How the MakeMyTrip Ranking System Works
Search Ranking Fundamentals
MakeMyTrip's search results are not sorted purely by price. The platform uses a ranking algorithm that combines relevance signals (does this hotel match what the guest is searching for?) with performance signals (how have guests behaved when they saw this hotel in search results?). A hotel that appears relevant to a search query but produces low clicks and low bookings will be ranked below a similarly relevant hotel with stronger performance signals over time.
The practical result: a hotel cannot improve ranking solely by adjusting rates or uploading photos. Both matter, but they matter as part of a broader picture that includes conversion rate, cancellation rate, review score, and listing completeness. Improving ranking requires improving across several dimensions simultaneously, not optimising one factor in isolation.
Relevance vs Performance
Relevance signals answer the question: does this hotel belong in these search results? They include location (is the hotel actually in the destination being searched?), star category, price range relative to the search filters applied, and amenity tags matching the guest's filter choices. A hotel missing its pool tag doesn't appear in pool-filtered searches. A hotel with an incorrect location pin doesn't appear in proximity-based searches. These are structural problems that limit who ever sees the listing.
Performance signals answer the question: do guests respond positively when they see this hotel? They include click-through rate from search results, conversion rate from listing page views to bookings, and post-stay signals like review score and review volume. A hotel with strong relevance signals that guests consistently scroll past has a performance problem. A hotel with strong conversion that doesn't appear in enough relevant searches has a relevance problem.
Quality Signals
Quality signals are the listing attributes that MakeMyTrip uses to assess how well-prepared a hotel is for guests. These include listing completeness percentage, photo count and coverage, amenity tagging completeness, and the accuracy of check-in and policy information. MakeMyTrip publishes a listing quality score in the partner dashboard. The score reflects how complete and accurate the listing is relative to what the platform expects for a property of that type and category.
A listing quality score below 70% is a meaningful ranking disadvantage. Not because the algorithm applies a direct penalty, but because incomplete listings are excluded from filtered searches, produce lower click-through rates when they do appear, and convert at lower rates when guests visit the listing page. The quality score is a proxy for all of this.
Commercial Signals
Commercial signals are the metrics that tell MakeMyTrip whether the hotel generates profitable transactions for the platform. Cancellation rate affects this directly: a hotel with a high cancellation rate produces bookings that don't convert to revenue for either the hotel or MakeMyTrip. Response rate to guest messages affects it: slow responses create pre-stay friction that leads to cancellations. Promotion participation affects it by increasing booking volume and therefore MakeMyTrip's commission revenue from the property.
These signals interact. A hotel that participates heavily in promotions to boost bookings, but has a 35% cancellation rate, may find the promotion volume doesn't translate into ranking improvement because the cancellations are offsetting the booking signal. Sustainable ranking improvement requires improving both volume and quality simultaneously.
Key MakeMyTrip Ranking Factors
The factors below are based on a combination of MakeMyTrip partner documentation, observable platform behaviour, and industry analysis. Where the mechanism is directly documented by MakeMyTrip, this is noted. Where it is based on consistent observation without explicit documentation, that is noted too.
| Ranking Factor | Evidence Basis | Impact Level | Optimisation Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listing Completeness | Confirmed: MakeMyTrip publishes a listing quality score and links it to visibility | High | Achieve 90%+ on the listing quality score. Fill every field, tag every amenity, upload minimum photo requirements per category. |
| Rate Competitiveness | Confirmed: rates relative to comp set are referenced in partner materials | High | Weekly rate benchmarking against 5 comparable properties. Maintain competitive positioning without unnecessary discounting. |
| Booking Conversion Rate | Industry observation: properties with higher conversion from listing views to bookings show better ranking over time | High | Improve photo quality, listing completeness, and policy clarity to increase the percentage of listing views that convert to bookings. |
| Cancellation Rate | Confirmed: MakeMyTrip partner documentation cites cancellation rate as a performance metric that affects listing status | High | Maintain cancellation rate below 15%. Promote non-refundable rates where demand allows. Improve pre-arrival communications to reduce guest-initiated cancellations. |
| Review Score | Confirmed: review score affects filtered search inclusion and is displayed prominently in search results | High | Maintain score above 7.5 minimum for filter inclusion. Target 8.0+ for competitive ranking. Respond to all reviews within 48 hours. |
| Review Recency | Industry observation: recent reviews appear to carry more weight than older ones in search ranking signals | Medium | Systematic post-stay review request process to maintain a consistent flow of new reviews rather than relying on old volume. |
| Availability Depth | Confirmed: availability for search dates is a prerequisite for appearing in results. Closed inventory removes the listing entirely from relevant searches. | Critical | Load availability 365 days forward. Never close inventory on dates without a specific reason. Audit closed dates weekly. |
| Response Rate | Confirmed: MakeMyTrip displays response rate publicly and references it in partner rankings | Medium | Assign ownership of guest message responses. Target 90%+ response rate within 24 hours. |
| Photo Quality and Count | Confirmed: minimum photo requirements exist and listings below threshold have reduced visibility | High | Minimum 25 photos covering all required categories. Hero image should be the best room or space, not the exterior. |
| Promotion Participation | Confirmed: promotional properties receive visibility badges and appear in promotional filters | Medium to High depending on promotion type | Participate selectively in promotions that produce net-positive contribution. Avoid blanket discount participation on dates that would fill at standard rate. |
| Mobile Optimisation | Industry observation: MakeMyTrip's user base is predominantly mobile. Mobile conversion rate may influence ranking signals. | Medium | Test listing on mobile app. Verify photos display correctly at thumbnail size. Check that key information is visible without scrolling on mobile. |
| Account Health | Confirmed: MakeMyTrip partner dashboard includes account health indicators that affect listing status | Medium | Review account health section in partner dashboard monthly. Address any flagged issues before they become ranking penalties. |
Ranking improvement on MakeMyTrip follows a sequence. Impression share improves first, typically within 2 to 4 weeks of significant listing completeness or photo improvements. Click-through rate improves next, over 4 to 8 weeks, as the stronger listing converts impressions to listing page visits. Booking conversion improves over 6 to 12 weeks as the accumulation of better content, competitive rates, and stronger reviews builds guest confidence. RevPAR improvement from the channel follows after that. Hotels that measure only booking volume and don't track the earlier metrics in the funnel don't know whether their optimisation efforts are working until weeks after they could have intervened.
