Latest news from the hospitality industry – W1, February 2022

Booking.com, Expedia, Alaska Airlines are using celebrities in their national and regional Super Bowl efforts. Expedia Will Give Away 20 Trips During the Super Bowl.

Hoteliers are anticipating that travel this year will be even busier than pre-pandemic times. Since people have not had the opportunity to travel in two years, hotels are noticing a growing interest in villas with services and properties that offer privacy and peace.

Hotel brands grew their loyalty programs during the pandemic, and many of them are investing heavily in keeping momentum going. Further, a piece on how hotels are holding rates and not giving in to discounting – an important lesson in revenue management.

Lastly an article on Power of Reviews and how TripAdvisor Reviews lead to bookings and better travel experiences.

Reach out to us for your hotel channel manager, rate shopper, booking engine, or website development requirements. We are happy to have a discussion to see how we can help you achieve your property’s occupancy and revenue goals – contact us today

Enjoy the read!

Booking.com and Expedia gear up for the big game

The two travel brands are using celebrities in their national and regional Super Bowl efforts.

https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/370856/bookingcom-expedia-alaska-airlines-gear-up-for.html

Hoteliers share expectations & predictions for 2022

Hotel Designs spoke to some the movers and shakers in the industry on what’s ahead for 2022.

https://hoteldesigns.net/industry-news/leading-hoteliers-share-expectations-predictions-for-2022/

Hotel loyalty programs ripe for an evolution

Hotel brands grew their loyalty programs during the pandemic, and as they have become more important to capture new customers, many are investing heavily in keeping momentum going.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hoteliers-step-up-loyalty-programs

HotStats: Hotels end 2021 closer to ‘normal’

An indication that hoteliers stuck with rate throughout the year, having learned a valuable lesson from downturns of yore: discounting is not a smart revenue-management practice.

https://www.hotstats.com/hotel-industry-trends/year-end-hotel-perfromance-finds-regularity-ppbpabz1

The power of reviews

Of all the kinds of feedback types on Tripadvisor and other review platforms – ratings, snippets and long-form descriptive reviews – 40% of travelers said that long-form reviews mattered most to them.

tripadvisor.com/PowerOfReviews

RateTiger gets a new Avatar with New Logo and Website

We are excited to launch the new RateTiger logo and website today – giving it a brand new look as well as a new web address – www.ratetiger.com

RateTiger has been a market leader that revolutionized the hospitality ecosystem with its unique capabilities in hotel rate shopping, channel management & beyond for the last 20 years.

It is all set to embark on a new journey, with a new logo and website.

Why the Change?

Because Change Is Inevitable.

We, as an organization, have evolved since our inception. At the heart of this rebrand is our desire to convey who we are.

Our core values – innovation, people commitment and pursuing excellence – have always been the foundation of our success. The primary purpose of the rebrand is to align our visual identity with our core values and principles, in order to accurately reflect who we are as a company.

We have renewed the RateTiger logo and brand attributes, keeping in line with our goal of Distributing Happiness!

 

 

The new logo represents the very idea of RateTiger being the bridge that connects hotels to the online world of infinite possibilities.

Our new logo uses a simple color palette and font to reflect our clear and solid focus on Distribution and Connectivity that RateTiger offers through secure and scalable solutions.

Many of our clients and prospects might not be aware about our evolution as a business – so here below is a sneak peek into the eRevMax journey over the last two decades.

Our Journey

eRevMax was founded in 2001 and we introduced the concept of online rate shopping through our first product RateTiger Shopper in 2002. Driven by the initial success, we went on to launch industry’s first hotel channel management software in 2004RateTiger Channel Manager.

The tool was developed based on requirements shared by hoteliers and witnessed a lot of early adopters in the West. Since then, we have developed a multitude of solutions which has helped shape the hospitality online distribution space. Here below is a timeline showing some key milestones in our journey so far.

Our partners are at the core of our connectivity business. We integrate and work closely with over 450 companies including OTAs, GDS, Metasearch channels & Tour operators as well as global and regional PMS, CRS, RMS and Booking Engines.

We strongly value data privacy and security. eRevMax is an ISO 27001:2013 and PCI DSS certified as well as GDPR compliant company. We provide 24/7 multilingual support and work closely with hotels to assist them to maximize their revenue goals.


