Hoteliers.Guru’s Post

This is BIG NEWS 🏨 📣 for the accommodation and hotel sector in South Africa! Just one thing... Make sure that your commercial teams understand how to remain dynamic in their pricing strategies across your online and direct platforms. Providence Hotels has some great pointers to assist Independent Hotels in succeeding in just that. Also, products like Profitroom (Leigh Myles and Samantha Williams) are doing wonders for growing Independent Hotel revenue in assisting direct booking growth and making your hotel's direct booking conversion process so much easier. On the other side of the coin the industry does need players like Booking.com and all the other OTA's but gone are the days of them dictating the online rules of engagement. Also watch out for the OTA "partners & affiliates" ... #JustSaying #ProvidenceHotels #IndependentHotels #RevenueOptimisation https://lnkd.in/d4tA_h6a

Booking fined €530 million for unfair business practices. Spanish regulators have fined Booking €530 million, a significant move for the #hospitality world and the #hotel and tourism sector, especially for smaller and independent #hotels. This action against anti-competitive practices sends a clear message to online platforms (#OTA) about the need for fair terms and conditions. The decision targets Booking's dominant market position, which particularly disadvantages small hotels that have become dependent on platform visibility because they have not positioned themselves digitally accordingly. High commissions and limited pricing autonomy have put many hoteliers in a precarious position, with costs that can reach up to 60%-80% of the GOP, including loyalty programs and preferred partner programs funded by the hotels. Added to this is the loss of their own visibility, customer sovereignty, price sovereignty and important SEO content. This is often no longer economically sustainable for hotels. We are dealing with a broken value chain. This move could set a precedent and lead to a fairer distribution of power in the digital space, rethinking business models and providing more competitive space for small businesses. It underlines the importance of digital independence and offers opportunities to reduce dependence on dominant online agencies. This is the 2nd large win in the EU against booking and the defective OTA value chain. The first win was that rate parity clauses were banned from the EU. The "5 Stages to Success" of rainmaker.travel | 5 Stages of Success | Restoring & Strengthening Hotels Economic Sustainability is a strategy to strengthen digital presence, drive direct bookings and improve economic sustainability. The penalty against Booking marks a turning point for the industry, opening up the opportunity to re-evaluate business practices in the digital tourism market and work towards a fair, transparent and equal opportunity model. A positive step towards a more sustainable and equitable hotel and #tourism industry. ❓ How do you see this development❓  ❓What challenges do you face with the OTAs❓ #hotelmarketing #hoteliers #hotelnews #hotelindustry #hotelrevenue #hotelmanagement #hoteltechnology

Dear froends, just would like to share some experience with you. hope it will be useful for those who started new busoness, especially those that would like to build guest house, home stay or inn or bed and breakfast. family own but profesionally managed i started to build the guest house 2 years ago after wprking more than 25 years in hotel industry. at first since i would like to save tome and also manage with limited resources I work woth zuzu hospitality management to help us operate especially in sales, reservation system side so that we could concentrate first to the operation side. it is my fault as by yome being while the operayionbis shaping properly I saw a big whole in reserbation system, sales and promotion side. i would not go in detail about the problem as I am sure there are many hotles ezperience the difficulties while being maintain by them and also in yhe rermination process. i am terminating the cooperation but need to work and built the new account in each OTA since they arr tend to delay all the process. well, it is an experience and it is those that I hope other people do not have it. Back to the story, I just would like to emphasize you should not in a hurry to open and better cooperation using the system only, HMD, Channel Manager and then hire ypur ecommerce even if it is part time as it is much much better than using the 3rd party especially if the owner does not lnow well about hospitality or hotel industry. I do not say that we are at a loss in financial side since if we are really does not make profit, the 3rd hospitality management will not want us either. they do give us some profit but the way they do is according to them, not thinking about our srrvice standard, our brand reputation, our image, etc. somemoee we have to start from the begonning once you terminate your cooperation. if I know this, I will not waste 2 years with them and now starts the new again by ourself. we are now started again with the online one, booking.com, agoda.com, tiket.com are all very suppprtive but it is also very difficult tp reach traveloka and expedia though with expedia I got help from one of the expedia team in Bali and for traveloka I got contact name from Mr. Tito..thanks for that. but the PIC has not reach us. So, we are still struggling. so, friends from hospitality industry who would like to start new husiness, take the lesson from my experience and hope you will get success and build a good business

one connection, one platform

Is the new Digital Marketing Act (DMA) working in the independent hotelier’s favour? Booking.com faces challenges with the new regulations allowing hotels to undercut Booking prices. This is a big opportunity for independent hoteliers to maximise the impact of direct pricing to improve revenue. With pricing insights, you can maximise this opportunity instantly, giving you a competitive rate over an OTA in real-time. Move from zombified spreadsheets to dynamic pricing to grab the opportunity with time-sensitive rates. The legislation is meant to be a game changer for hoteliers - do you feel you can make the most of it? How are you maximising your revenue potential with competitive rates to OTA’s? I If you think you need some help speak to us to see what we can do. #travel #hotels #DMA

Sunday Funday A hotel with 300 rooms aims to optimize revenue by adjusting its channel distribution strategy. They currently sell 60% of their rooms through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) at a 20% commission rate and 40% through direct bookings with no commission. They consider increasing the share of direct bookings to 60% and decreasing OTA bookings to 40%, expecting a 10% reduction in total bookings due to the shift. Should the hotel proceed with this strategy if their average nightly rate is $150, and how will it impact their overall revenue?

