Latest news with #OTAs
New York Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Raiders 53-man roster projection: What did we learn in OTAs and minicamp?
No final roster decisions are made during OTAs, but there was valuable insight about the pecking order throughout the Las Vegas Raiders' roster. While several starters on both sides of the ball appear locked in, a few key jobs remain in the air. As always, there will be strong competition to carve out depth roles once training camp begins in July. Advertisement General manager John Spytek and coach Pete Carroll are early in the process of formulating what the roster will look like, and there's still potential for them to make outside additions before the start of the season. For the most part, OTAs were about laying a foundation. 'We learned a lot,' Carroll said last week. 'The whole purpose here is to figure them out. … We've gone to great depths trying to get to understand our guys, what's important to them, what are their goals and their principles, and how they approach stuff so that we can better teach them and reach them.' Here's a post-OTAs 53-man roster projection for the Raiders. Starter: Geno Smith Depth: Aidan O'Connell, Cam Smith Analysis: Cam Smith's reps in OTAs were extremely limited as the coaching staff focused on getting Geno Smith and O'Connell acclimated to offensive coordinator Chip Kelly's system. That'll probably remain the case in training camp, but the rookie will get some burn in preseason games. He's the most mobile quarterback on the roster, has a solid arm and is worth keeping around as a developmental backup. Starter: Ashton Jeanty Depth: Raheem Mostert, Sincere McCormick, Zamir White Analysis: Jeanty is the clear-cut lead back, but the Raiders want to avoid running him into the ground. Mostert will be the primary third-down back and will help spare Jeanty on early downs alongside McCormick. White will compete with Dylan Laube, a skilled returner, to make the roster. Starter: Brock Bowers Depth: Michael Mayer, Ian Thomas Analysis: Mayer missed six games due to personal reasons last season and never looked like himself. As good as Bowers is, the Raiders are hopeful Mayer has a bounce-back year to round out the tight end room and allow Kelly to justify using 12 personnel more often. Advertisement Starters: Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Dont'e Thornton Depth: Jack Bech, Tommy Mellott Analysis: Meyers was mostly used as a slot receiver during OTAs, while Tucker and Thornton handled the majority of the reps on the outside with the first-team offense. Bech, drafted in the second round, will make his case for a starting role in training camp. Mellott should be the backup slot receiver and could potentially carve out a role as a returner. Starters: LT Kolton Miller, LG Dylan Parham, C Jackson Powers-Johnson, RG Alex Cappa, RT DJ Glaze Depth: OL Thayer Munford, G Jordan Meredith, OT Charles Grant, G Caleb Rogers Analysis: There's an ongoing position battle at left guard between Parham, Munford and Meredith that's worth keeping an eye on. Munford played offensive tackle his first three years with the Raiders but has experience at guard in college. Rookies Grant and Rogers have a long way to go to get into the rotation. Starters: DT Christian Wilkins, NT Leki Fotu, DT Adam Butler Depth: Zach Carter, Tonka Hemingway, JJ Pegues, Jonah Laulu Analysis: The Raiders flipped between four- and five-man fronts throughout OTAs, but we'll go with a five-man front as their base given the precarious state of their nickelback position. Wilkins missed all of OTAs as he continues to recover from the Jones fracture he suffered last October, and his health will be a major storyline going into training camp. Carter has replaced Wilkins during his absence. If Wilkins misses time in training camp, it'll be interesting to see if rookies Hemingway and Pegues can create some competition. Starters: Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce Depth: Tyree Wilson, Charles Snowden, Jah Joyner Analysis: Wilson and Snowden are jockeying to be the first defensive end off the bench. It's a pivotal year for Wilson as the Raiders decide on his fifth-year option after this season. Barring a major breakout, they'll almost certainly decline it. Joyner is a bendy, explosive pass rusher who could make some noise once the pads come on in training camp. Advertisement Starters: Germaine Pratt, Elandon Roberts Depth: Devin White, Tommy Eichenberg, Amari Gainer Analysis: Pratt signed right before the end of OTAs, so he hasn't practiced with the team yet. But it'll be a major surprise if he doesn't quickly become the starting Will linebacker in training camp. White performed well in that role in OTAs, but he's best coming off the bench at this stage of his career. Eichenberg and Gainer need to show significant special-teams value and progress on defense to make the team. Starters: Eric Stokes, Darien Porter Depth: Jakorian Bennett, Decamerion