Weekly Insights. August 17, 2024

Is rate parity still “The law of the land”?

Rate parity in the OTA - hotel relationship means the OTAs have access to any publicly available rate a hotel might have. Rate parity does not preclude hotels or OTAs to offer lower rates to their loyalty or reward program members such as Marriott BonVoy or Expedia One or Booking Genius members. Some hoteliers argue that without rate parity the industry would be better off because hoteliers would be able to sell at whatever rates they want, unencumbered by the OTA rate parity restrictions. No rate parity, in theory, gives the right to publish lowers rates on the hotel website.

In my view, rate parity helps, not hurts hotels (see my post). What's your take?

Is a Revenue Management System worth it? Exploring the value of an RMS

It’s a question hotel operators across the world have wrangled with for years. Is it worth the time, money, and effort to invest in a revenue management system (RMS)? It’s a big decision with a big impact to match. But with the right system in place, hoteliers stand to greatly improve their ability to strategically navigate a quickly changing and complex industry and in turn, improve their overall profitability.

AI dynamic pricing: A secret weapon for independent hotel revenue managers

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more and more commonplace in hospitality software, there are now a plethora of options for hoteliers to choose from.

But what about hoteliers who are looking to gain a competitive advantage by incorporating AI technologies into their tech stack while also boosting revenues and optimizing their pricing strategies?

For independent hoteliers seeking a competitive edge while boosting revenues and optimizing pricing strategies, one solution stands out: AI-powered dynamic pricing tools.

How to solve common challenges in your booking funnel

The booking funnel includes every step a potential guest takes, from discovering your hotel to finalising their booking. Understanding and optimising this process is crucial. Each stage, from awareness to booking, has its own challenges and opportunities. By addressing these, you can influence guest behaviour and boost conversion rates.

In this blog, we look at common challenges at each stage of the booking funnel. Plus, we will give you actionable strategies to overcome them.

Looking to captivate with TikTok and YouTube shorts? Key video tips for hoteliers

Video offers an experience unlike any others. With effective video marketing, you can make people laugh, cry, and get wrapped up in a story like none other. It’s no wonder that video has become one of the most popular forms of content – particularly for brands selling experiences like hotels.

If you’re planning video marketing campaigns for TikTok and YouTube Shorts, it’s important to tailor them to these platforms and ensure you’re reaching the audiences on those platforms. Whether your brand is humorous, luxurious, or practical, the right videos have the power to elevate your marketing campaigns and make a great first impression.

Check out these tips to master short-form video content on YouTube Shorts and TikTok to market your hotel properties.

12 types of hotel guests and how to delight them

To ensure stellar service at your hotel and consistent business growth, understanding the types of hotel guests you cater to is key. With personalization becoming a must, it’s crucial that you segment your audience to meet guest expectations and create the right experiences for each guest persona.

Moreover, understanding your typical guest and their wants and needs gives you a powerful edge in your marketing efforts, making it easier to attract your ideal guest.

To simplify this fundamental task for you, we’ve outlined the 12 most common types of hotel guests and their expectations and preferences so you can tailor your offerings to their unique needs.

Apple Wallet hotel keys: Here's why hotel owners are moving room keys into the cloud

Have you ever had to re-cut a room key for a guest who misplaced theirs? What about soothing an irate guest whose keycard didn’t work when they got up to their room? While plastic keycards have been the industry standard for years, guest preferences are shifting toward digital keys. With advantages like better security, convenience, and reliability, digital keys offer a lot of benefits to your hotel operations, especially when they can be easily added to a guest’s Apple Wallet. But you may be wondering how to make the switch or where to start searching for a mobile key vendor. In this article, we’ll reveal the features and benefits of Apple Wallet hotel room keys and show how one vendor, dormakaba, is setting the bar high for digital keys in the hotel industry.

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