Why APIs Are Becoming Travel’s Most Underrated Growth Lever

1. Looking back, what would you say have been the biggest milestones in RateHawk’s API connectivity?

Christopher Jallah, Head of API Distribution at RateHawk

Over the past decade, RateHawk has reached several important milestones in API connectivity. Our accommodation inventory has grown to more than 3.2 million options, including over 250,000 directly contracted properties and partnerships with more than 100 destination management companies (DMCs). This has significantly expanded both the quality and diversity of our offering for partners.

API-driven gross bookings have increased by 40% year over year, and our network of integrated API partners now exceeds 1,600 companies worldwide, including major names such as MakeMyTrip, LCC Deutschland, and Global Star.

These achievements reflect not only RateHawk’s API growth but also ETG’s broader strategy of building scalable global distribution infrastructure for travel businesses worldwide.

We have also continuously enhanced our API and product features to ensure our technology remains innovative and aligned with our partners’ evolving needs.

2. What are the main advantages of RateHawk’s API solutions compared to other B2B travel platforms in the market today?

RateHawk’s API provides one of the most extensive global supply networks in the B2B travel market, spanning 220 countries and drawing on a supplier base that includes both directly contracted properties and more than 100 destination management companies (DMCs).

Our partners benefit from competitive net rates, comprehensive property content, and dynamic package rates, all delivered via a robust, flexible API. The breadth of our direct and aggregated supplier network gives clients access to unique inventory and pricing that help strengthen their competitiveness.

Combined with dedicated support and continuously enhanced product features, RateHawk helps travel businesses of all sizes scale effectively while simplifying distribution and connectivity.

3. With RateHawk now offering more than 3.2 million accommodation options in 220 countries, which regions are you prioritizing for API growth right now?

We are currently focused on strong API-driven growth across Asia-Pacific, particularly in Southeast Asia and India, where we continue to see rapid expansion in both supply and demand.

The Americas are also a key priority, especially as interest grows in urban, resort, and boutique accommodation options. Across all regions, we continuously localize our content, pricing, and payment solutions to help maximize partner conversion and support long-term business growth.

4. Can you describe some of the latest product updates or new features introduced for RateHawk’s API customers in the past year?

Over the past year, we’ve introduced several new features and product enhancements for our API partners. One of the key updates was the launch of our Content API, which delivers enriched real-time hotel data, property imagery, and amenities.

We’ve also added AI-powered capabilities for hotel and rate matching, content mapping, and anomaly detection, helping partners improve operational efficiency and sales performance.

In addition, the API now supports package rates and uses unique hotel IDs to simplify mapping and integration. Our self-service sandbox environment also enables partners to test and onboard more quickly, making integrations faster and more efficient.

“Our self-service sandbox environment enables partners to test and onboard more quickly — making integrations faster and more efficient.”

5. Whether you’re an OTA, a TMC, or a company that prefers working through a third-party tech platform, how does the integration process work, and what makes RateHawk the right partner?

The starting point is always the same: contact our team. From there, we tailor the onboarding process to the partner’s business model and market. We provide full API documentation, a self-service sandbox environment for testing, and a dedicated local Account Manager who stays involved well beyond the initial integration.

For OTAs, particularly in fast-growing markets across APAC, we offer rapidly expanding, highly localized inventory, flexible and scalable solutions, and an established regional presence. This helps partners respond quickly to market trends and maximize growth opportunities.

For travel management companies (TMCs), we offer a wide selection of corporate-ready hotels, preferred and negotiated rates, flexible cancellation options, and advanced reporting and payment tools tailored to business travel. RateHawk also works with more than 100 technology platforms globally, allowing partners to connect through their preferred third-party platform where appropriate.

For businesses that prefer indirect connectivity, working through an aggregator or technology partner offers a fast, efficient way to access RateHawk alongside other suppliers. Direct integration, meanwhile, provides access to the full product feature set and the latest updates as soon as they become available. Both approaches are designed to meet different business needs, with the right choice depending on the level of flexibility, customization, and integration depth a partner requires.

6. RateHawk works with over 350 suppliers and partners with global hotel chains both directly and through tech platforms. How do these partnerships enhance your API offerings?

Our partnerships with more than 350 suppliers, including directly contracted properties across all segments and more than 100 DMCs globally, enable RateHawk to deliver richer, more localized, and more diverse content via our API.

These relationships combine direct contracts with major hotel chains, boutique properties, and global technology partners, helping ensure access to unique room types, competitive rates, and a wide range of booking options.

This approach gives our partners greater inventory stability, commercial flexibility, and the competitive content they need to support their business goals across different markets.

Together, these partnerships contribute to ETG’s global travel ecosystem, helping ensure reliable inventory and competitive pricing across multiple distribution channels.

7. AI is transforming the travel industry. How is Ratehawk leveraging artificial intelligence within its api and booking processes to benefit your partners?

AI plays a central role in RateHawk’s ongoing innovation and product development. We use AI-powered hotel matching to accurately aggregate content from more than 350 suppliers and over 250,000 directly contracted hotels, helping partners access richer and more reliable data.

Our AI capabilities also help reduce unproductive searches by filtering low-conversion queries, while machine learning ranks and prioritizes the most relevant hotel options for partners and their customers.

In addition, image deduplication technology helps deliver cleaner, higher-quality content across our platform. Together, these AI-driven capabilities support greater speed, accuracy, and operational efficiency throughout the booking process.

8. What does ongoing partnership development look like at Ratehawk? How does your support team work with partners post-integration to optimize results and support growth?

At RateHawk, we see partnership development as an ongoing process built around long-term collaboration and support. After integration, each partner receives guidance from a dedicated Account Manager and full technical support from our team.

We regularly review API performance, share best practices, and proactively recommend new features and improvements to optimize results. Our teams also keep partners informed about new opportunities, industry developments, and product updates to help support business growth and long-term success.

Connectivity is the backbone of ETG’s global ecosystem

RateHawk’s API business reflects the broader evolution of Emerging Travel Group’s global travel infrastructure. Over time, RateHawk has evolved from a growing B2B platform into a key connectivity engine within ETG’s ecosystem, helping travel businesses access global inventory, streamline operations, and scale internationally.

The growth of RateHawk’s API network, now connecting more than 1,600 partners worldwide, demonstrates how technology, supplier relationships, and localized support can work together to create meaningful value for travel businesses. As ETG continues to expand across global markets, API connectivity will remain a critical part of the company’s strategy to strengthen distribution, improve efficiency, and support partner growth at scale.

The trends shaping the next decade of travel, from agentic AI and evolving traveler expectations to the growing role of technology infrastructure, are explored in depth in the white paper Supercharging Travel: Ten Trends That Will Shape the Industry Over the Next Decade, developed by RateHawk in collaboration with PhocusWire.

Download the report to explore the trends shaping the future of travel and discover how your business can prepare.

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