Richardson, Darnay Holmes Analysis: Stokes and Porter were the starting cornerbacks throughout OTAs. Bennett is still recovering from his surgery to repair a torn labrum in November, however, and could push for one of those spots once he's at full strength. Richardson looks like more of a depth option on the outside, while Holmes is currently the only viable slot corner on the roster. Starters: Jeremy Chinn, Isaiah Pola-Mao Depth: Lonnie Johnson Jr., Thomas Harper Analysis: Chinn will spend a lot of time lined up at nickelback and working in the box. When he lined up in those areas in OTAs, the Raiders often brought Johnson onto the field as a third safety. Unless the Raiders sign an upgrade at nickelback, expect that to continue into training camp. Harper was solid last season and may push Johnson for his role. K Daniel Carlson P AJ Cole LS Jacob Bobenmoyer Analysis: The Raiders have had an All-Pro-caliber kicking battery for years, and there's no reason to expect that to change. Carlson is going into the final year of his contract and could be in line for an extension soon.
Hospitality Net
5 days ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
What Is a Metasearch Engine? The Ultimate Guide for Hotels
And increasingly, they're doing it on metasearch engines. These platforms have become a crucial battleground for visibility, giving hotels the chance to appear side-by-side with OTAs. If your property isn't showing up – or showing up poorly – you're not just missing clicks. You're missing out on guests. But what are metasearch engines? How do they work and how can you effectively navigate them to benefit from their full potential? What is a metasearch engine? A metasearch engine is a pay-per-click-based platform that aggregates and displays real-time rates and availability from multiple hotel booking sites – such as online travel agencies (OTAs), hotel brand websites and wholesalers – allowing users to compare prices and options in one place. Instead of taking bookings itself, a metasearch engine redirects users to the selected provider to complete their reservation. Popular examples, which we expand on below, include Google Hotel Search (previously known as Google Hotel Ads), Trivago and Tripadvisor. Metasearch engines are widely used by consumers, especially in the early stages of trip planning. They appeal to price-conscious travellers who want to ensure they're getting the best deal, as well as to those looking to understand their accommodation options quickly. Their transparent format, showing multiple prices for the same hotel, gives users a sense of control and confidence. The concept of metasearch dates back to the 1990s, when platforms like Kayak and SideStep emerged to simplify flight and hotel shopping. These tools were created to address growing online choice fatigue, bringing clarity to a fragmented, fast-growing travel market. Metasearch vs traditional search engines A traditional search engine – like Google or Bing – uses a web crawler to index vast chunks of the internet. When a user enters a search query, the engine returns a single list of links to websites it deems relevant, based on a complex algorithm. These platforms are broad in scope, serving up everything from news articles and videos to shopping pages and hotel booking sites. Metasearch engines, on the other hand, are specialized comparison tools. Rather than linking to a wide variety of content, they pull structured data – such as for availability and price comparison purposes – from a defined set of different sources and display them in a unified format. For example, a hotel metasearch engine will show prices for the same room across different booking sites. The main advantage of metasearch is its focus and transparency. Travelers can quickly compare options and make informed decisions based on the most relevant information. However, they don't provide the same breadth of data that a single search engine offers. Crucially, metasearch platforms rely on integrations, so users only see rates from sources that are actively participating. Metasearch vs OTAs OTAs like Expedia and are full-service booking platforms. They list accommodation options, take reservations, process payments and often handle customer service. OTAs earn commission on each booking made through their platform and typically own the entire booking experience from search to confirmation. Metasearch engines, on the other hand, don't process bookings themselves. Instead, they display rates from multiple sources – including OTAs and hotel websites – and redirect users to complete the booking on the chosen site. This makes metasearch a traffic-referral model rather than a transactional one. The advantage of metasearch lies in its price transparency and brand control – you can advertise direct rates alongside OTA listings, encouraging users to book direct on your website. OTAs, however, often offer stronger conversion tools, loyalty programmes and packaged travel