Listing Completeness Standards
MakeMyTrip uses a listing quality score that reflects how completely and accurately the property profile is filled in. The score is visible in the partner dashboard. Properties below 70% have measurably lower visibility in filtered searches. Getting to 90% and maintaining it is not a one-time task: the platform occasionally adds new required fields or updates scoring criteria, so a listing that was at 92% three months ago should be re-checked.
Hotel Description
The main hotel description should be 200 to 350 words. The first two sentences are the most important: they appear above the fold before a guest taps "read more" on mobile. Those two sentences should state clearly what the property is, where it is, and who it serves best. Everything else supports that opening. Avoid generic phrases like "the perfect destination for all travellers" and replace them with specific details: distance to the nearest railway station, type of neighbourhood, what the property is known for.
Write the description in English. If the property serves a significant non-English speaking domestic audience (common for properties in tier-2 cities), also add a Hindi version where the platform supports it.
Room Descriptions
Every room type needs its own description, not a copy-paste with the room name changed. Room descriptions should specify: bed type and size, room size in square feet, floor level or view if relevant, what's in the bathroom, what's included in the room, and maximum occupancy. The descriptions are what guests read when choosing between two similar room types at different price points. Vague descriptions produce bookings at the lower rate because guests can't see what the premium buys them.
High-Quality Photos
MakeMyTrip requires a minimum photo count and penalises listings below it. The current minimum is in the platform's listing guidelines, which change periodically, so check the partner dashboard rather than relying on any fixed number. Beyond the minimum, the goal is at least 25 photos covering every required category. The photo section is covered in full in Section 4.
Amenities
Amenity tags determine whether the listing appears in filtered searches. A property with a pool that hasn't tagged it doesn't appear when guests filter for "swimming pool." Walk through the property and tag every amenity that genuinely exists and is in working condition. Check the amenity list quarterly: amenities added after renovation may not have been tagged, and amenities under maintenance should be temporarily removed rather than left tagged incorrectly.
Policies
Cancellation policy, check-in and check-out times, pet policy, smoking policy, and extra bed policy should all be explicitly stated. Missing policies create guest uncertainty at the point of booking, which is a direct conversion killer. They also create post-check-in disputes when guests discover terms they didn't know about. State everything clearly. "Cancellation free until 48 hours before arrival" is better than "flexible cancellation." "Check-in from 2:00 PM, check-out by 11:00 AM" is better than "standard check-in and check-out times."
Check-in and Check-out
State the exact times. Include whether early check-in or late check-out is available and at what cost. This is a high-impact completeness field because guests frequently ask about this before booking, and a clear answer in the listing reduces pre-booking enquiries and improves response rate metrics.
Location Information
Verify the location pin is accurate. A pin placed at the wrong address, which happens more often than expected after the platform migrates listing data, removes the property from proximity-based searches entirely. Also fill in the nearby attractions field with the actual names of landmarks, railway stations, airports, and popular destinations within reach. Guests searching "hotels near Charminar" need the property to have listed Charminar as a nearby attraction for the listing to appear in that search.
Hotel description: 200–350 words, specific, first two sentences summarise the property clearly. All room types have individual descriptions. Minimum 25 photos with all required categories covered. Every available amenity tagged. All policies complete: cancellation, check-in, checkout, pets, smoking, extra beds. Location pin verified as accurate. Nearby attractions include railway station, airport, and major landmarks within 10 km. FAQ section has at least 5 answered questions. House rules are stated explicitly.
