ONDA teams up with Sono, Kumho, Phoenix, Kensington, and other major brands to lower commissions and expand customer choice
ONDA Launches D2C Partnership with Korea's Top Hotels & Resorts on Google Hotels
— ONDA kicks off special project with Sono, Kumho, Phoenix, Kensington, and other major resort brands
— Lower commissions for properties, more choice and better service for guests — a win-win for the entire hospitality market
(Press Release — April 28, 2022) Hospitality tech company ONDA has launched a special D2C (Direct to Customer) campaign in partnership with some of Korea's most recognized resort brands.
On April 28, ONDA opened a dedicated "Google Hotels by ONDA" promotion page featuring Sono Hotels & Resorts, Kumho Resort, Phoenix Hotels & Resorts, and Kensington Hotels & Resorts — offering special rates direct to travelers.
The promotion runs on Google Hotels, the search giant's hotel and accommodation booking platform that ONDA was the first to bring to Korea in 2021.
Hotels listed on Google Hotels can drive guests directly to their own websites via Google search — bypassing third-party platforms and paying dramatically lower commissions. That gives properties more room to invest in better guest experiences and supports a healthier ecosystem overall.
This special campaign is designed to introduce Korean travelers and hoteliers — still getting familiar with Google Hotels — to a better booking experience. ONDA is also covering the online promotion costs, reducing the advertising burden on participating properties in the spirit of partnership.
Guests looking to book hotels and resorts through "Google Hotels by ONDA" can search for the property on Google or visit the dedicated promotion page at direct.onda.me for a seamless booking and payment experience. The site categorizes properties by theme — pet-friendly stays, all-inclusive resorts, leisure getaways, forest retreats, and more — making it easy to find the right match.
"D2C sales offer clear advantages — lower commissions, direct customer data — but they're still unfamiliar territory for many in hospitality and for consumers," said Kim Sang-hoon, head of ONDA's D2C task force. "As a hospitality tech company, ONDA is using technology and online sales expertise to grow the D2C market alongside our partners."
ONDA is Korea's first company to operate simultaneously in online booking solutions (OBS), global distribution systems (GDS), and hotel management (HM). The company was recently ranked 7th among Korean tech firms in the Financial Times' 2022 Asia-Pacific High-Growth Companies list and became the first Korean firm to appear in Skift's Global PMS Vendor ranking, placing 34th worldwide.
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