options. Some OTAs, like blur the line by operating as both an OTA and a metasearch engine. They may list competing rates (e.g. from sister brands) or aggregate inventory in search results. For you as a hotelier, this dual role creates more competition and highlights the importance of having a strong, visible direct channel presence on metasearch platforms. How do metasearch engines work? Metasearch engines operate through a structured architecture designed to gather, process and display real-time data from multiple sources. At the front end is the user interface (UI), typically a clean, intuitive search bar where users input their destination, dates and preferences. The display layer then shows relevant results in a comparative format, often with filters for price, star rating, distance, user reviews and more. Increasingly, personalization features, such as remembering past searches or tailoring results based on user behavior, enhance relevance and drive engagement. Behind the scenes, metasearch engines rely on data feeds and integrations rather than crawling different search engines on the open web. These data feeds are supplied by OTAs, hotel chains, wholesalers and booking engines. Each time a user searches, the engine pulls in current rates and availability from these partners, ensuring results are accurate and up to date. To determine which listings appear first, metasearch engines each use their own algorithm for ranking. These may factor in bid amount (how much your hotel as a partner is willing to pay per click), price competitiveness, ad relevance, click-through rates and even user preferences. Hotels or OTAs often manage their visibility through bidding platforms, paying more to appear higher in search results. This pay-per-click (PPC) model makes metasearch both a digital marketing and distribution channel. You must therefore balance bid strategies, rate parity and conversion performance to succeed, making participation both high-potential and operationally complex. The top metasearch engines for hotels A few names names dominate this space, each with its own audience, reach and strategic value for hoteliers. Examples of metasearch engines include: Google Hotel Search : Integrated into Google Search and Maps, this is one of the most popular metasearch engines, capturing high-intent traffic at the point of discovery. : Integrated into Google Search and Maps, this is one of the most popular metasearch engines, capturing high-intent traffic at the point of discovery. Trivago : Known for its hotel-focused advertising and global reach, Trivago offers robust tools for hoteliers to promote direct rates and manage PPC campaigns. : Known for its hotel-focused advertising and global reach, Trivago offers robust tools for hoteliers to promote direct rates and manage PPC campaigns. Tripadvisor : Originally a review platform, Tripadvisor also acts as a metasearch engine by displaying booking options from OTAs and hotels alongside user-generated content. : Originally a review platform, Tripadvisor also acts as a metasearch engine by displaying booking options from OTAs and hotels alongside user-generated content. Kayak : Popular for flight and hotel comparisons, Kayak is part of the Booking Holdings group and shares inventory across sister sites like and Priceline. : Popular for flight and hotel comparisons, Kayak is part of the Booking Holdings group and shares inventory across sister sites like and Priceline. Skyscanner: Though best known for flights, Skyscanner also compares hotel rates and appeals to price-sensitive, mobile-first travellers. These platforms can drive significant direct bookings when used strategically in your hotel's distribution mix. How to improve performance on metasearch engines Ranking high on metasearch engines is critical for your property because would-be guests typically click on the top few results, just like in a Google search. A top position can significantly increase visibility, click-through rates and ultimately direct bookings. With a pay-per-click model, however, visibility alone isn't enough; your hotel must ensure that it's converting that traffic effectively. To strengthen performance, you should focus on several key areas: Rate parity : Ensure that the direct rate listed on metasearch platforms is equal to or better than OTA rates. Competitive pricing encourages users to book direct and improves ad relevance. : Ensure that the direct rate listed on metasearch platforms is equal to or better than OTA rates. Competitive pricing encourages users to book direct and improves ad relevance. Bidding strategy : Since most metasearch engines operate on a PPC basis, increasing your bid can raise your placement. Use smart bidding tools to target high-converting traffic without overspending. : Since most metasearch engines operate on a PPC basis, increasing your bid can raise your placement. Use smart bidding tools to target high-converting traffic without overspending. Website