RateGain Launches SoHo: AI-Powered Social Platform Designed to Redefine Hotel Guest Engagement
2025-10-06 03:25
Noida, 6th October 2025: RateGain Travel Technologies Limited (RateGain), a global provider of AI-powered SaaS solutions for the travel and hospitality industry, today announced the launch of SoHo: Social for Hospitality, the rebranded identity of BCV, built to help hotels turn social into a revenue driving channel in an era of guest led journeys. For more than a decade, BCV supported hotels in a brand-led funnel. But traveler behavior has changed: today’s guest journey is fragmented and guest-led, leaving hotels with disconnected tools and missed opportunities. WTM research shows that 62% of travelers make booking decisions based on online content, and 72% say influencer and creator content influences their choices. SoHo bridges this gap by combining AI-powered technology with expert services – unifying content creation, publishing, engagement, reputation management, influencer marketing, and performance into a single command center that not only empowers hoteliers with the right tools but also partners with them to maximize every touchpoint. Built for hospitality, SoHo helps hotels turn social media into a revenue-driving channel. The guest journey is no longer linear, as travelers weave between social, search, and metasearch at different moments. Social drives discovery and validation, while search and metasearch provide depth and comparison, each reinforcing the other. Together, these touchpoints shape reputation and revenue, with social proof now influencing every stage. “As hotels shift from a brand-led funnel to today’s guest-led journey, social has become the command center of influence,” said Carla Shaw, General Manager, SoHo, RateGain. “Guests now discover, validate, and decide in a single scroll. With SoHo, we help hoteliers harness this new reality, turning discovery into trust, trust into equity, and equity into bookings. This rebrand is not just a change in name, but a recognition of how the funnel has been rewritten and a commitment to help hotels thrive in a world where social proof drives revenue.” “SoHo is not just another social tool; it is the only hospitality-first solution that combines the world’s richest travel dataset with AI to make every guest interaction measurable and revenue-generating,” said Bhanu Chopra, Founder and Managing Director, RateGain. “Social is now the interactive layer where trust is built and decisions are made, and with SoHo we are giving hoteliers clarity, confidence, and the ability to turn every interaction into revenue.” Today’s announcement marks more than a name change; it is a rebrand that reflects the changing role of social media in hospitality. Building on this foundation, SoHo will continue to evolve with new capabilities designed to connect every stage of the guest journey with clarity and measurable results. To explore how SoHo can help your property turn social into a powerful revenue channel, visit rategainsoho.com. About RateGain RateGain Travel Technologies Limited is a global provider of AI-powered SaaS solutions for travel and hospitality that works with 3,200+ customers and 700+ partners in 100+ countries helping them accelerate revenue generation through acquisition, retention, and wallet share expansion. RateGain today is one of the world’s largest processors of electronic transactions, price points, and travel intent data helping revenue management, distribution and marketing teams across hotels, airlines, meta-search companies, package providers, car rentals, travel management companies, cruises and ferries drive better outcomes for their business. Founded in 2004 and headquartered in India, today RateGain works with 26 of the Top 30 Hotel Chains, 25 of the Top 30 Online Travel Agents, 3 of the Top 4 Airlines, and all the top car rentals, including 15 Global Fortune 500 companies in unlocking new revenue every day. For more information, please visit www.rategain.com Media Contact Aastha Khurana Director, Corporate Communication media@rategain.com
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Travel Leaders Confront Headwinds and Shifts in Distribution at Skift Global Forum
2025-10-03 07:06
At the Glass House in New York, leaders from across travel and hospitality came together—Booking, Expedia, Airbnb, RCG, Frontier, Kayak, Air Asia, Oyo, IHG, Marriott, and many others. The discussions were focused, and the themes consistent. 1. Economic Headwinds The North American market appears to be softening. Search volumes are down 15%. OTA and TMC bookings are flat. Margins are under pressure. Niche segments such as Luxury travel and vacation rentals seem to be holding up, while there are headwinds for the low-cost carriers like Spirit, Southwest, and Frontier. Pricing has become critical and is forcing providers to rethink how they design products and grow share. All of this plays out against broader challenges—new regulations, shifting visa and border policies, emerging agentic AI and data privacy rules. Inflation and high interest rates are slowing investment. Global uncertainty continues to weigh on the industry. The takeaway was clear: agility is no longer a differentiator; it’s a necessity. 2. Platforms and Technology Technology drew much of the attention. AI being at the heart of everything we do—it’s increasingly used for transactions, personalizing offers, increasing efficiency, and forecasting demand more accurately. The industry is moving past web forms and static booking paths. Agentic and Conversational AI will likely affect how and where people book travel. The balance between direct, third party, and emerging platforms is set to shift. 3. Human-Centered While technology was at the center of many sessions, the industry also emphasized people. Every company is competing for the same AI and data talent. The ability to recruit and keep these people will be important. Those who can build strong AI teams will be able to move faster. The conversation also turned inward. Companies were reminded that a focus on people is not only about guests. It’s also about employees. Culture, well-being, and empowerment are essential to performance. Human-centered travel applies to both sides of the value chain. Closing Reflection The forum left us with a realistic, forward-looking view. While the business environment is challenging at the same time, technology is providing new ways to serve the increasing expectations of travelers. About the Author Toby March Executive Vice President, Revenue (Americas) RateGain
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