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How Metasearch is relevant

 

Metasearch helps travelers compare hotel rates from various online travel agencies and other booking sites in one place. In metasearch sites, hotels and online travel channels publish their rates and availabilities.

Travelers today are more information savvy than ever and researches their travel meticulously. Their planning, especially for hotel booking, begins at OTAs and metasearch.  Spending a few minutes updating profile on Meta sites can increase bookings and can generate more revenue for hoteliers.

 Meta Search Allows for Direct Bookings

Two of the largest OTAs, Booking.com and Expedia’s online advertisement spent more than that of all hotel brands combined. While traditionally, hotels spend around 8% of their budget on marketing, for OTAs, it is over 50%. Getting attention of travelers on the complex world of online, where PPC rules, has become increasingly challenging for hoteliers. It is here, metasearch comes into play.

Metasearch sites allow for visitors to book either through OTAs or through the brand website. Working on the CPC model, the rates are displayed with emphasis given to highest bidders. Hotels pay when someone clicks on the link. Metaseach sites like TripAdvisor and Google also, in addition, offer the CPA model where hotels pay the channels a commission whenever a traveler books from their brand website.

Metasearch is still holding strong

In recent time, Booking.Com and Expedia has substantially cut down their metasearch ad spent. While this move led to some debates over the viability of metasearch, in my opinion, this gives hotels a unique advantage to drive more direct bookings. MReports show that meta search statistics are up by 13 percent in recent years and are continuing to grow.

In utilizing meta search channels, hotels can remain modern and relevant, and can widen and diversify their audience.

Comparison Features can be Beneficial

A popular feature of meta search channels is the availability to compare select hotels against each other – something that OTAs typically does not offer.

Believe it or not, comparison isn’t solely based upon price. For example, it has been found that an estimated 71 percent of users look to basic information, while 67 percent of users compare photographs. Comparison may seem daunting, but it’s actually a good chance to show off.

Upgrading to two-way connectivity can help you improve your channel content, by making it quicker and easier to update multiple channels with up-to-date information regarding the establishment.

With meta search considered to be one of the biggest marketing techniques of the year, there has never been a better time to add these channels to your distribution portfolio. Make sure you choose to work with digital marketing specialists with relevant channel connections to get it right the first time.

Connect to metasearch channels like Google, TripAdvisor, Trivago, HotelsCombined, Skyscanner & Escapio. Manage them via RateTiger. Improve your direct hotelrevenue!

Book a demo today – https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

 

 

 

 

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The Week, That Was – September 2018 Week 3

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on!! Luxury serviced apartment in Manila recommends RateTiger for streamlining online distribution Upscale serviced apartments in the Philippines, Makati Diamond Residences, has improved online sales with efficient rate and availability distribution through RateTiger. The property offering 410 apartments has been using RateTiger Channel Manager and Shopper to manage online sales channels in real-time. https://www.erevmax.com/ratetiger-news/ratetiger-news-archive/sep2018-erevmax-luxury-serviced-apartment-manila-ratetiger-onlinedistribution.html Hoteliers see independents as ‘long-standing’ trend Despite major brands adapting and adopting what independent hotels are doing, investors are still looking for true unique and independent properties in the short and long term. http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/290479/Hoteliers-see-independents-as-long-standing-trend TripAdvisor plots social network, goes all-in on personalization At a press event in New York yesterday, TripAdvisor co-founder and CEO Steve Kaufer unveiled “the new TripAdvisor” – a revamp of the platform that allows users to connect with fellow travelers as well as brands, publishers and influencers to share content and receive personalized recommendations. https://www.phocuswire.com/TripAdvisor-plots-social-network Expedia data shows hotel preferences of Chinese travelers Chinese travelers are broadening their accommodation choices, with an impressive 55 percent staying at independent hotels with local flavor, versus 49 percent at international chains. Download the full report: http://www.citmhotels.com/index.html TripAdvisor evolution could benefit travel agents The reviews giant, which has 456 million global users, this week revealed details of the next evolution of its website, which will allow users to follow travel brands and influencers they trust. It will fully launch later this year. The new site is being tested with 500 travel ‘partners’, who will be able to add their expertise to the 661 million traveller reviews. http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/311959/tripadvisor-evolution-could-benefit-agent-experts Why suppliers need distribution mapping Information is the key to success, and in B2B, it can be difficult for suppliers to access the information they need to control and improve inventory sales. With distribution mapping, you can see whether or not your inventory is mapped and made available to the customer by the distributor. If you’re a hotel supplier, your revenue is dependent on your distributors’ sales. If they don’t sell your inventory, you don’t make money. https://medium.com/gimmonix-blog/why-suppliers-need-distribution-mapping-919e222a1707

Connect with us for your connectivity needs to make the most of online revenue. https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ Thanks and have a good day!