experience : Once a user clicks through, your hotel's booking site must load quickly, be mobile-optimized and offer a seamless user journey. Poor user experience leads to high bounce rates and wasted spend. : Once a user clicks through, your hotel's booking site must load quickly, be mobile-optimized and offer a seamless user journey. Poor user experience leads to high bounce rates and wasted spend. Conversion optimization : Clear calls-to-action, trust signals (like reviews and secure payment badges), and streamlined booking flows increase the likelihood of turning clicks into confirmed bookings. : Clear calls-to-action, trust signals (like reviews and secure payment badges), and streamlined booking flows increase the likelihood of turning clicks into confirmed bookings. Strong content and visuals : High-quality images, detailed descriptions and updated amenities help listings stand out in a competitive field. : High-quality images, detailed descriptions and updated amenities help listings stand out in a competitive field. Search engine optimization (SEO) : Tying in with the above, optimize your booking engine, hotel web pages and social media output with relevant keywords, structured data and fast load times to improve quality scores and organic visibility, which can support your paid performance on metasearch. : Tying in with the above, optimize your booking engine, hotel web pages and social media output with relevant keywords, structured data and fast load times to improve quality scores and organic visibility, which can support your paid performance on metasearch. Analytics and A/B testing: Regularly review campaign data to identify what's working, test landing pages and refine targeting strategies for ongoing performance improvement. Together, these efforts will ensure your hotel not only shows up but wins bookings. Metasearch is only one piece of a strong distribution strategy While metasearch engines are a powerful search tool for driving visibility and direct bookings, they represent just one part of a hotel's broader distribution strategy. Relying solely on metasearch can leave you exposed to fluctuations in ad performance, bidding costs or changes in consumer behavior. Metasearch should be seen as a complementary channel, working alongside OTAs, direct website bookings, Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and even offline sales as part of an overall channel strategy. It plays a critical role in increasing price transparency, attracting high-intent users and giving you a chance to compete directly with OTAs for bookings. However, its success depends on having competitive rates, strong brand presence and a seamless booking journey. To manage this complexity, hotels often use channel management tools, which help distribute inventory and rates consistently across all platforms in real time. These tools reduce the risk of overbookings, ensure rate parity and make it easier to adjust pricing strategies across different channels from one central dashboard. By integrating metasearch into a well-balanced, tech-enabled distribution strategy, you can maximize reach, maintain control and drive more profitable bookings across the board. Improve hotel visibility and drive bookings with Channel Manager As part of our platform for small and independent hotels, Lighthouse has brought Channel Manager to the world of hotel revenue and distribution management. Designed to support independent hoteliers by simplifying distribution and maximizing visibility across channels, Channel Manager helps you: Increase bookings by connecting to over 200 channels Save time with automated distribution and centralized channel management Boost your profit with AI-driven pricing distributed to booking channels. Would you like to maximize revenue with minimal effort? See how Channel Manager can help. About Lighthouse Lighthouse is the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry. We transform complexity into confidence by providing actionable market insights, business intelligence, and pricing tools that maximize revenue growth. We continually innovate to deliver the best platform for hospitality professionals to price more effectively, measure performance more efficiently, and understand the market in new ways. Trusted by over 70,000 hotels in 185 countries, Lighthouse is the only solution that provides real-time hotel and short-term rental data in a single platform. We strive to deliver the best possible experience with unmatched customer service. We consider our clients as true partners—their success is our success. For more information about Lighthouse, please visit: View source
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys 'Throw A Hell Of A Practice' Under New Coach