Hotel Photos That Convert
On mobile, which is how most MakeMyTrip users browse, the listing thumbnail appears at roughly 160 x 120 pixels. The decision to click or scroll past happens in about 2 seconds based primarily on that thumbnail. Photo quality on MakeMyTrip is not an aesthetic preference. It is a direct conversion driver.
| Position | Recommended Photo | Why This Order |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Hero/Thumbnail) | Best room or the property's strongest visual: bright, clean, uncluttered, well-lit | This is the thumbnail in search results. It determines click-through rate before any other information is seen. |
| 2 | Second-best room or different room type | Confirms the quality of the first photo. Builds confidence for guests who clicked through. |
| 3 | Pool, restaurant, or strongest amenity | Adds a differentiating feature early in the gallery swipe sequence. |
| 4 | Bathroom of the best room | Bathroom quality is a strong trust signal that guests look for before booking. |
| 5 | Property exterior or entrance | Shows the guest what they will arrive at. Establishes the property's setting. |
| 6 | Lobby or common area | Completes the early gallery impression with the property's common space quality. |
| 7 onward | All remaining room types, all amenities, local area, seasonal content | Guests browsing past photo 6 are already engaged. Cover everything relevant to their decision. |
Photo Technical Requirements
MakeMyTrip accepts JPG and PNG formats. Minimum resolution is 1024 x 768 pixels; recommended is 1920 x 1080 or higher. Photos should be taken in landscape orientation (horizontal) for optimal display in both the main gallery and the thumbnail crop. Vertical photos crop poorly in MakeMyTrip's search result thumbnail format and should be avoided for the first six positions.
Common Photography Mistakes
The hotel building from the street is the most common hero image choice and usually the weakest. Guests want to see where they'll sleep. The exterior belongs at position 4 or 5, not position 1.
A room photographed in available light on a phone looks cheap regardless of the actual room standard. All room photos should be taken with curtains open, all lights on, bed made perfectly, and no personal items visible.
Guests check bathroom quality before booking. A listing with 20 room photos and no bathroom photo raises doubts about what the bathroom looks like.
Photos taken before a refurbishment that show furniture or decor that no longer exists create disappointed guests and negative reviews. Update photos within 4 weeks of any renovation.
When every room type shows the same view from the doorway with only the bedcover changed, the property appears to have one room type regardless of how many it actually offers.
Pricing Strategy on MakeMyTrip
Pricing on MakeMyTrip affects two things simultaneously: ranking (competitive rates relative to the comp set influence where the listing appears) and conversion (the rate guests see when they visit the listing page determines whether they book). These two objectives sometimes pull in opposite directions. Aggressively low rates improve competitive position but damage margin and may signal low quality to price-sensitive guests who associate cheap with poor. The goal is rates that are competitive, not rates that are the lowest available.
Dynamic Pricing
Dynamic pricing means adjusting rates in response to demand signals rather than maintaining static prices. On MakeMyTrip, demand signals are available through the partner dashboard: search volume by date, booking pace versus prior periods, and competitor rate data. A date showing higher-than-normal search volume relative to prior year is a signal to hold or increase rate. A date showing lower search volume than expected is a signal to investigate whether pricing or availability is the cause.
Most Indian hotels still manage MakeMyTrip rates manually or with weekly reviews. Daily rate management isn't necessary for all property types, but any hotel that sets rates quarterly and leaves them unchanged is leaving significant revenue on the table during demand peaks while being uncompetitively priced during shoulder periods.
BAR Strategy
Best Available Rate (BAR) on MakeMyTrip should be set relative to the comp set, not relative to cost structure alone. If comparable properties in the same destination category are averaging INR 4,800 for the same weekend, setting BAR at INR 3,500 wins bookings at a margin cost. Setting it at INR 6,200 without a clear quality justification visible in the listing loses bookings to better-priced alternatives. The competitive position matters: within INR 300 to 500 of comparable properties on most dates, with clear rate increases on high-demand dates where the comp set supports it.
Rate Parity
MakeMyTrip's contracts include rate parity requirements. The property cannot offer lower rates on its own website or on Goibibo than it offers on MakeMyTrip (in some contract variations). Check the specific parity clause in the contract, as it varies. The practical implication: maintain consistent rates across MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, and the direct booking engine, and offer value differentiation (breakfast inclusion, flexible cancellation, room upgrades) rather than rate differentiation to make direct booking attractive.
Member and Mobile Rates
MakeMyTrip has loyalty members (My Cash rewards) and mobile app users who see specific member or mobile-exclusive rates where hotels opt into these programmes. Participating in member rate programmes gives the listing a visibility badge (visible in search results) and access to filtered searches for members. The cost is a discount on the member-visible rate. Whether this is worthwhile depends on the property's current occupancy on the dates in question and whether the additional bookings from the visibility improvement offset the discount cost.
| Rate Strategy | When to Use | When to Avoid | Margin Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard BAR | All dates as the baseline rate | Never remove BAR. It is the floor above which everything else is structured. | Baseline |
| Advance Purchase Rate | High-demand dates where early commitment is worth a discount to lock in the booking | Low-demand dates where the discount attracts bookings that would have come anyway at BAR | Lower margin but guaranteed revenue |
| Last-Minute Rate | Gap nights within 48 to 72 hours that would otherwise go empty | High-demand dates where the room would fill at standard rate anyway | Lower margin but better than empty |
| Member Rate | Dates with slow pickup where the visibility badge and member access justify the discount | Peak dates and dates tracking ahead of prior year pace | Lower than BAR by the member discount percentage |
| Weekend Rate | Leisure destinations where Friday and Saturday demand supports premium pricing | Business hotels where weekday corporate demand is stronger than weekend leisure demand | Higher than weekday BAR if demand supports it |
Availability and Inventory Management
Availability management is one of the fastest ways to damage MakeMyTrip ranking without realising it. A hotel that closes inventory on dates "to protect against last-minute bookings" is removing itself from every search for those dates. The platform only shows listings with available rooms. No availability means no impression, no click, no booking, and a declining signal in the algorithm's performance history for the property.