Way Forward

Witnessing the industry in and out for 20+ years, we continue to develop products and services to fuel your business growth. With the growing demand for our world-class solutions and customer support, we are geared to move ahead in pursuit of excellence, in a more dynamic way.

We distilled the essence of RateTiger into a fresh new look and absolutely love it. We hope you do too.

Visit www.ratetiger.com to know more.

 

 

 

What’s New in Hotel Distribution and Tech Trends? W4, January 2022

The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer monitors short-term travel trends on a regular basis to provide stakeholders with up-to-date analysis on international tourism. According to experts, domestic tourism and travel close to home, as well as open-air activities, nature-based products and rural tourism are among the major travel trends that will continue shaping tourism in 2022.

This year will witness an upshift in the hotel & travel industry. Hotel business will be able to recover from the pandemic with these travel trends, which will eventually boost and build confidence in terms of generating hotel bookings. Read these Top Travel Trends in 2022 in second news below.

The pandemic had a profound impact on the hospitality industry. Given the recent changes, it is important to take a pulse of the industry in regard to technology usage in operations and the guest experience. Read the interesting report from Stayntouch and understand the hotelier sentiments.

It’s no longer a secret that we’re now living in the era of digital transformation. The travel industry has experienced significant changes as well, pushing advertisers and brands to consider new messaging, channels and approaches before campaign launches. Read more about this below.

STR data shows Middle East has been a leader in both opening to international arrivals as well as hosting large events, such as Expo 2020, which has driven hotel performance in Dubai.

Lastly hoteliers are now fully embracing the need to be more adaptable as the changes to travel continue to unfold. Know more about updates from American Lodging Investment Summit in the last story.

Enjoy the read!

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer expects travel to rebound in 2022

International tourism experienced a 4% increase in 2021 compared to 2020, with international arrivals still 72% below the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Majority of experts expect a rebound during the third quarter.

https://www.unwto.org/unwto-world-tourism-barometer-data

Top Travel Trends in 2022 – Back to Travel

The pandemic in 2020 had a massive impact on the hotel industry that has brought everlasting changes. However, times are changing and travel is evolving into something new and better than before. Let’s find out how travellers are planning their trips this year and preparing for rebound:

https://erevmax.com/blog/index.php/2022/01/top-travel-trends-in-2022-back-to-travel/

2022 Hotelier Technology Sentiment Report

Report details hotelier sentiments on emerging technologies and trends in both hotel operations and the guest experience.

https://www.stayntouch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022%20Hotelier%20Technology%20Sentiment%20Report%20(7).pdf

Travel brands must deal with reimagined audience archetypes

The travel industry has experienced significant changes as well, pushing advertisers and brands to consider new messaging, channels and approaches before campaign launches.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/412718

Middle East hotel RevPAR recovery highest among global regions

The Middle East has been a leader in both opening to international arrivals as well as hosting large events. The Middle East hotel industry reported revenue per available room (RevPAR) that was 85.6% of the pre-pandemic comparable, the highest among the global regions, according to year-end 2021 data from STR.

https://str.com/press-release/str-middle-east-hotel-revpar-recovery-highest-among-global-regions

Hotel guest mix has permanently changed

The prevailing attitude among speakers at Americas Lodging Investment Summit is that this is the new landscape that hoteliers must navigate and waiting for a return to 2019 numbers or conditions is misguided.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hoteliers-have-resolved-to-live-with-the-virus

Reach out to RateTiger for your hotel channel manager, rate shopper, booking engine, or website development requirements. We are happy to have a discussion to see how we can help you achieve your property’s occupancy and revenue goals – contact us today

 

 

Top Travel Trends in 2022 – Back to Travel

You wake up in a luxury bedroom. You get up from your bed and remove the curtains of your room and there is the line of mountains before you, half-covered in snow, the others in green. The doorbell rings and there is someone outside waiting with freshly brewed coffee.