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The Week, That Was – September 2018 Week 1

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on!!

eRevMax completes integration with IDS Next PMS

Hotel connectivity expert eRevMax has completed integration with leading hospitality technology solution provider IDS Next.Mutual hotel customers can now get the benefit of automatic distribution of availability and rate to third party online booking sites whenever they are updated in the property management system and receive reservations from OTAs.

http://bit.do/ewp76

How hoteliers are setting their tech budgets for 2019

Hotel companies are preparing their annual budgets for 2019, and technology is an important investment as guests expect more and more out of their stays.

http://bit.do/ewp8h

How travel agents are working differently with technology

In an article on Phocuswire in March 2018, Trisept Solutions’ president and CEO John Ische positions the relationship between agents and technology as the ability to create what he termed “genuine intelligence” about a traveler.

https://www.phocuswire.com/Travel-advisors-technology-changes

Airbnb for Work expands beyond travel

Team-building, relocations and off-site meetings are part of the new strategic direction for Airbnb For Work as it looks to capitalise on its “exponential growth” in providing accommodation to business travellers. A few weeks ago it announced that some 700,000 companies have had employees sign up and book with Airbnb for Work, with more than 275,000 enterprises directly engaged with Airbnb to help manage their travel.

https://www.tnooz.com/article/airbnb-for-work-expands-beyond-travel/

Why Middle East travel deserves a closer look!

Travel spend by travellers from just some of the countries, the six who make up the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – is likely, says Statista, to grow from $64 billion three years ago, to $94 billion by 2020. In 2025 the sum could reach $140 billion, it adds. The GCC is assessed by the World Tourism Organisation as accounting for well over 60% of the region’s outbound market.

http://bit.do/ewp8K

China’s Big 5 hotel platforms have 96% of the market

Analysis of China’s online hotel booking market in the second quarter of the year shows that almost the entire market is controlled by five businesses. Trustdata, a mobile internet big data monitoring company in China, found that Ctrip, Meituan, Qunar, Tongcheng-eLong and Fliggy accounted for 96.4% of online hotel bookings in the second quarter. The big five were also the fast-growing platforms for the quarter, suggesting that their dominance is getting stronger.

https://www.tnooz.com/article/chinas-big-5-hotel-platforms-have-96-of-the-market/

Connect with us for your connectivity needs to make the most of online revenue. https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

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The Week, That Was – August 2018 Week 5

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on!!

Luxury boutique hotel in Philippines has experienced 5% growth in just 3 months with RateTiger.

Bayleaf Intramuros, an upmarket boutique hotel in Philippines has improved in online sales with efficient rate and availability distribution through RateTiger.

https://erevmax.com/blog/index.php/2018/08/luxury-boutique-hotel-in-philippines-improves-online-sales-with-ratetiger/

Miki Travel invests in online booking systems for groups

Miki Travel recently invested in two online booking systems to facilitate ease of doing business and enhance confirmation speed.

http://www.ttgasia.com/2018/08/30/miki-travel-invests-in-online-booking-systems-for-groups/

Why Channel management is fundamental to hoteliers?

Today consumers are influencing room rates more than anytime in history. The internet – with multiple price comparison websites and booking channels – provides a choice. The more savvy consumers get, the more likely rates will continue to fall. However if hoteliers take control of their presence and rates online, revenue managers can make more accurate forecasts to identify occupancy and rate levels to ensure sales are on target.

https://erevmax.com/blog/index.php/2018/08/channel-management-is-fundamental-to-hoteliers-2/

Distribution dilemmas, beastly rate parity and Google ‘the travel company

“Google is very much a travel company. They have a platform that provides access to prices, products and reputation related information for travel components, creating immense value for the traveller. At the same time, their search engine and metasearch platforms are an integral and unavoidable part of the traveller’s booking journey from the dreaming to the booking phase. And they are able to capture the subsequent value from these customer phases.”

https://www.eyefortravel.com/distribution-strategies/distribution-dilemmas-beastly-rate-parity-and-google-travel-company

 What hoteliers should know about guest acquisition!

How people travel has as much to do with who they are as where they are going, Lorraine Sileo, SVP of research and business operations at Phocuswright, said during a session at the recent Hotel Data Conference.

