The best acquisition in Internet history
When computer scientist Geert-Jan Bruinsma launched Booking.com in Amsterdam in 1996, he could not have imagined his small startup, initially backed by the University of Twente, would grow into one of the largest e-commerce travel companies in the world. The platform became so successful that when the American group Priceline purchased it in 2005, it turned millions of dollars in losses into billion-dollar profits. The deal is still cited as one of the best acquisitions in Internet history.
Booking.com and the evolution of travel booking
What started as a simple hotel booking service for business and leisure travelers has evolved into a single, all-encompassing online platform. Today, you can use it to book every component of your trip, including accommodations, transportation like flights and rental cars, and attractions and activities to fill your itinerary.
The accommodation options go far beyond the standard hotel room. Booking.com offers access to no fewer than 50 property types, ranging from traditional apartments, resorts, villas, hostels, and B&Bs to more unique stays like riads, ryokans, houseboat hotels, glamping tents, and tiny houses. These options cater to every budget worldwide, with the core mission of making global travel accessible to everyone.
To achieve this, the site is available in 43 languages. This linguistic reach allows Booking.com to serve a global audience, supported by 24/7 customer assistance, a zero-fee booking policy, and the Genius loyalty program. The latter offers members at levels 1 and 2 discounts of about 10 percent off standard accommodation rates.
FRAUD. I made a reservation on Booking for an apartment that the site rated 3 stars.
Booking kindly confirmed my reservation.
Then I received an email asking me to make a payment.
I informed the site, and they confirmed that it was normal and invited me to wait 48 hours to see or to call the establishment. I did that, and I reached a poor guy who told me in Italian that the listing is fake, that he keeps getting calls for reservations, and that Booking had removed the listing. False, it is still there.
After checking, it is definitely a scam.
I had to block my card to avoid being robbed.
Without my research, other people would still be getting robbed. Booking's reaction is completely pathetic.