The last time travellers felt that kind of peace was almost two years ago when they could actually travel freely without any restrictions or even without the minimum fear of health. The pandemic in 2020 had a massive impact on the hotel industry that has brought everlasting changes. However, times are changing and travel is evolving into something new and better than before.

travel-trends-2022-ratetiger-erevmax

Let’s find out how travellers are planning their trips this year and preparing for rebound:

Travel Therapy – Recovery

Travel is no more just going out for fun; rather it has become a way to escape from the reality of the pandemic. When the pandemic arrived, everyone feared the unknown. As travellers learned more about the outcry, they grew cautious following the appropriate protocols in places. Researchers have found that people are growing tired of being cautious and 2022 is the year that the travel industry will see upward trend from travellers across the globe. With travellers taking more time to de-stress and recharge after great travel pause, wellness tourism is going to see a major uptick in the post pandemic era in 2022. GWI forecasts a 20.9% average annual growth rate for wellness tourism in 2020 -2025. So, prepare for some travel therapy demands which will help travellers to rejuvenate themselves from such a phase.

Flight Costs Are Set to Fly

Along with the hotel sector, the aviation industry has also been hit by the pandemic, massively. With demands rising in 2022 for travel, airline ticket prices might stay buoyant to encourage more travellers and generate much-needed income. In recent times, we have witnessed a spike in the fuel prices – air carriers might need to raise their fares accordingly but that will not let travel falter. With small as well as large-cap businesses trying to regain their positions in the market, business travel may boost the premium economy. After being able to save all that money in the pandemic by being locked at home, travellers may also want to spend big on their much-awaited trips this year.

Young and Exotic – Luxury Travel Redefined

With the restrictions being slowly removed, travellers are planning to go big and plan on their bucket list vacations. Travel is no more about just going to the beach or just going to the hill stations to enjoy the weather. What modern-day travellers are looking for is an adventure, something out of the ordinary life. Young travellers are rooting on exotic places, as per study popular destination includes Thailand, Ireland, Egypt, South Africa, Maldives, London, Paris, and more! Places which can give more than just popular buildings in a city to visit has been added to many travellers’ wish list.

Last-Minute Bookings

What’s more thrilling and compelling than a trip that’s planned last minute? And that’s exactly the kind of thrill young travellers are excited about. In recent times, booking windows has witnessed a shrink and saw a trend of flexible booking with last-minute planning. The uncertainty of different Covid-19 variants has left travellers hesitant when planning or booking a trip. Travellers are mostly drawn towards last-minute bookings as changing restrictions are released with dynamic situations as per the travel guidelines. After days of not being able to meet their loved ones or engaging in their travel bucket-list, travellers are planning on last-minute trip bookings as per the availability of their travel partners. The impact resonates with the custom itinerary plans and choice of hotel availability.

Workcations – Beyond Business

When preventive guidelines for Covid-19 to resume travel were released, the travellers who were exhausted working from home and needed some kind of refreshment chose to merge work with travel which would allow them to work from remote destinations. With the increase in hybrid and flexible work models, 40% of Gen-Z employees plan to take a “workcation” in 2022. Work from home could sound exciting but it comes with its own disadvantages. Travellers hence chose the best way that would eliminate distractions. Working at one’s favourite travel destination gives one mental as well as emotional satisfaction. Where else could you get the best office-window view?

Trip-Stacking

Trip stacking is the practice of booking multiple trips over the same period of time. Travellers are booking numerous trips to different travel destinations to avoid getting stuck with one cancelled vacation due to new pandemic restrictions. With modern travellers seeking more flexibility in their trip plans, trip stacking is the best way that ensures their adaptability through unsure times. With trip stacking, travellers have options from where they get to choose a trip according to their comfort level. Having a plan C along with a plan A and plan B for trips really took off during the summer of 2021 and it is only going to emerge in 2022 and beyond.

Decoding Travel Trends & more!

Uncertainty is still not in the rear-view mirror of travels in 2022. However, unlike in 2020 when people were afraid of the unknown, in 2022, people will be travelling more freely and frequently. Technology has taken a big leap in recent times helping not only in work but also travellers to find the trip that best suits them making contactless transactions and online bookings a trend that is here to stay.

Lastly, hotel business will be able to recover from the pandemic with these travel trends, which will eventually boost and build confidence in terms of generating hotel bookings. Thus, buckle up, as travellers are in the mood to make their travel choices and seeking for an exotic experience be it from locations or hotel guest experience. 2022 will witness an upshift in the hotel & travel industry.