Always-Open Inventory
Load availability 365 days forward. All room types, all dates, unless there is a specific and current reason to close them (renovation, confirmed group block, genuine sold-out status). Review closed dates weekly. A stop-sell applied in October that was never removed is still silently killing availability in February. Most hotels have at least a few dates closed for no current reason that nobody has gotten around to reviewing.
Stop-Sell Strategy
Stop-sell should be applied selectively and reviewed regularly. Legitimate reasons: the hotel is genuinely sold out, a group block has consumed all available inventory, or a room type is undergoing maintenance. Stop-sell should not be applied as a default defensive measure against low-quality bookings or as a way to force guests toward direct channels. Both of those approaches damage ranking more than they save margin.
Length-of-Stay Controls
Minimum Length of Stay (MinLOS) on high-demand dates is a valid revenue management tool. A Friday MinLOS of 2 nights prevents single-night bookings that leave Saturday empty. But MinLOS applied too broadly, on dates that won't fill through multi-night demand alone, reduces overall occupancy without capturing the rate benefit it was intended to protect. Apply MinLOS only on dates where the forecast confirms sufficient demand for the minimum stay requirement.
Real-Time Inventory Updates
If inventory is managed through a channel manager connected to MakeMyTrip via direct API, updates should reach the platform within 60 seconds of any change. If rates and availability are being updated manually through the MakeMyTrip extranet, the update gap between the manual session and the next booking creates overbooking risk and inconsistent pricing. For hotels active on three or more OTAs, a channel manager is not optional at this point: manual management at that scale produces errors at a rate that costs more than the channel manager does.
Promotions and Visibility Programmes
MakeMyTrip offers several promotional and visibility programmes for partner hotels. Each carries a different cost structure and a different impact on ranking, visibility, and margin. Participating in all of them is not a strategy. It is a way to maximise discount cost while reducing profitability on dates that would have filled at standard rate anyway.
| Programme | How It Works | Visibility Impact | Margin Impact | Use When | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Exclusive Deals | Discounted rate available only to guests booking through the MakeMyTrip or Goibibo mobile app. Listing receives a visibility badge in mobile search results. | Moderate to high: badge increases CTR in mobile search | Rate discount of 8–15% | Dates with soft occupancy where mobile bookings represent a meaningful share of potential demand | Peak dates and high-demand periods where mobile guests would book anyway at standard rate |
| Limited Time Offers (LTO) | Short-window discount (typically 24 to 72 hours) with high visibility placement in the app and email communications to relevant users | High during active window: featured placement, email exposure, push notifications | Discount typically 15–25% on the LTO rate | Last-minute gap filling on dates within 7 days that have not filled through standard channels | Dates more than 14 days out where standard demand has not yet had time to materialise |
| Seasonal Campaigns | MakeMyTrip-curated campaign pages for Diwali, summer holidays, New Year, and other demand peaks where participating hotels receive campaign page placement | High: campaign pages receive significant traffic during the promotional window | Campaign-specific discount requirement: typically 10–20% off BAR | Early in the campaign window when demand hasn't yet concentrated. Participating early captures audience before the campaign peak. | Within 7 days of peak dates where demand has already concentrated and the discount is unnecessary |
| Bank and Wallet Offers | Discounts for guests paying with specific bank cards or digital wallets (HDFC, ICICI, PhonePe). The discount is shared between the hotel and MakeMyTrip. | Moderate: appears in promotional filters and bank-specific offer pages | Hotel's share of discount typically 5–8% | Low-demand periods where the incremental traffic from bank offer pages produces bookings that wouldn't otherwise arrive | High-demand periods and dates already receiving strong booking pace |
| Loyalty Programme | My Cash rewards: guests earn points on bookings, redeemable on future stays. Participating hotels get visibility to loyalty-filtered searches. | Low to moderate: filtered searches by loyalty-qualified guests | Indirect cost: loyalty redemptions reduce effective rate on future stays | Always participate: the loyalty pool is large and the cost is low relative to the visibility access it provides | N/A: base participation has low downside |
Before activating any promotion, calculate the break-even volume. If a mobile exclusive deal offers 12% off BAR and MakeMyTrip charges its standard commission on the discounted rate, the effective cost per booking is higher than a standard booking. The promotion is only worthwhile if the additional bookings generated by the visibility improvement exceed the margin cost on both the additional bookings and the bookings that would have arrived anyway at the standard rate. The formula: additional bookings required = (discount % × existing booking volume × average rate) ÷ contribution margin per additional booking. Any promotion where the break-even requires more additional bookings than the visibility improvement realistically delivers is a margin drain, not a growth tool.