Cowboys 'Throw A Hell Of A Practice' Under New Coach originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Brian Schottenheimer's first OTAs and minicamp practices are now in the books for the Dallas Cowboys, as the team heads into a six-week break before training camp. Advertisement Everything we have heard about the offseason work has been overwhelmingly positive, and yes, the sun is shining and everyone looks like a Pro Bowler, but it sure beats the alternative. With the energy and vibes inside the building off the charts, Schottenheimer has his team rolling on the practice field. But what has been one thing he's loved seeing the most? 'The way we ran, the energy and the effort that we put out on the practice field,' Schottenheimer said. 'There's a lot of ways to do it now, some teams barely practice at all some teams don't wear helmets, there's a lot of ways to do it, but I would say the way these guys have taken to the way we tried to teach them how to practice has been really cool. Advertisement "I think we showed that you can throw a hell of a practice in an OTA tempo without having guys on the ground without having collisions. I just feel like as a whole, they took the instruction that we gave them, they applied it, and they did it at a really fast level, and that makes me happy, makes me proud for them.' Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian SchottenheimerKirby Lee-Imagn Images In other words, the roster wasn't taking any liberties. These practices are more about getting the scheme and system down pat, working on the little details. However, as we often saw, when there was a long touchdown grab, players like CeeDee Lamb were seen sprinting down to the end zone to celebrate. Advertisement There has been an intentionality that Schottenheimer has liked from his team, whether they are in the classroom or on the field, and everyone is leaving everything out on the field. If this was the standard for OTAs and minicamp, all of which had energy and vibes off the charts. What the heck is waiting for us in Oxnard, then? Related: Cowboys' Dak Prescott Lauds Tyler Guyton's 'Huge Step' Related: Cowboys Free Agent Tryouts Include Starting Lineman And Playmaking Cornerback This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Travel Daily News
11-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Hive empowers hotels to compete with OTAs data dominance
Hive is aimed at helping hotels reclaim control, optimize performance, and fight back against the data asymmetry that has long favored powerful intermediaries such as OTAs. LONDON – The roomangel Foundation, a pioneering nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing transparency and fairness in the hospitality industry, announces the launch of Hive, an AI-powered, platform-agnostic tool designed to improve collaboration and data sharing across the industry. Hive provides a chat-based interface that helps hotels access real-time insights and make more informed decisions aims to help hotels reclaim control, optimize performance, and fight back against the data asymmetry that has long favored powerful intermediaries such as OTAs. Brian Reeves, founder and CEO at roomangel Foundation said: 'The truth is, most of us have been trying to out-analyze the competition with only fragments of the full picture. We rely on rate parity snapshots, Google Analytics dashboards, or ad-hoc reports from revenue managers – trying to make sense of a complex market with incomplete data. But too many critical pieces are still missing. Meanwhile, OTAs are leveraging their dominance by controlling hotel data and knowing more about our guests than we do. That's the core issue: data hoarding is quietly undermining hotel performance.' Hive addresses this challenge by enabling hotels to securely and anonymously exchange insights within a growing network of high-value industry AI, the platform delivers real-time answers to complex questions, turning disconnected data, that has long characterized the hospitality industry into actionable insights. By creating a shared intelligence ecosystem, Hive offers hotels an unprecedented view of market dynamics, empowering them to counter the data advantage long held by OTAs, who have traditionally used their insight to squeeze margins, control guest relationships, and dictate performance strategies. Rethinking hotel intelligence, from siloed to synergetic Hive transforms traditional hotel intelligence, which is often fragmented, by enabling hotel partners to securely share data within a growing collaborative network. Powered by AI, the platform analyzes over 1.6 billion rates and 20 billion dynamic data points across 100 markets turning dispersed information into clear, real-time insights, helping hotels make smarter decisions on complex challenges. Built by hoteliers for hoteliers, Hive goes beyond a typical dashboard. It's a strategic tool that replaces guesswork with reliable, anonymized data – uncovering valuable insights many hotels didn't even realize they were missing. Participation is voluntary, and the network's value grows as more hotels join, creating stronger collective intelligence for all. 