Online retail giant, Amazon is setting its sights on the hospitality industry with the launch of a hotel booking service in January.

According to Skift, Amazon Travel will feature a specially curated selection of four star, or above, hotels within a few hours drive from New York, Los Angeles and Seattle.

The content would feature editorial about attractions and others things to do in the destination. As only a few properties per destination would be included, the service is likely to appeal to independent and boutique hotels which don’t have the marketing power of big chains.

Initially the service will focus purely on hotels rather than any other travel services and will command 15 per cent commission per booking. Unlike Booking.com, where the customer pays at the hotel, Amazon Travel will charge customers up front and pay the hotel in two instalments.