Blog \ Our take on hostel management
Get our latest content by email
Booking engine: Get to know all its power!
A booking engine is the best option to capture direct reservations. If you want to know why, this post is for you!
Luisina Cimatti
Former Research/Content Creator
Share post
No doubt many of your bookings are direct: they call you or send you a WhatsApp and make a reservation. But why is this happening when there are major OTAs that offer to book through their websites? I am talking about sites like Booking.com, Hostelworld, Expedia, AirBnB and others.
Why doesn't a potential guest always use an OTA to book?
Let's think about this together! What could a potential guest want and value that would make them prefer to book directly rather than through an OTA?
I want to book now...
Travellers often don't look for accommodation on OTAs, but search directly on Google for 'accommodation/hostel/hostel in...' or look for recommendations from other travellers. When this happens, they may come to you directly through your website, Instagram account or Facebook page.
This is prime time for a WhatsApp contact number, the most common and fastest way to communicate these days. The guest who searches directly for your accommodation, sees your website, likes it and contacts you wants to book now, without intermediaries.
... but I also want to feel safe...
Speed is not everything. Every traveller wants to feel secure about their booking, to avoid future complications, so trust is key.
Cutting out the middleman means you can build a relationship with your guests. When communication between you and your guests is direct and efficient, trust between you will increase. A confident and satisfied guest will be loyal to your accommodation and will not hesitate to recommend you! Those guests are your best advertisement :)
Now that we have speed and security, what about prices?
... and I want to pay less!
We know that the rates published by hostels are lower than those on OTAs. Why is that? Because of the high commissions charged by the OTAs.
Through direct reservations, you avoid these OTA commissions, which means you don't have to add these percentages to the price of the rate, so you get lower, more attractive prices.
A booking engine, it has it all :)
It's true!
You can offer speed, security and low prices if you have a booking engine for your accommodation, whether on your website or Facebook page. Don't believe me? Let's take it point by point:
Speed: You can integrate it into your website and/or Facebook page. You can even send the link via WhatsApp for the guest to make a reservation.
Security: Think not only about the confidence that the traveller can have in booking through the engine, but also that payments and guest information are protected. Just like an OTA, but cheaper!
Low rates: If you avoid the high commissions charged by OTAs, you do not have to add them to the rates, making them lower and more attractive.
And more!
If your booking engine is integrated with your PMS (Property Management System), you will always have your availability and rates up updated. In addition, you can set up your rooms with their photos and descriptions.
To conclude
Direct bookings are common, and have advantages over bookings coming from OTAs. A traveller who wants to book directly with you is looking for speed, security and lower prices.
With a booking engine, you can manage these direct bookings more efficiently by integrating them into your PMS, with all the benefits that this generates
Do you already have a booking engine for your hostel?
Photo by Aaron Huber at Unsplash.
Disqus Recommendations
We were unable to load Disqus Recommendations. If you are a moderator please see our troubleshooting guide.
❮
- 8 years ago
- 5 comments
¡Este es un tema del que me encanta hablar! Primero, porque soy un apasionado …
- 8 years ago
- 1 comment
First impressions are really important. Your website needs to blow it out of the …
- 7 years ago
- 2 comments
Oh, metrics... If you don't like numbers, chances are you steer far away from …
- 8 years ago
- 3 comments
This is a topic that I love to talk about! First, I'm passionate about the …
- 7 years ago
- 2 comments
Oh, métricas... Si no te gustan los números, probablemente te …
- 8 years ago
- 3 comments
Si como muchos, caiste en la tentación de crear un Perfil de usuario en Facebook …
- 8 years ago
- 11 comments
If, like many, you fell into the temptation of creating a Facebook Profile instead …
- 7 years ago
- 1 comment
By running the numbers and going through different scenarios, we can …
❯
Disqus Comments
We were unable to load Disqus. If you are a moderator please see our troubleshooting guide.
What do you think?
0 Responses
Upvote
Funny
Love
Surprised
Angry
Sad
G
Start the discussion…
Comment
Log in with
or sign up with Disqus or pick a name
Disqus is a discussion network
- Don't be a jerk or do anything illegal. Everything is easier that way.
Read full terms and conditions
This comment platform is hosted by Disqus, Inc. I authorize Disqus and its affiliates to:
- Use, sell, and share my information to enable me to use its comment services and for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, including supplementing that information with other data about me, such as my browsing and location data.
- Contact me or enable others to contact me by email with offers for goods or services
- Process any sensitive personal information that I submit in a comment. See our Privacy Policy for more information
Acknowledge I am 18 or older
I'd rather post as a guest
Discussion Favorited!
Favoriting means this is a discussion worth sharing. It gets shared to your followers' Disqus feeds, and gives the creator kudos!
Tweet this discussion
- Share this discussion on Facebook
- Share this discussion via email
- Copy link to discussion
Be the first to comment.
live.rezync.com
live.rezync.com is blocked
This page has been blocked by an extension
- Try disabling your extensions.
ERR_BLOCKED_BY_CLIENT
Reload
This page has been blocked by an extension
pippio.com
pippio.com is blocked
This page has been blocked by an extension
- Try disabling your extensions.
ERR_BLOCKED_BY_CLIENT
Reload
This page has been blocked by an extension
Subscribe to our Newsletter to get our latest content by email!
You can unsuscribe at any time.
Telegram Whatsapp LinkedIn Facebook Reddit Email
https://bananadesk.com/blog/booking-engine-get-to-know-all-its-power
Copy link
Hostel managementmade simple.
Avoid overbookings. Synchronize your offer. Simplify your life.