Instagram Unveils Booking Feature

New action buttons allow users to book a room without leaving the app.

In May, Instagram launched new action buttons, which let the social media platform’s 800 million monthly active users book hotel rooms—as well as buy tickets, make appointments and reservations, or order food—without leaving the app.

This is a big leap forward for both resorts and consumers. Previously, users could contact resorts by tapping a button labeled “Call Us” or “Message Us” on a resort’s profile page, and book travel from there. In some cases, they could book a hotel room indirectly through the app by using third-party tools that generate a special Instagram gallery. Tapping those images would then redirect users to a hotel’s reservations page.

Instagram also enabled a native payment feature in May, allowing users to register a debit or credit card to their profile so that they can make purchases within the app. Taken together, these new features make Instagram an even more powerful tool for resorts looking to connect with travelers.

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