Booking travel can be stressful with so many options, fluctuating prices, and uncertainty. This often leads to high abandonment rates at the booking stage or cancellations prior to check-in. 🌟 Travelers Prioritize Flexibility: A 2023 Skift report shows flexibility in booking is now a top priority, with many willing to pay more for refundable options. 💡 A Better Approach for Hotels: To address this, hotels can encourage direct bookings by making OTA rates non-refundable during peak periods and offering refundable rates directly at a premium. Additionally, tools like Guestcentric’s RezLock let guests lock in rates for a nominal fee, providing flexibility and enhancing direct revenue. 🔑 Key Benefits: - Generates additional revenue - Enhances revenue management - Improves cash flow - Increases guest satisfaction - Offers a competitive edge By adopting these strategies, hotels can reduce reliance on OTAs, cut down on cancellations, and build stronger direct relationships with guests. 📈 Watch the conversation between Pedro Colaco & Melissa Rodrigues to learn more about the OTA anxiety trap & how hotels can convert hesitant bookers directly: https://lnkd.in/eFMhypm8. #DirectBookings #RevenueManagement #HospitalityIndustry #TravelFlexibility #GuestExperience

Hotels fill rooms through two main channels: direct bookings and indirect bookings. Direct bookings are made by guests themselves, through the hotel website, app, social media, or even by phone. These bookings give hotels the most profit, but they may not reach as many potential guests. Indirect bookings involve a middleman, like a travel agent or online travel agency (OTA). These channels reach a wider audience, but the hotel pays a commission. Other indirect channels include tour operators, travel agencies, and convention organizers. The key for hotels is finding the right balance. Direct bookings bring more profit and build relationships with guests, while indirect bookings reach more people. A smart hotel strategy uses both channels to maximize revenue, keep guests happy, and build loyalty. Struggling with your direct and indirect channels? At ChannelsGate, our B2B distribution marketplace connects you with a network of demand partners, helping you reduce acquisition costs and boost revenue. Sign up today and see the difference! https://hubs.li/Q02s354_0

🚀 SOLUTIONS TO BOOST YOUR REVENUE & IMPROVE YOUR HOTEL'S RANKING ON OTA 🚀 Did you know? 💡 Reviews below 8.0 can reduce your bookings by up to 30%! 💡 Improper optimization = wasted opportunities! 📌 Professional OTA Setup & Management Services by Mr. Thanh Increase OTA Revenue: ✅ Optimize pricing and promotions based on market trends. ✅ Enhance hotel visibility through exclusive OTA programs on Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, and more. Improve Review Scores: ✅ Guide you to improve service quality from check-in to check-out. Boost Competitiveness: ✅ Improve search ranking with precise marketing and data management strategies. 🎯 What you will gain: ✔️ Revenue growth by 20% - 50% within just 2 months of optimization. ✔️ Build a stronger online reputation with higher review scores. ✔️ Save time managing with automated and streamlined processes. ⏳ DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY! 📞 Hotline: +84 986 52 42 42 📧 Email: setupOTA.mrThanh@gmail.com Let me partner with you to create a positive transformation for your hotel! Best regards, Mr. Thanh - OTA Consultant & Manager 📲 +84 986 52 42 42 #OTASetup #BoostRevenue #HotelManagement #OptimizeBooking

While we often emphasize the importance of booking directly, it’s equally important to consider other global distribution channels. A well-integrated CRS should connect seamlessly to hundreds of these channels, streamlining the process for hoteliers. To effectively reach guests where they are—often on OTA sites like Expedia—consider optimizing your presence there. Our top tip for boosting your hotel’s performance on Expedia is to offer refundable rates. Flexibility is a key priority for today’s travelers. According to a recent Expedia Group survey, over half of travelers would not book non-refundable accommodations, even if they were discounted. This preference can be the deciding factor between your property and a competitor’s. On Expedia Group sites, your property will show ‘Fully refundable’ or ‘Free cancellation’ in traveler search results. This draws attention to your listing visually and helps you stand out from the competition. A refundable rate also gives travellers increased confidence to book with you, and peace of mind in case their plans change. We recommend offering a 100% refund for cancellations within a short window (two days or less) before the stay date to give travelers maximum flexibility. With Cendyn CRS, enhancing your listing is simple and quick, helping your property stand out in a crowded market. Learn more >> bit.ly/3ZlS95a