Complaining about OTAs and Creating Alternatives

This article is interesting:
http://www.tnooz.com/2013/08/09/news/10-things-hotel-owners-should-do-in...

Regardless of what I read, whom I speak to, or which trade conference I attend, there’s one topic among hoteliers that is more heatedly discussed than any other: how to increase direct online sales for hotels.

Lately, this discussion has focused on the emergence of alternative booking portals, the question of rate parity, and Google’s Hotel Finder.

It’s not merely talk. A recent article in Germany’s industry magazine AHGZ (“Hotels starting their own booking portals“, German only) describes individual hoteliers taking action and joining together to create alternative booking platforms, such as Mr. Hobs and Online im Hotel.