Research shows one of the biggest differentiators in how people choose where they research their travel products is age, she said during her presentation, “Hotel path to purchase: The complexity behind consumer choice.”

http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/289088/What-hoteliers-should-know-about-guest-acquisition

 Connect with us for your connectivity needs to make the most of online revenue.
https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

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The Week, That Was – August 2018 Week 1

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on!!

Online Travel in LATAM

Do you know the most productive online travel channels in LATAM? Improve your online revenue by selling on the right channels with RateTiger.

Read further to know more –  https://erevmax.com/blog/?p=539

Abasto Hotel experiences 65% revenue growth with RateTiger Channel Manager

Abasto Hotel Buenos Aires, a property in Argentinian capital, has improved its online sales by over 80% leveraging eRevMax‘s gold standard of connectivity with leading OTAs.

Are you looking to expand your hotel channel connectivity?  https://erevmax.com/blog/?p=542

Online accounts for 80% of under-30s travel bookings, OTAs dominate (for now)

The New Horizons IV report found more than 80% of bookings were made online by under-30s in 2017, with an increasing number of bookings being made on mobile devices and through social media channels.

https://www.tnooz.com/article/youth/

What Are Bumper Ads And Why Does Your Hotel Need Them?

Bumper ads are the 6 second video formats that are saving the longest 30 seconds of any consumers time. However, it is not just consumers that should be praising them to the skies. They can provide your hotel with countless benefits, including high impact brand building.

https://blog.netaffinity.com/what-are-bumper-ads-and-why-does-your-hotel-need-them/

What hotels need to know about evolving metasearch distribution trends

Metasearch engines (MSEs) hold the promise of helping hotels increase their share of direct bookings. For any hotel or chain to pursue a direct booking strategy, the MSE channel needs careful planning and consideration.

https://www.phocuswire.com/Fornova-global-metasearch-trends

Connect with us for your connectivity needs to make the most of online revenue.
https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

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Abasto Hotel experiences 65% revenue growth with RateTiger Channel Manager

Abasto Hotel Buenos Aires,  a  property in Argentinian capital, has improved its online sales by over 80% leveraging eRevMax‘s gold standard of connectivity with leading OTAs. The Buenos Aires based property has been using RateTiger  Channel Manager  for online distribution and managing rates and inventory across its connected OTAs since 2012.

A family-friendly property with 126 rooms, Abasto Hotel is located in the historical district, just steps from Museo de los Ninos and Abasto Shopping Center and caters to upmarket business and leisure travellers. RateTiger’s seamless connectivity with global and regional OTAs as well as metasearch sites allows Abasto Hotel to be visible in all relevant sales channels for maximum exposure.

“In the past 4-5 years, we have seen our online revenue grow 65% with an 80% increase in OTA sales. We have experienced an overall growth in business and our occupancy have gone up despite the macro-economic factors,” said Silvina Donvito, Revenue Manager at Abasto Hotel Buenos Aires.

“RateTiger is more than just a hotel channel manager. It’s a powerful tool that makes connectivity simple and hassle free. The stable and secure connections help in making immediate rate and inventory updates across all channels while also delivering bookings back into the system. Further, the 24×7 support makes it very convenient as we can go to them whenever with the smallest of query and they are always happy to help,” concluded Silvina.

The Argentinian hotel market is characterized by regional operators that have a strong position. With supply of rooms outpacing demand, online channels have emerged as an important revenue source for hoteliers. Abasto Hotel, with 15 OTAs in its distribution mix, has been able to improve its occupancy to 85%, about 20 points more than the industry average in Buenos Aires. This has resulted in an increase in RevPAR and profitability, with the help of RateTiger Channel Manager.

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Online Travel in LATAM

For all its exotic beaches, historic sites, beautiful landscapes and rich culture, Latin America has always remained a distant fourth when it comes to travel and tourism. However, in the last decade, things have changed considerably fueled by better flight connectivity, macro-economic factors and internet penetration. This has led to a drastic a change in Latin American travel industry outlook. With consumers more informed than ever, travel bookings have shifted online as the buying behavior has changed to customized offerings.

Online travel penetration is growing at an average of 10%, higher than the global average and about 4 times more than the pace of the total market. The growth in online travel is driven by Brazil and Mexico, representing over 70% of Latin American total and online travel markets, followed by Argentina, Chile, Columbia and Peru.

