Tech companies have for many years been trying to automate the guest arrival experience. First, front desk kiosks were placed in lobbies of some hotel brands, yet guests walked right by them even if there was a long line at reception. Next, smart phone check-in was to be the answer. Yet despite all the hype, utilization has been extremely low.
On many levels, marketing in the hotel industry has advanced rapidly, yet at most hotels and brands, the 'message on hold' (MOH) scripting is stuck in the 1990’s. Whether you call a hotel directly or call into its central reservations office, after the auto-attendant places you in queue the MOH nearly always direct callers back online again and again throughout the scripting.
Increasing direct bookings would be one of the most rewarding (but just as challenging) tasks for any hotelier. Given the vast market size and share of third party booking sites, it is becoming in increasingly important for hotels to work towards maintain the right balance between OTA bookings and direct bookings.
You can have the most beautiful property in the world, the best team of employees, the cleanest facilities, and the tastiest food, but it’s all for nothing unless you’re able to bring new guests through your doors each month.
The internet has leveled the playing field in the hospitality industry. It’s no longer big guys vs. big guys and little guys vs. little guys - instead, everyone is competing against each other for the attention and loyalty of travelers. To differentiate from competitors, capture more leads, and drive more bookings at your property this year, you need a website that compels visitors to act.
Online hotel bookings are looking to rise in 2017, but so too are third parties, like Online Travel Agencies’ (OTAs), share of the marketplace. In fact, OTAs are poised to enjoy a majority of hotel bookings in 2017. Given this rise, now, more than ever, hoteliers need to work to drive bookings directly to their websites.
It’s no secret that Airbnb has drastically disrupted the travel industry and has positioned itself as a unique and local online travel agency for travel consumers. Yet, while Airbnb paves the way for a new niche in travel, the industry player is disrupting hospitality and affecting a hotel’s bottom line in a major way.
For many people, going on vacation has become about far more than finding a hotel with the best facilities, rooms and amenities. Increasingly, travelers are prioritizing authentic experiences and local encounters in the destination they visit. This is clearly illustrated by the success of AirBnB.
Lodging Interactive will be holding a free online webinar to discuss how hotels and resorts can use its CoMMingle Live Chat service to immediately increase group/wedding RFP submissions and drive direct bookings.
Media Suite integrates Rate360 into TravelClick’s Single Media Subscription solution. This new product allows hotels and TravelClick media campaign managers to systematically monitor and ensure hotels maintain in rate parity with OTAs.