors charge extra or require higher plans for the same features, but with Zaui you get the full suite of tools in one package. Any optional add-ons (if any) will always be clearly listed and optional there are no surprise paid upgrades for standard features.
Each Zaui plan is designed for clarity and fairness, following industry best practices. You can trust that our pricing is transparent and flexible, with the support you need built in.
Extra accounts- unlimited agents, resellers, user