Latest news from the hospitality industry – W3, January 2022

In the news round-up today, a new tutorial on the Google Ads YouTube channel goes over easy, step-by-step instructions for setting up free hotel booking links.

Pent-up demand, a growth in disposable income, and the widespread availability of vaccines are fueling a demand for upscale, independent travel to Europe in 2022, according to Eurobound.

Sarova Hotels, UK recommend hotels to use RateTiger as a channel manager. The main reason for them is the time efficiency that RateTiger generates, which is second to none.

According to Expedia Group’s 2022 Travel Value Index, which surveyed 5,500 adults across eight countries in collaboration with Wakefield Research, more than half of respondents (54%) say they plan to spend more on trips than they did prior to the pandemic.

This week’s findings from ongoing research on American travel sentiment continues to illustrate the dichotomy in the American psyche of the seriousness of the pandemic situation and their love for travel.

And finally a piece on sustainability travel, sustainability has been a focal point of hospitality industry companies. People desire reconnection and travel and doing so in a more sustainable way.

Enjoy the read!

Google tutorial on getting free hotel booking links

Introduced in March 2021, free booking links provide free traffic directly to your website and can be used in conjunction with Google Hotel Ads to maximize exposure.

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/how-to-get-free-hotel-booking-links-in-google/433523/#close

Europe: Travelers spending more, upgrading accommodations

Eurobound reports an increase in average itinerary prices driven largely by traveler demand for more exclusive accommodations.

https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/eurobound-finds-travelers-spending-more-upgrading-accommodations

Luxury British Chain Sarova Hotels recommend RateTiger for increasing online sales

Luxury British Chain Sarova Hotels has recommended RateTiger as its connectivity partner of choice for helping increase online sales and revenue by using hotel channel management and Connect solutions. The group has been using RateTiger since 2012 for optimizing revenue strategy and online distribution.

Check out this video from Jon Siberry, Group Revenue Manager, Sarova Hotels Ltd where he shares his experience with the RateTiger product and support – https://lnkd.in/gr666Aun

Travelers willing to pay more

According to Expedia Group’s 2022 Travel Value Index more than half of respondents say they plan to spend more on trips than they did prior to the pandemic.

https://www.phocuswire.com/travelers-willing-to-pay-more-use-loyalty-points-for-trips-in-2022

 What resources are American travelers turning to for travel inspiration?

Search engines, email, Facebook, Youtube and blogs top the channels travelers are most receptive to learning about new travel destinations to visit.

https://www.destinationanalysts.com/blog-update-on-american-travel-trends-sentiment-week-of-january-17th/

How hotels are innovating for the eco-friendly traveler

Access to digital keys, EV chargers, sustainable dining and on-site recycling programs are a few ways the industry is redefining sustainable travel.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90713283/travelers-seek-eco-friendly-travel-options-in-2022

Reach out to RateTiger for your hotel channel manager, rate shopper, booking engine, or website development requirements. We are happy to have a discussion to see how we can help you achieve your property’s occupancy and revenue goals – contact us today

 

 

 

Latest News from Hospitality Industry – W4, December – 2021

Here is this week’s industry round-up on top news and trends.

Airbnb has proposed and committed to support authorities as they enforce new responsible and harmonized EU rules that get tough on property speculators, while making it easier for everyday Europeans to welcome guests into their homes.

Booking.com has published a new report on travel predictions 2022. 60% of travelers are looking forward to meeting new people while on vacation.

RateTiger achieved Hotel Tech Report’s Level I Global Customer Support Certification (GCSC) for its investment in customer success and following a unique approach.

Google is now officially allowing hotels to use Google Posts, but only in a limited manner. Hotels can use Google Posts to give customers notifications about the hotel, but not for offers or promotional purposes.

USA hotel industry – Strong Boost in Leisure Demand Anticipated Between Christmas and New Year’s

And finally, a piece highlighting year of hotel tech – simpler and less costly tech solutions provided ways to cope with the pandemic and the staffing shortage.

Enjoy the read!