In spite of diverse market character, currencies, languages, economic and political environments, Latin America remains a huge potential for online travel agencies and technology providers. According to reports, the online market is only utilizing 34% of its potential, way lower than North America, Europe or Asia. About 20% of travel is booked online, which experts project will grow close to 40% over next 10 years.  Increasing access to smartphones also drove mobile engagement, with the channel now accounting for 15% of online bookings. Clearly the market is up for grabs, and global and regional players are eying their share of this pie.

In this post, we explore the major players in the online travel space in Latin America.

Despegar / Decolar

Some call it union, some call it leader – Despegar, one of the oldest OTAs in the region holds the numero uno spot. Operating two well-recognized brands, Despegar, its global brand, and Decolar, its Brazilian brand, the company serves in 20 Latin American countries, and provides a broad suite of travel products, to over 17 million customers. Through its exclusive partnership, Despegar uses Expedia’s hotel inventory outside the continent.

Hotel Urbano

Hotel Urbano is the number one online travel agency in Brazil, and one the biggest travel media brand on social media with over 12 million likes. The website has largely been credited for bringing the fragmented Brazil independent hotel industry (85% of the overall market) online. Hotel Urbano has remained the fifth most popular brand in Brazil (behind only Coca Cola, Skol, Brahma and L’Oreal — Skol & Brahma are famous beers) and the biggest online brand. In terms of traffic, it is the biggest website in Latin America, getting over 25 million unique visitors every month. Following its agreement with Priceline Group, the channel exclusively uses Booking.com to source hotels outside of LATAM.

CVC

CVC is the best-known brand in the Brazilian leisure travel industry and one of the most recognized brands in Brazil. Having started as a brick and mortar travel agency, it has for long been the largest tour operator in Latin America in terms of bookings made. The company still has the maximum retail outlets, along with two rapidly growing online distribution platforms – CVC.com.br and submarinoviagens.com.br attracting over 100 million unique monthly visitors.

ViajaNet

Targeted more at budget travelers, Brazil based ViajaNet has grown impressively in the last few years. The site which has over 100,000 hotels listed, attracts over 5 million unique visitors every month.

BestDay

Cancun based BestDay.com is the most popular OTA in Mexico offering 150,000 hotels. It is one of the leading Latin American travel industry companies with a strong focus in business-to-business distribution. The company owns HotelDO, the Latin American (LATAM) regional leader in online and XML distribution for business to business (B2B) channels, supplying travel products for both the wholesale segment and retail segments. The company contracts, maintains and promotes a regional online portfolio of 100,000 hotels across 850 popular destinations in 30 countries.

If you are looking to expand your hotel’s visibility in LATAM, RateTiger can help suggest the right channels for your property. Drive more bookings and increase online sales today. See our connectivity partner list, know more about channel management, online distribution and rate shopping solutions, contact us today on marketing@erevmax.com.

 

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The Week, That Was – July 2018 Week 4

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on!!

Hotel GDS Description – how to get it right?

The GDS still is, and will most likely remain, a noteworthy channel for ARI distribution and reservations for hotels. Both recreation and corporate travel operators utilize it to search and book hotels. Numerous OTA sites likewise utilize the GDS for room stock. Hence, it is critical that your hotel is available on GDS.

https://erevmax.com/blog/?p=531

Expedia: The travel trends of Latin American consumers

Most Latin American travelers are more likely to spend their travel budgets on domestic trips, according to a study from Expedia Group Media Solutions.

More than 50 percent of Latin American travelers use online travel agencies (OTAs) during the trip planning process, ahead of airline, hotel or destination websites. Forty-nine percent of travelers book their trip on an OTA – the strongest conversion from planning to booking among Latin American travelers. More than half use their smartphone when looking for travel inspiration and more than one-third conduct travel research on their mobile device. Unsurprisingly, mobile usage spikes in-trip, when more than 75 percent of Latin American travelers utilize their smartphone.

http://hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/287311/Expedia-The-travel-trends-of-Latin-American-consumers

Open pricing: A new strategy for maximising hotel revenue

Open Pricing is changing the way that hoteliers set hotel room rates. For properties from large to small, it has the potential to increase revenue and forever change hotel revenue management practices. So, how does it work? Is it a good fit for you? If you wanted to try it, where would you start?

Read on to find out more- https://suite.booking.com/blog/hotel-revenue-management-pricing-strategy-basics/

How independent hotels extend peak seasons

Independent hotels around the U.S. are boosting business outside of peak season through special events and promotions. Whether it’s a hotel that’s open year-round or one that’s only open a few months during the year, hoteliers and sales-and-marketing experts at independent hotels have found ways to bring in business beyond their peak season.

http://hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/287492/How-independent-hotels-extend-peak-seasons

What does the future hold for hotel booking websites?

