How to Develop an Hotel Booking App Like Kayak?

Started in 2004, Kayak has grown to become one of the central players in the travel space through the development of an app with on-demand app services like searching, comparing, and booking their flights, hotels, and rental cars. This has raised a question in the minds of every travel company: How to develop an app like Kayak?

In the case of developing a hotel booking application like Kayak, businesses need to go through detailed market analysis in terms of finding out the essential features that must become a part of the app, choosing an appropriate technology stack, and availing reliable APIs that could provide timely travel information.

We will discuss in detail how to create an app like Kayak later in the blog. Kayak is the prime example of integrated travelling solutions, with more than 300 million downloads and over 1 billion searches annually.

It constitutes one of the most excellent instances of mobile app development for businesses. The wide popularity of this application can be explained by its user-friendly interface, search and booking efficiency, and the ability to compare prices across a huge number of travel sites. Kayak’s success is supported by its remarkable statistics. The travel booking app is active in over 60 countries and provides services in over 30 languages.

In the year 2023, the app achieved a revenue of $1.6 billion, highlighting the profitable prospects of travel booking platforms. As the travel sector continues to grow, the need to build an app like Kayak is anticipated to increase, offering a huge opportunity for businesses to explore possibilities within this market. Additionally, understanding the mobile app development cost and exploring effective travel app development solutions is crucial for businesses looking to create a travel booking platform with similar functionalities and features.

How to Develop an App Like Kayak? 7 Easy Steps

To develop an app similar to Kayak, it involves a smart approach that requires technical knowledge, market research and user-centred design. Here are some steps you can follow to have a deeper understanding of how to create an app like Kayak.

1. Market Research & Analysis

The first step in Kayak-like app development is market research and analysis. This step entails knowing your audience, competitor analysis, and finding gaps in the market.

2. Define App Features & Functionality

Main features should include flight search, hotel booking, car rentals while additional ones may be price alerts and multi-city bookings which improves the user experience.

3. Choose the Right Tech Stack

This is another vital step. For the front end, consider technologies like React Native or Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android. Node.js or Django are reliable options for the back-end, while PostgreSQL or MongoDB can manage your database needs.

4. UI/UX Design

Concentrate on UI/UX design after selecting the tech stack. Retaining app users requires an intuitive navigation system and an interface that is easy to use. Smooth transitions between searches, bookings, and payments should be guaranteed by the design.

5. Develop & Integrate APIs

These are essential for pulling data from multiple travel service providers, enabling real-time price comparisons and booking capabilities. The Amadeus API, for instance, is widely used in the travel business.

6. Testing & Quality Assurance

Before launching, thorough testing and quality control are required. Testing reduces the possibility of errors or crashes by ensuring that the program runs smoothly on all platforms and devices.

7. Launch & Marketing

Finally, focus on launch and marketing. Deploy the app on major platforms like iOS and Android utilizing iOS app development services and Android app development services to ensure a seamless user experience on both platforms. Implement a targeted marketing strategy to attract users and gain initial traction.

These steps will help you in Kayak-like app development and make your app stand out within the travel market space. Partnering with experienced mobile app development companies in USA is crucial to ensure technical expertise and market insights.

[Also read: How Long Does it Take to Make an App]

How Does Kayak App Work?

Kayak functions as a meta-search engine that uses search engine optimisation to aggregate data from various third-party sites. When app users register and enter their travel preferences, Kayak’s search function searches across multiple travel platforms, providing a detailed listing of available options for flight booking, hotels, and car rentals.

App users can compare prices, apply filters, check flight status updates and either book vacation packages directly through the app or be redirected to the website of online travel agencies. Kayak continuously updates prices and availability in real-time, ensuring users get accurate, up-to-date and relevant information for their travel plans, making it a reliable tool for booking trips.

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Benefits of Creating a Hotel Booking App Like Kayak

While learning how to develop an app like Kayak, you will be thrilled to know that several benefits are offered when you build an app like Kayak. They are discussed below:

1. Money Making

This can happen through affiliate commissions, in-app advertisements and premium subscriptions.

2. Global Audience

The market potential can be increased by catering to a global user base through multiple languages.

3. Building a Strong Brand

Make your brand known as a reliable travel service provider with extensive booking options.

4. Holding Users Attention

Personalized offers, price alerts and timely notifications make users return to the service again and again.

5. Smart Data Use

Understand customer behavior better by getting insights from big data to create better services or target more specific marketing campaigns.

6. Keeping up with the Market

Drawing attention away from other competitors in the travel market is possible if you provide an easy-to-use booking experience.

7. Applicability for Growth

Grow your application’s user base and increase revenue streams by adding flight information, car rentals and other travel-related services to it easily.

[You may also like to read: How to Build an App Like Amazon]

Key Features to Make a Travel App Like Kayak

While you are exploring how to develop an app like Kayak, you must also understand that it requires the integration of several crucial features that enhance user experience and functionality.

1. Advanced Search Filters

Permit consumers to focus their searches using a range of parameters, including cost, location, dates of trip, features, and more. Thanks to this functionality, app users can choose options that best fit their needs.