Airbnb proposes new harmonized EU rules

The proposal would unlock the benefits of hosting for millions of EU citizens and help address challenges associated with over-tourism.

https://news.airbnb.com/airbnb-proposes-new-harmonised-eu-rules-responds-to-eu-consultation/

Booking.com’s travel predictions 2022

2022 will be the year to make the most of unpredictability and start making up for lost vacation time, with the number of travelers who feel they need to do so having increased by 52% since last year.

https://www.booking.com/c/trends/travelpredictions2022.html

RateTiger – eRevMax Achieves Level I Global Support Certification

RateTiger is glad to receive Hotel Tech Report’s Global Customer Support Certification, which has become an industry benchmark. Hotel Tech Report co-founder Adam Hollander commented ”RateTiger’s approach to customer support and success is extremely unique in that rather than a shotgun broad approach they have taken a much more targeted and segmented one. The support tools, team and processes are exceptional and any hotelier that chooses to partner with them can rest assured that they will be in good hands.” Read details of the certification – https://lnkd.in/gvHq3HB4

Google Post now open to hotels

Google is now officially allowing hotels to use Google Posts to give customers notifications about the hotel, but not for offers or promotional purposes.

https://searchengineland.com/google-posts-open-to-hotels-for-update-notices-but-not-promotions-377232

US holiday optimism remains, despite Omicron uncertainty

US hoteliers say demand, particularly domestic leisure travel for the week between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, has remained resilient, even surpassing 2019 levels in some measures.

https://www.costar.com/article/1708332880/domestic-hotel-demand-for-holidays-seemingly-undeterred-by-omicron

The year in hotel tech

Younger and smaller teams of executives at the major hotel brands showed a heightened sense of urgency, increasingly recognizing the need for flexible, outsourced solutions.

https://www.hospitalityinsights.com/content/2021-review-year-hotel-tech

Reach out to RateTiger for your hotel channel manager, rate shopper, booking engine, or website development requirements. We are happy to have a discussion to see how we can help you achieve your property’s occupancy and revenue goals – contact us today

 

 

Hotel Reopening Trends in a Covid-19 World

As the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic ebb, most indicators point to travel coming back — with a vengeance — as people look to reconnect, explore new destinations, or revisit reliable favorites.”

That’s how a McKinsey report describes the present scenario, highlighting the opportunities in the travel and hospitality industry. In fact, did you know that in the US, with two million daily passengers, air travel is already closer to the pre-pandemic level of around 2.5 million?

With countries starting to open up again, the hotel industry is booming and providing guests with new experiences and personalized service. Here are some of the key reopening trends that are reflected today in the hospitality industry –

1.Greater digitalization of the industry

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, digital reservations have become an even bigger section of the hotel booking volume. It is expected that in the coming future, the entire hotel booking market will be taken over by digitalization. Hotel owners can be expected to improve the digital presence through the following measures:

  • Diversification of online distribution channels
  • Posting content online everyday through a regular digital schedule
  • Using a direct room reservation strategy
  • Having an efficient and aesthetic hotel website with attractive images and offers

2. Wider adoption of hotel technology products

As hotel owners tackle with more competition and changes in guest booking behavior, we are witnessing a wider adoption of hotel technology products.

While hotel channel managers and booking engines were already popular among large and mid-sized hotels and chains, more adoption is expected by small and independent properties as well. Such hotel tech products will enable businesses with more opportunities for online bookings and revenue maximization. It will add to their operational efficiency, saving them cost and providing a competitive edge.

3. Reconsideration of marketing strategies

It is important to focus on driving more guests to the hotel brand website to drive direct bookings. More and more hotels are realizing the importance of generating commission-free bookings and owning the guest relation from start to end. Hence it is critical that hotels –

  • Devise their digital marketing campaigns effectively
  • Give out the right messages to their target audience
  • Establish synergies with other related business vendors for cross-selling Deriving benefits from various tourism-promotion initiatives

4. Innovate boldly

Hotels are expected to go out of the way, to distinguish themselves from the crowd in order to stand out from competitors. Apart from focusing on digital marketing, hotels are looking at innovative technology solutions as well as revenue models to attract different guest segments –

  • Using contactless technology for check-in, check-out, in-room dining and other services.
  • Revenue optimization with day-use booking options.
  • Diversification of array of hotel services for serving more customers and optimization of revenues.
  • Having visitor-first strategies in place.

5. Personalization

In the hospitality industry, personalization has been a much-discussed subject for a long time now. Listening to visitors and accordingly adapting hotel services can be very useful in distinguishing hotel businesses from all competitors out there and building guest loyalty.

