In recent times, the hotel industry has seen a surge in third-party applications dominating the booking system. Direct hotel bookings are considered a thing of the past.
But the lesser-known truth is that the direct booking system is not entirely dead. You simply need an effective booking engine that can bring your platform to life. This guide explains the importance of booking engines to revive the direct booking system.
Importance of Direct Bookings
Direct bookings are reservations made directly with the hotel, without involving any third-party agencies. It has several advantages that remain prevalent even today.
Some of them are:
- More control over client reservations
- Free of commissions paid to third-party agencies
- Opportunity to promote other services
- Access to client data
Direct bookings help hotels to save on commission costs and generate more revenue. It also provides them with the opportunity to showcase other services and create more traffic.
Direct Bookings are Not Dead
Reports show that global tourism is on the rise and international tourism is growing at a significant rate every year post-COVID. This has led to an increase in direct bookings as customers want flexibility and strive to evade the inconvenience of dealing with third parties.
Some hotels have already applied the strategy, and their revenue has increased dramatically. If you use the right approach, you can also revive your direct booking system and grow your hospitality business swiftly.
Why Do You Need a Smarter Booking Engine to Boost Direct Hotel Bookings?
Recipe for Growth: An Efficient Booking Engine
An online booking engine is software that helps guests check room availability and view booking prices, allowing them to confirm their reservations on the spot, all without leaving the website.
Booking engines have been continually improving year after year, and the latest versions are AI-powered software capable of performing much more than just bookings.
Advantages of Using a Booking Engine
- Real-Time Bookings: This allows hotels to have a 24/7 booking facility without the need to appoint staff for different shifts. Guests enjoy easy access and instant booking confirmation, making this a win-win situation for both parties.
- Personalized Offers: Hotels can increase their revenue by offering add-ons, allowing guests to have a customized experience tailored to their needs.
- Language/Currency Options: Multiple language/currency options attract international clients, increasing revenue. Guests get the facility to pay in their home currency and book in their native language, making the experience hassle-free.
- Integrated Payments: Integrated payments are secure, fast, and trackable, which can be particularly useful in cases of failed payments or for maintaining accurate transaction records. Moreover, customers get multiple payment options, which enhances their experience.
- Dynamic Pricing: Hotels can use dynamic pricing to compete with rates offered by third-party agencies automatically. Customers have the advantage of a best price guarantee system that works in their favor.
- AI Recommendations: An online booking engine can use AI to suggest uniquely crafted packages and predict consumer demand based on the season. Customers can also receive custom offers and promotions, which can enhance their booking experience.
- Automated Emails: Booking engines with automated emails can send reminders and increase client engagement after booking. They can also be used to send timely offers and promotions to potential consumers.
Costly Mistakes That Cause a Decline in Direct Bookings
Here are some common mistakes hotels often make, which can hinder their direct bookings.
- The website is outdated, slow, or not user-friendly.
- Providing little or no competitive offers and promotions
- Absence of an innovative booking engine
- Having a complex booking process involving too many steps
An efficient booking engine eliminates these problems, making the booking process seamless for customers and increasing the hotel’s direct bookings.
Ways to Grow Direct Bookings Using a Booking Engine
1. Offer Exclusive Perks On Direct Bookings
Hotels can offer complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi, or early check-in options to customers who book directly through their website. Special experience packages, such as city tours or dining experiences, can also be provided exclusively on the business site.
2. Best Price Guarantee
Offer the best prices on hotel bookings and provide the best discounts that beat all other third-party websites.
3. Personalized Experience
Filter out the best deals using an intelligent booking engine to present to the client according to their interests. Automate their birthdays through AI so that they can receive birthday greetings on their special day, or allow guests to customize parts of their stay.
4. Integrated Bookings
Connect booking channels through your social media handles, such as Facebook and Instagram, which will enable guests to book their stays on the go, making the process easy and quick.
Final Thoughts
Direct bookings remain prevalent in the hotel industry. All you have to do is to understand how to utilize it to benefit you. A smart booking engine will enable you to optimize expenses and future-proof your business.
It is not only an upgrade, but also an investment that yields reliable and identifiable returns. So, get an innovative booking engine now and experience impressive growth for your business.
