StayNow OTA Platform

About StayNow​

StayNow is an Online Travel Agency (OTA) platform designed to provide seamless booking experiences for travelers while offering robust management tools for hotel owners. This case study outlines the UX design process, challenges, and solutions implemented to create an intuitive and efficient platform.​​

The primary goal was to design an OTA platform that:​

Simplifies hotel discovery and booking for travelers.

Enables hoteliers to manage their listings efficiently.

Provides a frictionless transition between mobile web and the mobile app.

Encourages users to download and use the StayNow app while ensuring a functional mobile website.

Addresses usability challenges such as map pin congestion and the need for an expense ledger for travelers managing group trips.

Step 1 - Competitive Analysis -  We analyzed top OTA platforms like Booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb to identify strengths and weaknesses in their UX patterns.

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Step 2 - User Research - We conducted user interviews and contextual inquiries, shadowing hoteliers to understand their pain point with their existing PMS and Super Admin panels of OTAS with: 

Travelers (frequent and occasional) to understand booking preferences.

Hotel owners to identify challenges in property management.

OTA industry experts to assess industry trends.

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After testing the first set of wireframes, I iterated based on feedback from stakeholders and developers to check the feasibility of the designs and created the final prototypes using Figma. 

 In high-density travel areas, overlapping property pins made it difficult for users to select the right listing. We introduced a clustering mechanism that automatically grouped nearby properties, allowing users to zoom in for individual selections. A priority sorting system was also implemented, highlighting relevant listings based on user preferences and search filters. Additionally, interactive tooltips were added, enabling users to hover or tap on clusters to preview multiple properties within an area before making a selection.

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StayNow introduces a Trips feature that allows travelers to attach bookings, plan itineraries, vote on activities, and share pictures with their group. This collaborative tool enhances group travel planning, making it easier for users to coordinate stays, experiences, and expenses in one place. 

The platform emphasizes a streamlined booking process with intuitive navigation, clear pricing, and flexible cancellation policies.

Understanding the challenges faced by independent hotel owners, StayNow provides a dedicated portal that allows hoteliers to manage bookings, pricing, and guest relationships with ease. The platform's low commission rates and user-friendly tools empower hoteliers to maintain control over their offerings while reaching a broader audience.