Developing effective strategies to boost direct bookings is paramount for long-term success in the hospitality industry. But why is it important to develop winning strategies to increase direct bookings?
NB: This is an article from Staah
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Direct bookings boost profits by cutting commission fees and allow hotels to build better guest relationships. They enable personalized experiences, data collection, and targeted marketing efforts and direct bookings foster brand loyalty and give hotels control over pricing and policies.
Let’s Find Out Six Strategies to Increase Direct Bookings:
1. Create a Sense of Urgency:
Implementing tactics such as limited-time offers or showcasing limited inventory can instill a sense of urgency, prompting guests to make direct bookings to secure the best deals.
Example: To create a sense of urgency, hotels can offer flash sales with limited availability or time-bound promotions such as “Book within the next 24 hours to receive 20% off your stay” or “20 people are currently viewing this room”. This urgency motivates potential guests to act quickly, driving direct bookings and increasing revenue.
2. Utilize Commission-Free Booking Engines:
Consider investing in a direct booking platform tailored to your hotel’s needs. This allows hotels to optimize their online presence, maximize direct bookings, and maintain control over the booking process and guest relationships.
Check out some essential features when selecting the perfect booking engine for your property:
- Commissionable or Commission-Free: Choose between platforms that charge a commission on bookings or those that offer commission-free options.
- Language & Currency Converter: Ensure the booking engine supports multiple languages and currencies to accommodate international guests.
- Payment Method: Select a booking engine that integrates various payment methods to cater to diverse guest preferences.
- Purchase Triggers: Look for features like rate comparison widgets and integration with Google such as WatchMyRate and Get Google to incentivize direct bookings.
- Smart Pricing Features: Opt for a booking engine with smart pricing capabilities to dynamically adjust rates based on demand and market trends.
3. Utilize Short-Form Videos:
Leverage platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram Reels to create engaging short-form videos that showcase your hotel’s offerings, highlight guest experiences, and capitalize on viral trends to increase brand visibility and drive direct bookings.
Example: Create short video tours of your hotel’s rooms, amenities, and local attractions, accompanied by upbeat music and captions highlighting key features. Share these videos on social media platforms to capture the attention of potential guests and encourage them to book directly for an immersive experience.
