Why you need different booking channels?
As a hotel owner or general/revenue manager, you know it’s important to be present on various online booking channels. Travellers look at and compare various hotels via major booking sites like Booking.com, Airbnb or Expedia. So the more online you are, the more your accommodation is seen and the more bookings you can generate. It will also contribute to a higher occupancy rate.
#1 Choose the right OTAs
Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) are an important part of the travel industry and an indispensable link in your online distribution strategy. However, the OTA landscape has evolved considerably in recent years. The corona pandemic has led to the rise of local tourism and the success of local platforms such as Logeren in Vlaanderen (local OTA Belgium) and Voordeeluitjes.nl (local OTA the Netherlands).
"It is important to advertise your accommodation on the right channel to achieve maximum occupancy."
#2 Keep an eye on your direct reservations
Apart from your presence on online booking platforms, it’s also necessary to pay sufficient attention to your own hotel website and your Booking Engine.
Did you know that no less than 50%, after discovering a suitable hotel on an OTA, still visit the personal hotel website. The more reservations you can bring in via your own website, the less commission you have to pay.
#3 Go for extra booking thanks to metasearch
Metasearch websites are also important channels to promote your accommodation extensively. When a traveller enters a query on a metasearch site, he will not only be shown accommodations that meet his query but the room rates of various booking platforms will also be displayed. This way, the traveller can immediately see which booking site offers the best price. Google Hotel Ads, TripAdvisor and Trivago are well known examples.
A good distribution mix is essential
Being present on different channels is a good idea & will maximise your occupancy rate. OTAs take out a big bite out of your budget, as commissions can be as high as 30%. On the other hand, these partners generate a lot of reservations. It is therefore important for your return that you strive for an ideal mix between bookings via OTAs and direct, commission-free bookings via your own channels.
How to manage these channels efficiently?
With Cubilis Channel Manager you can effortlessly manage direct bookings through your own website, as well as bookings through online booking platforms. And that combination pays off! Research among our customers shows that 20% of the reservations are direct bookings, through the own booking engine while it was 11% before the corona pandemic.
Cubilis Channel Manager is the ideal tool for this and offers many advantages:
- Qualitative integrations possible with more than 200 OTAs.
- Central management of prices and availability: flexible adjustable rate plans.
- Instant synchronisation of prices & availability on all your connected booking platforms, making overbookings a thing of the past.
- Affordable pricing: you pay according tot the size of your accommodation.
Do you want to know more?
Discover now how Cubilis Channel Manager can also maximise your online performance. Request a free demo!
