Trivago operates primarily on a cost-per-click (CPC) advertising model. As a hotel metasearch engine rather than a direct booking agency, it does not sell rooms itself. Instead, it lists prices from hundreds of online travel agencies and individual hotel websites. When users click on a specific hotel deal or rate link displayed on the Trivago results page, the respective booking partner or hotel pays Trivago a fee for that referral traffic, regardless of whether a final reservation is completed.