Reviews and Reputation Management
Review score on MakeMyTrip affects two things directly: ranking (it's a confirmed ranking signal and low scores exclude listings from quality filters) and conversion (guests check review score and recent reviews before booking, and a 7.2 converts significantly worse than an 8.4 at the same price point). The two effects compound: a higher review score improves both where the listing appears and how often guests choose it when they see it.
Review Score Impact
Properties below 6.5 are often excluded from MakeMyTrip's "Good or above" filtered searches. Properties above 8.0 qualify for the "Excellent" badge in search results, which increases click-through rate measurably. The threshold between average and excellent on MakeMyTrip's specific scale is around 7.5 to 8.0, where the visual presentation in search results changes from a neutral score display to a positive rating label. The difference in click-through rate between these two presentations is substantial.
Review Volume and Recency
A property with 340 reviews at 8.2 is perceived as more reliable by guests than one with 18 reviews at 8.8. Volume provides statistical confidence. Recency matters because guests want to know the property is currently performing at the score it shows, not just historically. The goal is a consistent flow of reviews over time, not a burst of reviews after a special guest request campaign. Post-stay review request messages through the MakeMyTrip platform (sent via the extranet's messaging tools) are the most effective method: they reach guests on the platform where they made the booking, making the review submission a single click.
Response Quality
Responding to reviews serves two audiences: the guest who left the review, and every potential future guest who reads the review and the response before deciding to book. A response to a negative review that acknowledges the specific concern and explains what has been done (or is being done) converts undecided readers more effectively than a generic apology. A response that argues with the guest's experience, however inaccurate, signals to future guests that the property prioritises defending its reputation over resolving guest concerns. Respond to every review. Keep responses to negative reviews specific, calm, and solution-oriented.
Negative Review Recovery
A cluster of negative reviews on a specific issue, noise from a nearby construction site, a pool that was closed for maintenance, air conditioning problems in one room type, produces a temporary score drop that persists in the algorithm even after the underlying issue is resolved. The fastest recovery is a volume of positive reviews on other aspects of the property that dilute the score impact of the clustered negatives. Actively soliciting reviews from guests who had positive experiences during and after the resolution period is the most effective approach. Asking guests directly at checkout: "We'd appreciate it if you shared your experience on MakeMyTrip" works. The conversion rate on verbal requests, combined with a follow-up message, is higher than platform-initiated requests alone.
Conversion Rate Optimisation
Conversion rate is the percentage of guests who visit the listing page and then complete a booking. A strong listing with good photos, clear policies, and a competitive rate converts at a higher rate than a weak one with the same position in search results. Improving conversion improves ranking over time because MakeMyTrip's algorithm treats high-converting listings as evidence that the listing meets guest expectations.
| Conversion Drop-Off Point | Most Common Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Search results to listing click | Weak hero image. Price significantly above visible competitors. Review score below 7.0. | Replace hero image. Rate check against the top 5 competing listings. Address any review score issues operationally. |
| Listing page view to room selection | Insufficient photos (especially room and bathroom). Missing amenity tags causing guests to doubt whether the property has what they need. Policies that feel risky (strict non-refundable without enough information to justify the commitment). | Add photos for every room type and bathroom. Complete all amenity tags. Add flexible cancellation options alongside non-refundable rates. |
| Room selection to booking completion | Room names that don't communicate what they include. No individual room photos for each category. Price gap between room types that isn't justified by visible content differences. | Rename room types with descriptive names. Add 3 photos minimum per room type. Write individual room descriptions that explain the price difference explicitly. |
| High mobile abandonment | Photos that crop poorly at thumbnail size. Key information requiring excessive scrolling on mobile. Booking flow that is hard to complete on a small screen. | Test listing on MakeMyTrip mobile app as a guest. Check thumbnail crop on hero image. Verify key amenity information appears within first screen without scrolling. |
- 1 Check impressions vs listing views ratioIf impressions are high but listing views are low, the problem is at the search results stage: hero image, price, or review score is preventing clicks. Fix the hero image first.
- 2 Check listing views vs bookings ratioIf listing views are reasonable but bookings are low, the problem is on the listing page itself: photos, room descriptions, policies, or price vs perceived value. Run through the listing as a guest and identify what creates doubt.
- 3 Compare cancellation rate by room typeA specific room type with a high cancellation rate may indicate a description or photo that misrepresents what the room offers. Review that room type's content specifically.
- 4 Compare performance on mobile vs desktopIf the MakeMyTrip dashboard shows lower conversion on mobile, test the listing on the mobile app. Identify whether it is a photo crop issue, a content truncation issue, or a navigation problem.
