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Your Most Profitable Path: Direct Bookings and What You\'re Missing
In the dynamic world of hotel reservations, capitalizing on your website’s potential is vital for hoteliers. With 60% of visitors to Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) eventually checking out your website, the opportunity to secure commission-free direct bookings is substantial.
The key to harnessing this potential lies in your Internet Booking Engine (IBE), a tool designed to attract and convert users seamlessly. In this article, we’ll explore what makes an IBE invaluable and offer insights into choosing the perfect booking engine for your property.
What Makes an Internet Booking Engine So Precious?
Cost Savings:
OTAs are marketing powerhouses, but they come at a cost. By converting website visitors into actual bookings, you can significantly reduce the commissions paid to OTAs. This not only boosts your profits but also allows you to establish a direct relationship with your guests, making upselling and future marketing more effective.
Independence:
While OTAs dominate the market, savvy travelers often research and shortlist options directly on hotel websites. If you can capture and convert this traffic, you gain greater control over your bookings, brand image, and guest experience.
Driven by data:
Marketing today is all about understanding your audience. How do you do this? Via data. Your booking engine is a warehouse of this data. A smart booking engine not just provides you this data, but processes it into insights so you can make informed decisions on how to capitalise on the users coming to your website and booking engine.
Choosing a Booking Engine:
1) Security
You’re expecting guests to process their payments via this channel. Of critical importance is security. Also, ensure that you’re connected to all your relevant payment gateways. It is important to ensure that these payment gateways are PCI-certified as well.
2) Smart.
Smart pricing, Promo codes … these features should be an integral component of a good booking engine in order to drive direct bookings. Knowing your user’s location, device, etc. and dynamically delivering the right deal at the right team is a more efficient way to market your property and increase direct bookings.
3) Driven by data.
Marketing today is all about understanding your audience. How do you do this? Via data. Your booking engine is a warehouse of this data. A smart booking engine not only provides you this data, but processes it into insights so you can make informed decisions on how to capitalise on the users coming to your website and booking engine.
STAAH SwiftBook
Drive Commission Free Direct Bookings to your Property with SwiftBook
A solution that no hotelier should ignore. Save on Commissions and drive more revenue in your booking engine.
STAAH SwiftBook helps properties drive direct sales from their website with advanced hotel booking software | Why SwiftBook?
1) Zero Commissions, More Direct Bookings:
With STAAH SwiftBook, you can wave goodbye to hefty commissions. Create an irresistible hotel website that convinces visitors to book directly with you. Harness the power of STAAH’s integration with Google to showcase your rates ahead of other OTAs and drive free bookings, maximizing your direct bookings.
2) Revenue Maximization:
More bookings mean more revenue. STAAH SwiftBook empowers properties to display transparent pricing, making it easier for potential bookers to convert. This transparency helps hoteliers boost their revenue while ensuring customer satisfaction.
3) Secured Payment Transactions:
Trust and security are paramount. With STAAH SwiftBook, you can rest assured that payment transactions are secure. The platform is globally PCI Certified, guaranteeing safety for both you and your bookers. Customize it to reflect your brand and website seamlessly.
4) User-Friendly Reservation Management:
Managing bookings should be a breeze. STAAH SwiftBook offers a user-friendly reservation setup, simplifying the process for accommodation providers. This ease of use allows you to focus on delivering excellent guest experiences.
5) Sell Packages and add-ons with Ease:
SwiftBook comes with a range of built-in features, including Smart Pricing, Promo Codes, and Package deals. Use these features to attract guests and increase bookings, whether it’s during peak seasons or off-peak periods. Create custom packages that resonate with your target audience.
6) Highlight and Promote Hot Deals:
Your package descriptions are often the first things potential guests see when considering a stay. With SwiftBook, you can create and showcase custom packages that grab your guests’ attention, making your offerings stand out from the competition.
7) Mobile Accessibility:
In a mobile-driven world, SwiftBook ensures that your booking engine is easily accessible via mobile devices. This mobile-friendliness makes it convenient for users to explore your offerings and book on the go.
Edwin Saldanha
Edwin is the Marketing Director at STAAH. Connect with Edwin on LinkedIn.
This article was originally published in STAAH’s e-book Beginners Guide to Revenue Management.