2. Price Alerts

Enable users to set price alerts for price changes on flights, hotels, and car rentals. This feature keeps users informed of the best deals, increasing the likelihood of bookings through the app.

3. Multi-City Booking

Offer the ability to book multiple destinations in one trip. This feature is particularly useful for users planning complex itineraries and boosts the app’s appeal to frequent travellers.

4. Interactive Maps

Include maps that let users see the locations of hotels, neighbouring points of interest, and facilities. This feature assists customers in making well-informed judgments based on accessibility and convenience of the area.

5. User Reviews and Ratings

Include a section for app users reviews and ratings. This feature builds trust and helps users make better-informed choices by reading about others experiences.

6. Secure Payment Gateway

Make sure the app accepts a wide range of payment methods and has strong security mechanisms in place to secure user data during transactions.

7. Currency Converter

Provide a built-in currency converter to assist international travellers in understanding costs in their local currency.

[Also read: How to Create an App Like Duolingo]

Monetisation Model of Kayak App

Kayak uses a multifaceted monetisation model that generates revenue through numerous channels, assuring profitability while providing a free-to-use platform for users.

1. Affiliate Marketing

A considerable share of Kayak’s income is derived from affiliate marketing. When users make bookings for flights, hotel rooms, or car rentals via Kayak, the application receives a commission from the associated partner websites. This model is highly effective as it leverages partnerships with numerous travel providers, allowing Kayak to offer a wide range of options while earning a percentage of each booking made through its platform.

2. In-App Advertising

In-app advertising is an additional source of revenue for Kayak. These ad spaces are strategic attempts to grab attention of users without disrupting their overall experience. Advertisers pay Kayak for displaying their ads which can be in the form of banners, sponsored listings, or promos that speak directly to someone’s search history.

3. Premium Subscriptions

Another thing is that Kayak has a premium subscription plan that lets users skip ads and enables them to get priority customer service, advanced filters and early access for sales, among other things. It would attract frequent travellers who value simplicity and improved practicality.

4. Data Monetization

While not directly monetised, the user data of all the past bookings collected through the app can be analysed to improve services and target marketing efforts and potentially be leveraged in partnerships, providing indirect revenue opportunities.

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Tech Stack to Build an App Like Kayak

While you are exploring how to develop an app like Kayak, it is important to consider the tech stack, as it plays a crucial role in determining the app’s performance, scalability, and security. Here’s a suggested tech stack for building an app like Kayak:

• Front-End: For cross-platform development, use React Native or go native with Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android. These technologies enable smooth user interfaces and responsive designs.
• Back-End: Node.js or Django are excellent choices for the server side. They provide efficient handling of API requests, user authentication, and real-time data processing.
• Database: Use PostgreSQL or MongoDB for database management, ensuring secure storage and quick retrieval of user and travel-related data.
• APIs: Integrate with external APIs such as Amadeus, Skyscanner, and Google Maps to recover travel pricing information and offer services based on geographical locations.
• Cloud Services: Launch your app on cloud services such as AWS or Azure to guarantee scalability, enhanced availability, and secure data storage.
• Payment Gateway: Integrate secure payment gateways such as Stripe or PayPal to enable seamless transactions.

[Also read: How to Build an App Like Airbnb]

Cost and Time Required to Develop a Kayak App

The cost to create a hotel booking app like kayak involves many factors that determine the time and money required. Some of these factors include complexity, features and geographic location of the development team. The Kayak app development cost can be estimated as follows:

Conclusion: How to Develop an App Like Kayak

Developing an app that is similar to Kayak needs a well-thought-out approach, a strong tech stack, and an emphasis on user experience. You can build a travel app for the market demand successfully if you follow the steps in this guide and know what features it should have and how to monetize it. With proper strategy, you could create the next widely known name in the travel industry and supply people with a reliable platform for their entire travel needs. So why not take a step forward and partner with The Ninehertz, one of the best on demand app development companies ever that offers you opportunities to expand your business?

FAQ’s: How to Create an App Like Kayak

Let us discuss some of the frequently asked questions regarding how to create a hotel booking app like kayak.

Q.1 How Long Does it Take to Develop a Travel App?

To build a flight booking app like Kayak takes 4 to 6 months for a basic version with fundamental functions such as flight and hotel booking. A more feature-rich software with extensive choices may take 8 to 12 months or longer.

Q.2 What Kind of App is Kayak?

Kayak is a travel search engine and booking software that allows users to compare costs for flights, hotels, and car rentals across many travel websites. It allows consumers to get the greatest rates and arrange their journeys in one spot.

Q.3 What is the Revenue of Kayak?

Kayak’s revenue is approximately $1.6 billion every year. Commissions on bookings, advertising, and premium features available within the app generate this.

Q.4 How Much Money Does it Take to Make a Kayak?

The cost to create an app like Kayak can be between $100,000 and $500,000, depending on its complexity, features, and platform (iOS, Android, or both).

Q.5 What are the Core Values of Kayak?

Kayak values innovation, transparency, and usability. They seek to ease travel planning by providing simple information and are constantly improving their app to better assist passengers.