Online Travel Agency Price Presentation: Examining the Influence of Price Dispersion on Travelers’ Hotel Preference

Abstract

This research investigates the impact of different degrees of price dispersion on travelers’ hotel choice. More specifically, within an online travel agency (OTA) context, we examine the effect of wide (vs. narrow) price dispersion on hotel preference. In addition, we suggest two boundary conditions for this effect: salience of external regular price and perception of destination uncertainty. Across multiple studies, our results show that travelers prefer a hotel option featuring wide price dominance dispersion. Additionally, both the presence of an external regular price and the level of uncertainty associated with the hotel destination act as moderating influences. This work represents an emerging direction in the online price dispersion literature, namely, exploring the consequences of online price dispersion. In practice, by understanding the influence of price dispersion on consumer choice, OTAs can develop more effective pricing strategies in partnership with their hotel room suppliers.