You're a PM at Kayak, the travel site. How would you measure your company's success?

Introduction

Measuring Kayak's success as a travel site requires a comprehensive approach that considers multiple stakeholders and the complex dynamics of the online travel industry. To address this product success metrics challenge, I'll follow a structured framework covering core metrics, supporting indicators, and risk factors while considering all key stakeholders.

Step 1

Product Context

Kayak is a metasearch engine for travel, aggregating results from various online travel agencies (OTAs), airlines, and hotels. Users can compare prices and options across multiple providers to find the best deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages.

Key stakeholders include:

• Users: Travelers seeking the best deals and convenient booking options
• Travel providers: Airlines, hotels, car rental companies
• OTAs: Partners like Expedia, Booking.com
• Advertisers: Companies paying for visibility on Kayak
• Kayak's parent company (Booking Holdings)

User flow:

1. Search: Users enter travel details (dates, destinations, etc.)
2. Results: Kayak displays aggregated options from various sources
3. Comparison: Users filter and compare options
4. Booking: Users select their preferred option and complete the booking (either on Kayak or redirected to a partner site)

Kayak's metasearch model fits into Booking Holdings' strategy of owning multiple travel brands to capture different market segments. Compared to competitors like Skyscanner or Momondo, Kayak differentiates through its user interface, additional features like price forecasting, and strong brand recognition in the US market.

Product Lifecycle Stage: Kayak is in the maturity stage, with a well-established market position and brand. The focus is on maintaining market share, optimizing operations, and exploring new growth opportunities.