Abstract: An inventory management system may be used to facilitate the purchase of a product by a user where the user is associated with a market segment. The system may include an inventory database and a rules database. The product may be a travel product and the purchase terms for the product may reflect a discount, an upgrade or other differentiated attribute.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates a purchase of a travel itinerary. During operation, the system obtains a query containing one or more destination preferences provided by a user for the travel itinerary, wherein the one or more destination preferences include at least one of a region and an experience. Next, the system matches the one or more destination preferences to a set of destinations and generates a ranking of the destinations based on a set of criteria associated with the query. The system then uses the set of destinations to perform a search of available travel itineraries matching the query. Finally, the system provides the available travel itineraries to the user based on the ranking.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates a purchase of a travel product. Upon detecting a participation of a user in a first qualification event associated with a first market segment, the system associates the user with the first market segment. Next, the system provides the user with a first discount offer on a first travel product associated with the first market segment. Upon obtaining an acceptance of the first discount offer from the user, the system uses the first discount offer to process a purchase of the first travel product by the user.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that processes a query from a user. During operation, the system obtains a set of travel products matching the query. Next, the system provides a minimum bid for each of the travel products and enables additional bidding on the travel products by a set of suppliers associated with the travel products. The system then generates a ranking of the travel products based on the minimum bid, the additional bidding, and a set of quality scores associated with the travel products. Finally, the system provides the travel products to the user based on the ranking.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates an opaque purchase that obscures one or more details of a travel product. Upon receiving a commitment to make the opaque purchase of the travel product by a user, the system presents the user with a set of purchase options associated with the opaque purchase, wherein the set of purchase options includes a first purchase option that conforms to one or more terms of the opaque purchase. Next, the system obtains, from the user, a selection of a purchase option from the set of purchase options. Finally, the system processes the opaque purchase with the selection.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates a purchase of a travel product. Upon receiving a commitment to purchase the travel product from a first supplier by a buyer, the system presents the buyer with a first upgrade option of a first premium travel product from a second supplier. If the buyer accepts the first upgrade option, the system processes the purchase with the first premium travel product. If the buyer declines the first upgrade option, the system processes the purchase with the travel product.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates a purchase of a travel product. Upon receiving a commitment to purchase the travel product from a first supplier by a buyer, the system presents the buyer with a first upgrade option of a first premium travel product from a second supplier. If the buyer accepts the first upgrade option, the system processes the purchase with the first premium travel product. If the buyer declines the first upgrade option, the system processes the purchase with the travel product.