It is being expected that hotel owners and managers would go out of their way to personalize services for visitors, in order to provide them with an unmatched and unique experience and ensure a higher level of customer loyalty in the years to come.

6. Staying ready for changes in the hospitality industry

The times are changing and things are evolving very quickly, which means that hotel owners and administrators would be keeping their ears to the ground for new trends and changes in the hospitality industry.

While we aren’t exactly back to normal (and we might never get there), whatever new normal we’re heading towards, there are opportunities in the hospitality industry in heaps for hotel owners and other stakeholders. Understanding the emerging trends and keeping in sync with the changing consumer behavior will ensure that hoteliers stay on top of their business and beat the lingering pandemic blues to achieve the desired scalability.

What’s New in Hotel Distribution and Tech Trends? W2, December 2021

In the news round-up today, hotels in Europe’s major gateway cities, at airports, and on urban peripheries are expected to show the strongest rate rises in 2022.

The hotel industry was never known to be an early adopter of technology, but the adoption of technology rapidly accelerated following the start of the pandemic. Some technology served to reduce the spread of COVID-19, like guest-facing contactless technology.

GHA DISCOVERY’s LIVE LOCAL provides an occasion for members to celebrate the opportunities right on their doorstep by rediscovering their own neighbourhood and staying close to local communities.

Travel buyers put the finishing touches to the annual preferred hotel rate programme they have been painstakingly negotiating since the summer.

Customer-service organizations are continuing to prove this is the case as they respond to a customer-driven charge towards digital interactions with service providers across industries and geographies.

A report conducted by The Hotels Network indicates that this year Black Friday once again had a significant positive impact on the hotel’s direct booking channel.

Enjoy the read!

Europe: Urban hotels to lead rate rises in 2022

Hotels in Europe’s major gateway cities, at airports, and on urban peripheries are expected to show the strongest rate rises in 2022.

https://www.businesstravelnewseurope.com/Accommodation/Expect-hotel-rate-rises-in-early-2022-but-greater-stability

The state of the hotel industry going into 2022

To stay competitive, hotels must review trend reports and competitive-set information, websites must be laser-focused on selling, and the focus must be on experience, not the amenities.

https://www.costar.com/article/504989102/the-state-of-the-hotel-industry-going-into-2022

Global Hotel Alliance launches Live Local

Members enjoy access and benefits at GHA hotels, at home or away, without having to stay overnight.

https://www.globalhotelalliance.com/post/gha-discovery-live-local-a-concept-designed-for-the-way-consumers-travel-today

The hotel RFP is slipping from favour

Few travel buyers are playing the RFP game for 2022, with many edging closer to a strategy often referred to as continuous sourcing – doing away with the previous ‘one and done’ process.

https://www.businesstravelnewseurope.com/Accommodation/Buyers-switching-to-continuous-hotel-sourcing

Innovation through the digital disruption of customer service.

Rapid digitization and changing customer demands are creating an industrial revolution in services, and it looks like the changes are here to stay.

https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/innovation-through-the-digital-disruption-of-customer-service

The Hotels Network: Black Friday campaigns see an increase of 52% in hotel website conversions.

Black Friday once again had a significant positive impact on the hotel’s direct booking channel.

https://blog.thehotelsnetwork.com/black-friday-report-2021

Reach out to RateTiger for your hotel channel manager, rate shopper, booking engine, or website development requirements. We are happy to have a discussion to see how we can help you achieve your property’s occupancy and revenue goals – contact us today

 

Latest news for the hospitality industry – W1, December 2021

The hotel sales channels that are being used should be evaluated regularly and pricing strategies should be adjusted to the existing market conditions. Read the latest blog in 1st news piece from RateTiger and know the common mistakes hotel management makes.

As the global hotel industry continues on a path of recovery, hoteliers are adapting each day to streamline operations while maintaining an adequate level of service.

The European Union recommended that member states review essential travel restrictions on a daily basis and coordinate their actions in response to the omicron variant.

Expedia releases its 2022 Travel Trends Report revealing that travelers are shaking up the status quo with new priorities next year.

Tourists are eager to take trips and splurge on vacations after amassing significant levels of personal savings following months of being lockdown.

Enjoy the read!