'The next five years will favor those who embrace collaboration – not because it's a trend, but because it's the only effective response to the dominance of platforms that thrive on information asymmetry. Intelligent collaboration isn't optional; it's essential to reclaiming performance and independence. The tools are here. The technology exists. It's time to stop hoarding data and start sharing intelligence – to build a stronger, fairer future for hospitality, one insight at a time.' concludes Brian Reeves. Hive is a solution developed by the roomangel Foundation, whose mission is to eliminate unnecessary intermediaries and restore efficiency, fairness, and function to the hotel booking market. By empowering hotels and securing better deals for guests, roomangel stands at the forefront of the fight against scams and the dominance of OTAs. In an industry long shaped by intermediaries profiting from asymmetry, Hive and roomangel mark the start of a new era – one defined by transparent commerce and collective strength.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Travis Kelce skips Chiefs training as NFL star chooses to stay in Florida after wedding with Taylor Swift
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce isn't ready to leave the southern United States just yet - despite the beginning of optional team activities (OTAs) back in Missouri. Kelce, who is set to begin his 13th NFL season this year, did not return to Kansas City to join the rest of his teammates as OTAs began on Tuesday. Instead, he was spotted in Miami arriving at a gym sporting a white ballcap, a grey t-shirt and shorts, and flip flops while carrying a black-and-white patterned bag. Kelce has been spending plenty of time in Florida in recent weeks as he prepares for the upcoming campaign. It also comes one year after he received plenty of flak for spending much of his offseason following girlfriend Taylor Swift around the world or living his life doing things other than football - such as hosting episodes of game shows. Kelce has tried rectifying that by spending his offseason in Miami and dedicating himself to getting in shape to play for the 2025 season. On Monday, Kelce was seen out enjoying himself at some form of golfing event. Kelce was seen posing for a photo with former Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen at the Kiawah Island golf resort in South Carolina. Over the weekend, Travis went to a family wedding and brought along his pop superstar girlfriend, Taylor Swift, as a date. Swift gave guests the shock of a lifetime after joining her man as he celebrated his cousin, Tanner Corum, tying the knot at a barnhouse in Nashville on Friday. The pop megastar Swift was seen wearing a stunning strapless blue floral patterned dress on the day, while Kelce opted for a black-and-white tweed shirt and brown pants at his cousin's wedding. Footage emerged online of the celebrity super-couple enjoying the reception as they watched Tanner and his bride, Samantha Peck, share their first dance together. And in new pictures from the wedding, Taylor can be seen cuddling up to Travis while sitting together at the reception. The pair also posed for a snap with Ashton Corum, who is the sister of the groom. A loved-up Taylor Swift looked as smitten as ever as she joined Kelce at his cousin's wedding Swift and Kelce posed for a photo with Ashton Corum, the groom's sister, at the wedding Fans absolutely loved the photos of Swift and Kelce at the wedding, with a fan page dedicated to the NFL star sharing them on Instagram and writing: 'Cozy, low-key, and all smiles'. Another commented: 'They look great together'. 'That's a happy beautiful couple right there,' said a third. 'This is the best picture I've seen yet!!' a fourth concluded. While one even asked: 'Did Tay catch the bouquet??????' Kelce and Swift's appearance at the wedding in Nashville came just a few days after their latest glitzy date night together. Earlier this week the couple visited Buccan, a James Beard-nominated restaurant in Palm Beach, and were seen leaving the establishment hand-in-hand as they greeted fans before leaving in a black SUV. The pop megastar stunned guests at the wedding in Nashville when she arrived with Travis It comes just a few days after the celebrity super-couple were seen on a date night in Florida The restaurant is located a short drive away from Kelce's $20million mansion in nearby Boca Raton. A day after his date night with Taylor, Travis was seen was seen entering a workout facility in Palm Beach, Florida for a game of padel - the popular racket sport played on an enclosed court with walls. The latter was seen wearing a maroon shirt, black mesh shorts, and a gray hat as he arrived to play some padel on Friday. Swift and Kelce have been enjoying some down time together before the latter has to report to NFL training camp next month. It's not clear if Kelce plans on skipping all of the Chiefs' OTAs or if he will eventually make his way up to join the team.