Market Segmentation
MakeMyTrip's domestic Indian traveller base is not uniform. Families booking summer holidays have completely different information needs from solo business travellers booking a weeknight stay. The listing needs to answer the specific questions of each segment it wants to attract, without becoming so generic that it stops being relevant to any of them.
| Guest Segment | What They Search For | What Converts Them | Listing Optimisation for This Segment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Travellers | Proximity to office/venue, WiFi, early check-in, late checkout, GST invoice availability | Clear business amenity tags, review score above 7.5, response time visible as fast | Tag: business centre, WiFi speed, 24-hour front desk, GST billing. Include station/airport distance in description. |
| Families | Family rooms or connecting rooms, pool, kids' facilities, extra bed pricing, breakfast | Clear occupancy info per room type, family photos in gallery, visible kids' menu or breakfast option | Tag: family room, kids' area, pool, extra bed availability. State child age cutoff and extra bed pricing explicitly in policies. |
| Couples | Ambience, king bed confirmation, couple-friendly property, spa or dining | Room photos that show ambience well, couple-appropriate description tone, visible dining or spa options | State bed configuration clearly (king vs twin) in room name and description. Include dining or spa as a highlight if available. |
| Solo Travellers | Single occupancy pricing, safety, 24-hour reception, storage, public transport proximity | Clear single room pricing, security mentions in description, positive solo travel reviews | Ensure single occupancy rate is loaded and not just double-occupancy. Note 24-hour front desk and secure area explicitly. |
| Groups | Multiple rooms at consistent rates, group check-in process, group meals | Multiple rooms available for the same dates, clear group booking process, banquet or dining for groups | Ensure channel manager loads full inventory consistently. Note group enquiry contact in the FAQ section if available. |
| Weekend Leisure | Pool, restaurant, activities, checkout flexibility, distance from city | Strong leisure amenity tags, weekend-specific packages if available, positive weekend-stay reviews | Promote pool and restaurant photos prominently. Consider weekend-specific rate or package if demand supports it. |
Revenue Management on MakeMyTrip
Revenue management on MakeMyTrip specifically means using the platform's data tools alongside external demand signals to make rate and inventory decisions that maximise net revenue from the channel, not just booking volume. A hotel managing MakeMyTrip purely for occupancy will consistently leave rate on the table during demand peaks while discounting during periods that should be used for building higher-margin demand.
| Revenue Management Action | When to Apply | Data Source | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate increase on high-demand dates | When MakeMyTrip dashboard shows search volume trending above prior year for specific dates | MakeMyTrip demand calendar, school holiday schedules, local event calendar | Higher ADR from dates where demand supports it without significant occupancy loss |
| Early-booker rate for peak dates | 60+ days before peak dates: Diwali, Christmas, summer holiday peak weekends | Prior year booking pace data, MakeMyTrip analytics section in partner dashboard | Early commitment at slightly lower rate locks in bookings before competitors activate late-notice discounts |
| Reduce or remove active promotions | When pace is tracking ahead of prior year and occupancy on target dates is building faster than last year at the same point | MakeMyTrip booking pace indicators, PMS on-the-books data | Same occupancy at higher margin: promotion discount no longer needed to generate volume |
| Last-minute targeted discounts | Within 72 hours of arrival on dates that haven't filled to target occupancy | PMS occupancy for the date, MakeMyTrip last-minute search volume data | Incremental revenue from rooms that would otherwise go empty. Only effective if the discount produces positive contribution above variable cost. |
| MinLOS on weekend peak dates | Friday nights where demand supports 2-night minimum and Saturday has historically filled alongside Friday | Prior year stay pattern data from PMS, MakeMyTrip search pattern data | Saturday night occupancy improves because guests must include it to book Friday. Total weekend RevPAR increases. |
Common Ranking Mistakes
| Mistake | What It Looks Like | Ranking Impact | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incomplete listing | Listing quality score below 75%. Missing room descriptions, no FAQ section, sparse amenity tags. | Excluded from filtered searches. Low click-through rate when listing does appear. | Audit listing quality score in partner dashboard. Complete every flagged incomplete field before working on anything else. |
| Closed inventory on live dates | Specific dates showing as unavailable in the MakeMyTrip search results despite being unbooked in the PMS. | Zero impressions on closed dates. Algorithm treats closed dates as a negative performance signal. | Weekly audit of closed dates. Remove any stop-sell or MinLOS restriction that no longer has a current justification. |
| Static pricing unchanged for months | Same rate on every date regardless of demand signals. Peak dates priced the same as low-demand midweek dates. | Overpriced on slow dates (low conversion), underpriced on peak dates (lost revenue). Both harm the algorithm over time. | Weekly rate review against comp set and demand signals. At minimum, set different rates for weekdays, weekends, and identified peak demand dates. |
| High cancellation rate | Cancellation rate above 20% on the MakeMyTrip channel. | Direct negative signal in MakeMyTrip's performance algorithm. May trigger account health warnings. | Investigate cancellation reasons from the partner dashboard data. Introduce non-refundable rate options. Improve pre-arrival communication to reduce guest-initiated cancellations. |
| Unanswered reviews | Review response rate below 60%. Multiple negative reviews with no response from the property. | Reduced trust for potential guests. MakeMyTrip response rate metric affects account health score. | Assign review response ownership to a specific team member. Respond to every review within 48 hours. Prioritise negative reviews for the fastest response. |
| Excessive discounting on peak dates | All promotional programmes active on all dates, including high-demand periods that would fill at standard rate. | Margin damage without ranking benefit. The algorithm doesn't reward discount depth; it rewards booking volume and conversion quality. | Evaluate promotions by date. Remove promotions from dates where occupancy is tracking above target. Reserve discounts for genuinely soft periods. |
| Ignoring the partner dashboard analytics | Revenue team reviews bookings and revenue but doesn't regularly check impressions, CTR, conversion rate, or account health. | Problems develop slowly and visibly only after occupancy is already affected. No early warning signals are acted on. | Weekly 30-minute review of partner dashboard analytics: impressions, CTR, conversion, cancellation rate, review score, account health. |
Measuring Success
MakeMyTrip performance should be measured across the full booking funnel, not just at the revenue output. A hotel that tracks only bookings and revenue will miss problems developing in impressions or conversion rate until they've already caused occupancy damage.
