What is an MCP server?
Updated By Akkrev
An MCP server is a service that offers tools or data to AI assistants using the Model Context Protocol, for example hotel search, rates or availability.
An MCP server is the piece that publishes tools to AI assistants under the Model Context Protocol. It lists what it can do (for example “search hotels in a city for these dates”) and what inputs each tool needs. An assistant connects, discovers the tools and calls them when a user’s request needs them.
Examples in travel
- Booking.com offers a hosted MCP server to approved affiliate partners for accommodation search.
- DirectBooker uses MCP to bring hotels’ live rates and availability into ChatGPT and Claude, with links back to the hotel’s own website.
- Some booking engine and hotel technology vendors are building MCP access for their hotels.
Do independent hotels need one?
Not necessarily. An MCP server helps assistants that support it and have been connected to it. Many agents, including agentic browsers, still book by using the hotel’s website directly. A hotel whose website agents can’t use is still hard to book, with or without an MCP connection somewhere in the chain.
Why it matters for AI visibility
An MCP server lets assistants query your data directly. For most venues, clear public facts come long before this.