Abstract
Understanding demand for travel websites can help hoteliers better evaluate their own multi-channel distribution and reputation management strategies. In this study, we estimated demand for eight major travel websites based on the user percentage in 3,120 U.S. counties. Results highlighted the importance of four types of factors: sociodemographic, economic, Internet use-related, and travel-related. Differences between websites were also compared based on estimated coefficients. For example, the demand for Expedia.com appeared to be driven by age, education background, income, and foreign travel history, whereas the demand for Hotels.com was driven by the proportion of the African American population and domestic travel history. Lastly, implications are provided.