Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

  • Crete
  • Greece
  • Food
  • Eastern Europe
  • Real Estate
  • World
  • Travel Technology

2011-12-10

Tom Magnuson of Magnuson HotelsIn news from PRWeb London, via Digital Journal, Thomas Magnuson’s Global Hotel Exchange (GHX) announced today thousands of hotels adopting the not even released new online travel agency (OTA).

According to the news, GHX adaptation so far could be in part due to hoteliers’ economic hardships, especially in North America and Europe. Thomas Magnuson (pictured left), CEO of Magnuson Hotels & newcomer GHX, is bent on offering a no cost solution for hotel owners bent on reclaiming their margins.

According to Magnuson, already “thousands of hotels” have signed up for GHX, even though the startup will not officially launch until late January. GHX is previews in the video below.

Magnuson, who with his wife Melissa, founded Magnuson Hotels and transformed the business into the world’s largest chain of independent hotels in less than 7 years. Magnuson had this to add about GHX’s phenomenal signup rate so far:

“The massive number of hotels we are signing daily from dozens of countries clearly indicates a desire to combat a global triple threat of falling demand, lower room rates, and increased OTA fees.”

It’s not secret hoteliers are increasingly disatisfied with OTA and middle man commissions. The resultant instability in the market seems to be where Magnuson is targeting not only the GHX disruption, but increased efforts at growing the Magnuson Hotels numbers and branding as well. The news shines a spotlight on top tier OTAs that charge hoteliers commissions that can sap revenues by as much as one third. Magnuson says hotels lost some $8 billion last year alone in commissions and fees that may have been needless. Of course OTAs, it is accepted, are a valuable channel for business, but Magnuson’s claims do validate the need for another channel.

Global Hotel Exchange, coming early in 2012, is a good example of alternative revenue streams and a channel for marketing hotels. A no cost solution for hotels is simply hard to beat, at least on the B2B side of the equation. As for guest savings, as every open market determines, this will be between the customer and provider, according to Magnuson.

“GHX is a consumer booking platform that will provide ‘market based pricing,’ a simple, fast and transparent way to book a room at a fair market price.” Offered via this release, this pretty much sums up the value for such a market innovation. Hotel owners, at least judging from the response to GHX, may already see the light where their market is concerned.

For more information on Global Hotel Exchange or this news, you may want to consult the original PRWeb release.

A note of disclaimer here: The parent company of Argo Travel is Pamil Visions PR, the AOR for Magnuson and GHX. You can contact Pamil Visions via that link for more information as well. Argophilia Travel News is sponsored by Magnuson & GHX.

Tags: booking platform, GHX, Global Hotel Exchange, hotel bookings, hoteliers, Magnuson Hotels, market conditions, OTA, OTA's, PRWeb, Sponsor News, Thomas Magnuson, Tom Magnuson

About Aleksandr Shatskih

You may like:

Revolut and Eurostar Launch Rewards Partnership for European Train Travel
AI Everywhere: Hospitality’s Latest Campfire Sing-Along
Tourist Told to Leave Crete Beach After Card Payment Allegedly Fails
The Mediterranean According to AI Is Not the Mediterranean You Know
Previous: Top Five Most Luxurious Suites in the World
Next: The Mysterious Origin of Wine

Trackbacks

  1. Top 10 Added Charges to Spoil Your Holidays says:
    2011-12-30 at 8:31 pm

    […] Eight: Online travel agency fees are not something everyone knows about, but they do exist. Beside the commissions service providers pay the likes of Expedia and Orbitz (sometimes as much as 25%), travelers foot bills so obscure as to be near impossible to understand. This report from a consumer advocate, Vincent McDonald, tells of his experience booking with Expedia. Data Explorers offers still more fee wonderment from Priceline, Hertz, and others. Orbitz and about a million other travel entities were recently fined for advertising that was cloudy and nebulous. Given our involvement in travel, for us, OTA and other travel abuses are at least a 9 out of 10. This is true mainly because extra fees are so unnecessary (see GHX adoption). […]

Maria Papadaki ad banner

Featured Stories

Crete Heating Oil prices 2026

Heating Oil Debuts at a Staggering €1.60 per Liter in Crete, Sparking Fear of a Freezing Winter

€52M Greek Fisheries Scandal

European Public Prosecutor’s Office Investigates €52M EU Fisheries Fund Scandal in Greece

Heraklion old cold-storage warehouse

Heraklion’s Old Cold-Storage Warehouse Gets Green Light for Hotel Conversion

Special Olympics Kayaking Games AI illustration

Crete to Host European Special Olympics Kayaking Games at Lake Kournas

Heraklion Fishermen Protest

Cretan Fishermen Stage Black-Flag Protest Over Fuel Costs and Regulations

Why We Embrace AI

At Argophilia, we believe in using every tool at our disposal to bring you the stories that matter. You may notice a certain precision in our data analysis, a specific flair in our visuals, or a rapid turnaround on complex topics. That is no accident—it is the result of our rampant use of artificial intelligence.

We use Gemini to help synthesize data, structure our reporting, and ensure our news remains as sharp as the reality we cover. When it comes to our imagery, we rely on the creative power of Midjourney and NightCafe, unless otherwise noted in our editorial credits.

We are not apologetic for this. In a fast-moving world, these tools allow us to focus on what really counts: investigating the issues, giving a voice to the marginalized, and maintaining the journalistic integrity you expect from us. We see AI not as a replacement for human judgment, but as an engine that amplifies our ability to inform, analyze, and tell the truth about our island and beyond.

We are writers and journalists first—but we are proud to be tech-enabled ones, too.

Lovage, The Kitchen of Venus

Your go-to guide for foraging cretan horta

Stories of Interest

Crete Heating Oil prices 2026

Heating Oil Debuts at a Staggering €1.60 per Liter in Crete, Sparking Fear of a Freezing Winter

2026-10-17 By Mihaela Lica Butler

Heating oil has opened at €1.60 per liter in Crete, leaving households struggling with higher fuel costs as winter approaches.

Aposelemis Dam

Apatheia Be Damned: Aposelemi Dam Surges Past 85% Capacity After Torrential Rains, Securing Water Through 2030

2026-10-17 By Iorgos Pappas

Aposelemis Dam has surpassed 85% capacity after heavy rain, storing more than 20.3 million cubic meters of water and boosting Crete’s reserves.

Chania Recycling Cooking Oil

Chania Launches €310K Smart Sanitation and Rewarding Cooking Oil Recycling Initiative

2026-10-16 By Victoria Udrea

Chania unveils a €310K smart sanitation and reward-based cooking oil recycling program, setting a high standard that should be adopted island-wide across Crete.

27-year-old man arrested

27-Year-Old Arrested at Heraklion Port Trying to Buy Piraeus Ferry Ticket Without Travel Papers

2026-10-16 By Argophilia Travel News

Coast Guard officers arrest a 27-year-old man at Heraklion port for attempting to buy a Piraeus ferry ticket without papers and verbally abusing officers.

Crete Car Rental Market

Crete Accounts for 18.1% of Greece’s Car Rental Market

2026-10-15 By Kostas Raptis

Crete has Greece’s second-largest short-term car rental market, as tourists increasingly rent vehicles to explore beaches, villages, and mountain routes.

More Crete travel news

  • Authors
  • Contributors
  • Submit Press Release
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2026 · ARGOPHILIA TRAVEL NEWS