The hospitality industry is regularly changing and hotel booking websites are no exception. Observing the current changes in the OTA market can give us a clue on what will it look like in the future.

https://insights.ehotelier.com/insights/2018/07/27/what-does-the-future-hold-for-hotel-booking-websites/

Google on why consumers like to know more before they travel

Google, which derived the insight by analyzing search trends as well as speaking to consumers, says that building anticipation, boosting confidence around traveling to somewhere new and stretching budgets are the primary drivers for consumers wanting to know more before they go.

https://goo.gl/ukWC8y

Connect with us for your connectivity needs to make the most of online revenue.
https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

 

 

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Hotel GDS Description – how to get it right?

The GDS still is, and will most likely remain, a noteworthy channel for ARI distribution and reservations for hotels. Both recreation and corporate travel operators utilize it to search and book hotels. Numerous OTA sites likewise utilize the GDS for room stock. Hence, it is critical that your hotel is available on GDS.

We have put together a few tips and tricks on how hotels are getting the most out of their GDS channels through descriptive content. The Hotel GDS Description (HOD) goes about as your hotel’s electronic leaflet. It is conceivably your brand brochure for tour operators and travel agents to access and get all the pertinent details with your property description, hotel amenities and data about neighborhood attractions etc. Here are the top GDS HOD Tips:

  1. General hotel description – Try to keep your hotel description very targeted – put the hotel USPs and try to provide key differentiators and why a guest must chose your hotel over competitor’s.
  2. Facilities and Services – List out all your amenities and services – provide restaurant details, timings, cuisine along with details of in-house services like salon, spa, gym, pool etc. Also, drop in a line about safety and security as these tend to be a key concern today.
  3. Area Information: Mention any specific locational advantage you might have. Or else list out the nearby attractions to draw interest. Whether your hotel is downtown or near the airport, remember to put your Geo code for correct location identification.
  4. Property Address – Make sure you put your hotel’s full address and zip code correctly. Sabre uses the official street address to geocode the property. If you don’t have a street number, use 1, to ensure better visibility and bookability.
  5. Driving Directions – Provide details on the easiest way to reach your property, whether it is from the airport, train or bus stations or from downtown. Also, provide a phone number in case a guest is stuck and wants to connect to the hotel.
  6. Room Type Name – GDS’s provide 30 characters to cover this, so be creative. But remember to make sure that it’s easy to understand the room type by the name you provide to it.
  7. Room Type Description – Try to use this section to attract your guests with room details and inclusions like in-room coffee machine, free wi-fi, luxury bathing products, etc. The description should also adhere to the kind of property it is – luxury, corporate, budget etc.
  8. Presentation – It is best to keep the description language crisp and fluid. Travel agents prefer short sentences or bulleted description. It helps to capture relevant points while covering all the necessary information.
  9. Nearby Attractions – Include details about attractions in the area, timings, distance and directions to the place. This makes your hotel more appealing and train your concierge or front office staff to have details about shows /tickets at these attractions.

Keep your Hotel GDS Description up to date. Whenever you introduce a new service or roomtype or if there are new attractions nearby, remember to update your hotel description. Always provide correct information and present in a nice and concise manner. Always keep your USPs on the top to catch the attention of the travel agents.

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Indian budget hotel endorses RateTiger Channel Manager for online distribution

Kolkata based IndiSmart Hotel has endorsed RateTiger for simplifying online distribution. The property has been using eRevMax’s cloud-based Channel Manager and Shopper for managing their online sales channels and has improved their business operational efficiency.

IndiSmart is a budget hotel with 76 rooms, conveniently located in the IT hub of Kolkata, India. The property caters to business travellers and hence the booking window is lesser than the usual duration with 48-72 hours. Given most bookings are coming from online, it’s important for the hotel to have real-time rate and availability on OTAs.

“We have been able to bring all OTA channels under one window for all possible modifications like rate and inventory. The option of changing rates and inventory at any point of time on a single click has really made online distribution really simple. Rate shopping also helps us to analyse the market condition, to understand our stand and projection,” said Jayanta Bhattacherjee, Front Office Manager, Indismart Hotel.

Prior to RateTiger, the hotel has tried other solutions. However, the result was far from satisfactory.

“The main issue was rate disparity and manifold changes in the extranets manually were really cumbersome. We can handle the OTAs easily and in a better way now with RateTiger. The support team is very good as well,” concluded Mr. Bhattacherjee.