| Metric | Where to Find It | Target Direction | Action Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search Impressions | MakeMyTrip partner dashboard, analytics section | Growing week-on-week | Declining impressions for 2 consecutive weeks: check listing completeness, availability, and account health |
| Click-Through Rate | Partner dashboard analytics | Above 3% for most property types | CTR below 2%: review hero image and price competitiveness |
| Listing Conversion Rate | Partner dashboard | Above 3% for most property types | Conversion below 2%: review listing content, photo quality, policies |
| Booking Volume | Partner dashboard, PMS channel report | Growing month-on-month where market allows | Flat or declining while impressions hold: conversion problem |
| ADR from MakeMyTrip | PMS channel report | Increasing or stable relative to comp set | ADR declining while bookings increase: over-reliance on promotions driving down rate |
| Cancellation Rate | Partner dashboard | Below 15% | Above 20%: investigate reasons. Check whether flexible rate structure or pre-arrival communication is the primary driver. |
| Review Score | Partner dashboard, listing page | Above 7.5, ideally above 8.0 | Drop of 0.2 points or more over 30 days: investigate recent negative reviews for recurring theme |
| Account Health Score | Partner dashboard account health section | Green/healthy status | Any yellow or red flag: investigate and resolve within 7 days before it affects ranking |
Using the MakeMyTrip Extranet Effectively
The MakeMyTrip partner dashboard (extranet) is where all listing management, rate and inventory updates, review responses, and performance analysis happen. Most hotels use a fraction of its capabilities. The sections below are used daily by well-optimised properties and rarely visited by those that aren't.
Dashboard Overview
The main dashboard shows account health status, upcoming reservations, outstanding review responses, and any active promotions. Check account health first every time you log in. A yellow or red flag in account health is the highest-priority item on the page, above rate management and review responses, because unresolved flags can suppress ranking without any visible warning until occupancy is already affected.
Rate and Inventory Management
Rate changes and inventory updates made through the extranet take effect on the platform within the standard processing time (faster for properties connected via channel manager API, slower for manual extranet updates). The rate calendar view shows the full forward rate structure and highlights any gaps or closed dates. Scan this view weekly for unintended closures and rate inconsistencies before they generate guest-visible problems.
Performance Reports
The analytics section of the dashboard provides impression data, click-through rate, conversion rate, and booking pace comparison against prior periods. This data should be reviewed weekly, not monthly. A decline in impressions that starts in week 1 is visible and correctable by week 2. A decline that first appears in the monthly report may have been running for three weeks before anyone noticed.
Review Management
The review management section shows all guest reviews with a response field. Filter by unanswered reviews first and clear the queue before reading new reviews. Set a maximum response time target of 48 hours for all reviews and 24 hours for reviews rated below 7.0. The response rate metric visible in account health drops for every review that goes unanswered beyond the platform's measurement window.
Technology Integrations
| Technology | How It Improves MakeMyTrip Performance | Without Integration |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Manager | Pushes rate and inventory updates from the PMS to MakeMyTrip in real time via direct API. Receives bookings from MakeMyTrip and delivers them to the PMS automatically. Ensures MakeMyTrip inventory is always consistent with PMS inventory. | Manual rate and inventory updates through the extranet. Rates lag the market. Inventory mismatches between PMS and MakeMyTrip. Overbooking risk on sold-out dates. |
| PMS | Source of authoritative inventory and reservation data. MakeMyTrip bookings arriving in the PMS automatically ensure no reservation is missed or manually re-entered with errors. | Bookings received by email or fax require manual PMS entry. Entry errors and delays produce incorrect room assignments and missed arrivals. |
| RMS | Revenue management system recommendations for rate changes push to the channel manager, which pushes to MakeMyTrip. Rate decisions made by the RMS reach the platform within minutes rather than waiting for a manual extranet update. | RMS recommendations require manual implementation. The delay between recommendation and execution reduces the revenue management value on fast-moving demand dates. |
| CRS | For multi-property groups, a CRS manages rate and inventory centrally and distributes to each property's channel manager and MakeMyTrip connection. Ensures rate consistency across the portfolio without individual property-level extranet management. | Each property in the group manages its MakeMyTrip connection independently. Rate consistency across properties is manual and prone to drift. |
| Rate Shopping Tool | Provides competitor rate data for specific dates, giving context for rate decisions on MakeMyTrip. Identifies when the hotel is above or below market before guests see it in search results. | Competitive rate benchmarking done manually by searching the platform as a guest. Slower, less complete, and dependent on whoever remembers to do it. |
Advanced Optimisation Strategies
Demand-Based Pricing by Date Type
MakeMyTrip demand patterns in Indian markets follow predictable date types: school holiday windows (May to June, October Diwali break, December Christmas to New Year), long weekends created by public holidays, and festival periods that are destination-specific (Holi for Mathura and Vrindavan, monsoon for hill stations, winter for Rajasthan). Building a rate calendar that pre-loads different BAR levels for each date type, rather than adjusting reactively when demand arrives, captures revenue from the guests who book 30 to 60 days out at rates set before the peak materialises. Most hotels are still adjusting rates after the demand has already arrived, which means the guests who booked early paid less than the market would have supported.