5 Most Common Hotel Distribution Management Mistakes

Proper hotel revenue management involves using distribution strategies and sales channels to the maximum potential. To be able to do this, it is important to use technology solutions that are synchronized properly as well as check offerings from competitors and maintain the best possible customer relationship.

Read more – https://erevmax.com/blog/index.php/2021/11/5-most-common-hotel-distribution-management-mistakes/

How hotel operators deal with today’s pain points

Hotels are adapting each day to streamline operations while maintaining an adequate level of service and attracting and retaining the talent to deliver that guest satisfaction.

https://www.costar.com/article/1707518818/hotel-operators-evolve-process-of-adapting-to-guests-needs

EU to propose daily review of travel rules

The approach would counter the divergent response so far from European governments when it comes to travel rules and the omicron variant.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-01/eu-to-propose-daily-review-of-travel-rules-to-counter-omicron

Expedia: Where U.S. travelers are heading in 2022

Domestic travel, particularly to warm-weather beach destinations, remains a top choice for Americans, with 59% of U.S. survey respondents planning domestic-only trips for 2022.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-goat-mindset-expedia-reveals-2022s-biggest-travel-trend-301433866.html

Why hotels are focused on all-inclusive resorts

Travelers are willing to pay a premium for convenience, enhanced health and safety measures, and an overall complete vacation experience.

https://www.jll.com.au/en/trends-and-insights/investor/why-hotels-are-focused-on-all-inclusive-resorts

Reach out to RateTiger for your hotel channel manager, rate shopper, booking engine, website development or revenue management consultancy requirements. We are happy to have a discussion to see how we can help you achieve your property’s occupancy and revenue goals – contact us today

5 Most Common Hotel Distribution Management Mistakes

5 Most Common Hotel Distribution Management Mistakes

Proper hotel revenue management involves using distribution strategies and sales channels to the maximum potential. To be able to do this, it is important to use technology solutions that are synchronized properly as well as check offerings from competitors and maintain the best possible customer relationship. The sales channels that are being used should be evaluated regularly and pricing strategies should be adjusted to the existing market conditions. If you wish to manage your hotel online distribution and booking process successfully, it is important to avoid these 5 common mistakes:

  1. Mismanagement of group bookings

With group reservations, occupancy rates and profits can be raised quickly. But there can possibly be major losses if there is a late cancellation. Naturally, it is important to have an accurate process in place to handle group reservations, ensure secure payments and negotiate cancellation deadlines.

Due to improper group bookings management, many hotels are failing to use other revenue sources and channels to the maximum potential. These days, software tools can also be used for revenue evaluation from group reservations and assist with the pricing of group bookings.

  1. Opening all booking dates without evaluation of revenue management

Hotel revenue management involves optimization as well as an understanding how the forces of demand and supply work. In this case, a common mistake that hotels make is to open all booking dates without proper analysis of peak / off-peak or festive dates. This mistake might lead to quick selling out of peak dates that are most attractive. Owners might lose the opportunity of optimizing revenues for the most profitable times of the year during peak seasons.

For hotels that mainly earn during peak seasons and experience low room occupancies during the off-seasons, it is important to be especially careful about this aspect.

  1. Lack of structured price list extension approach

A lot of travellers prefer to plan their holidays in advance and make advance bookings for hotels. Naturally, it is important for hotels to put a pricing strategy in place as well as have an organized price list extension approach. If travellers are given an option of booking their hotel rooms only for the following two to three months, the opportunity to earn revenue for future dates can be lost in the process. In every OTA that hotels work with, it is important to have room and rate availability at least for the next 365 days.

  1. Not having effective tech synchronization in place

These days, more than ever before, it is important to have the right kind of software solutions in place. Without the use of an omnichannel distribution strategy and new technologies, it is impossible to maximize your hotel’s revenue potential. All the technology systems that you use in your property needs to be synchronized and connected so that you get integrated data for monitoring and action planning.

  1. Manual data overwriting in OTAs

With a software solution that is synchronized accurately and through making investments in the right technology systems, various reception duties can be automated. It can result in a lot of time and resource-saving for hotels as well as ensure a more efficient hotel reservation management process. Once all the channels have been connected to a hotel channel manager, manually overwriting data in OTAs should be avoided.