Event Pricing
Local events that drive demand spikes, IPL matches, trade exhibitions at convention centres, major religious events, and corporate conferences, need to be identified in advance and reflected in the rate calendar before the booking window opens for those dates. A hotel near an IPL venue in Hyderabad that still has standard BAR loaded for match nights three weeks out is pricing itself below market for a demand event that competitors have already priced for. Maintain a forward event calendar and set rate alerts in the channel manager for event dates before the 45-day lead time window opens.
Competitor Benchmarking Workflow
Choose five comparable properties in the same destination, same star category, and same approximate quality tier. Check their MakeMyTrip rates and review scores once a week for the next 30 days. Identify any date where your property is more than INR 400 to 500 above or below the average of the five competitors without a clear quality justification. Above the average: confirm your listing is differentiated enough to justify the premium. Below the average: consider whether the discount is necessary given the pace of bookings on that date.
Booking Window Optimisation
Different segments book at different lead times on MakeMyTrip. Domestic leisure guests typically book 7 to 30 days ahead. Family bookings for school holidays come 30 to 60 days ahead. Corporate transient bookings come 1 to 7 days ahead. Knowing which segment books first for which date type allows rate strategy to be structured accordingly: hold rate or increase for leisure peak dates early in the booking window (when leisure guests are booking), and leave corporate rate flexibility for close-in dates (when business travellers are booking). A single flat rate across all lead times misses both opportunities.
Recovery Plan for Ranking Drops
Diagnose the Drop
Check the partner dashboard for: impressions trend (declining means relevance problem), CTR trend (declining means hero image or pricing problem), conversion trend (declining means listing content problem), cancellation rate spike (direct ranking signal), account health flags (structural issue). Identify which metric changed first to locate the root cause.
Fix Structural Issues First
Check account health status and resolve any flagged items. Check listing quality score and complete any incomplete fields. Verify all dates have open availability in the channel manager and MakeMyTrip extranet. These are the fastest fixes and often the cause of sudden ranking drops.
Improve Conversion Signals
Upload new photos if any photo category is missing or weak. Update room descriptions that lack key information. Add a flexible cancellation rate alongside any existing non-refundable options. Respond to all outstanding reviews within 24 hours. These actions improve the conversion signals the algorithm uses to rank the listing.
Consider a Targeted Promotion
A short-window promotion (Limited Time Offer or Mobile Exclusive) on the dates most affected by the ranking drop can provide a temporary visibility boost while the algorithmic recovery progresses. This is a bridge tactic, not a permanent solution: the promotion buys time for the underlying improvements to take effect. Remove it once organic booking pace recovers to normal levels.
Weekly Optimisation Checklist
Log into partner dashboard. Check account health status for any new flags. Review new guest reviews and respond to any from the past 48 hours. Check for any new reservations that need action. Verify there are no failed sync notifications if using a channel manager.
Pull analytics report: impressions, CTR, conversion rate for the past 7 days vs prior week. Identify any metric declining week-on-week. Rate check against 5 comparable properties for the next 30 days: are there any dates where pricing is more than INR 500 above or below the competitive average without justification? Review active promotions: are any active on dates tracking ahead of target occupancy? Remove unnecessary promotions. Check closed inventory dates: are any closed without a current reason? Review listing quality score: has it moved since last week? Address any newly flagged incomplete fields. Upload any new photos that have been taken since last week.
Compare MakeMyTrip channel performance month-on-month and year-on-year: booking volume, ADR, cancellation rate, review score. Identify the largest variance and investigate the cause. Review all promotional campaigns for the next 60 days: which are correctly targeted at slow dates, and which are active on dates that don't need them? Audit listing completeness fully: check every section, not just the quality score summary. Verify that amenity tags reflect the property's current state (nothing tagged that isn't operational, nothing untagged that is). Plan photo updates for any upcoming seasonal content opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want this set up for your property?
We'll review this against your hotel's current setup, free of charge.
