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Rebuilding Hospitality for the New World

The travel and hospitality industry globally has faced unprecedented impact due to the coronavirus pandemic which has adversely affected hotel revenue, occupancy and ADR.  Hotel industry is going to see many changes after Covid 19. Now it’s time for hoteliers to work on various strategies, how the industry can move towards profitability.

Few significant steps, hoteliers can take for their staff and guests:

Contactless technology – Adoption of smart technology such as face recognition and digital key

Strict Cleaning Protocols– Self-cleaning rooms, deep sanitization routine, providing masks and sanitizers to all guests

Intelligent Benchmarking – Real-time pricing intelligence to properly capitalize on demand

Focus on Profit –  Hoteliers now need to focus on their operational health. During this slowdown it is easy to see how RevPar are actually are. As now cash flow is less, it is important for hoteliers to know the money flowing in bottom line. So it’s time to use complete metrics like gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR), to benchmark performance like how your hotel really makes and how much money you’re putting into operation.

Integrated System – Integrated revenue management, distribution and reservation system

Focus On Domestic – Staycations, drive-ins and domestic travel is the new hot. Soft sell offerings like welcoming pets, live music,  small meeting spaces, private rooms, suites, or private sauna/spa facilities to attract local travelers.

Knowing your new source markets in the post COVID world – Monitor the travel advisory to identify source markets hoteliers can tap as soon as recovery begins.

Create Long Stay Package – Short international trips to be replaced with longer in-country stays, since the increase in remote working allows more people to work from anywhere.

Shortened Booking Window – As the booking window gets shortened, hotels need to attract early bookers with more incentives and flexibilities.

Healthy Distribution Mix – Spread your inventory across multiple channels to capitalize on different demand sources – focus on regional OTAs and Metasearch sites along with brand website and offline source.

Along with these hoteliers need to analyse the data and be prepared to reallocate their budget and find creative ways to serve the needs of their local customers and communities.

Hotels should target the right OTAs and need to do strong planning to acquire guests.  Relying on only one channel can be much more challenging to bounce back than the ones that have a healthy distribution mix, including direct solutions like metasearch and website as well as indirect solutions like Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).

Considered one of the best hotel channel manager in the market, RateTiger is integrated with more than 400 OTAs and working closely with 9000 hotels globally. It is the connectivity partner of choice for large hotel groups, mid-scale chains as well as independent properties in both luxury and budget segment worldwide providing solutions through its core product brands – RateTiger , LiveOS and AgentX101 . Here is a list of partners we connect to – https://www.erevmax.com/erevmax/erevmax-partners-details.html

We would like to be of assistance to suggest new ways & means of increasing online & offline business for your property. Let’s work together to rebuild travel and help each other earn more business. Connect with us for your connectivity needs to make the most of hotel online revenue- https://www.erevmax.com/erevmax-contact.htmls

 

 

 

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The Week, That Was – June 2020 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 recovery can only go so far without group bookings

Group business and convention travel do more than contribute to a hotel’s occupancy and revenue per room figures. These types of bookings also fuel profitability in an array of revenue streams and amenities at a property.

https://news.yahoo.com/convention-plateau-hotel-recovery-only-120035108.html

UK’s hotels and restaurants will reopen on July 4

Hotels, holiday apartments, caravan parks and campsites will be allowed to operate, as long as shared facilities are kept clean.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/23/travel-news-air-bridges-uk-quarantine-portugal-spain-greece/

Inviting hoteliers to share their opinions for Hotel Sentiment Survey

The travel and hospitality industry globally have faced unprecedented impact due to the coronavirus pandemic which has adversely affected hotel revenue, occupancy and ADR. eRevMax is conducting a short survey to understand the challenges you and your business are facing. The survey results will be published and made available to all participants, and will provide a reflection of the hotel sentiment and an understanding of where we are moving as an industry. Share your valuable inputs through this 2-min survey –

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hotelsentimentsurvey2020

Knowing your hotel channel manager in the post COVID world

With the easing of lockdown in many parts of the world, travel and hospitality businesses are starting to open up. As more people start to venture out, hotels need to be ready to attract these travelers. As per recent reports, travel related online searches are picking up. With the shortening of booking windows and increase in domestic short haul holiday bookings, hoteliers need to have their distribution strategies in place. The need of the hour is to connect to the right channels and manage them effectively.

Find out how your channel manager and connectivity provider plays a key role in current circumstances – https://lnkd.in/dBdn7vT

Pricing tactics vary by sector as consumers return to travel

As the travel industry slowly and erratically reopens, some airlines and hotels, as expected, have begun slashing rates to lure travelers back to their struggling businesses.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Tour-Operators/Pricing-tactics-vary-by-sector-as-consumers-return-to-travel

 Trip.com joins Google to launch Travel Trends Report.

The report provides a detailed snapshot of how consumers are responding to the evolving dynamics within the travel industry, as well as the expected trends for travel over the coming months.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tripcom-group-joins-google-to-launch-travel-trends-report-301081707.html

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

Thanks and have a good day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Week, That Was – June 2020 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!!

Moving the distribution landscape beyond ‘hotel room only distribution.

Total distribution will allow hospitality brands to enhance the full guest journey, while providing more unique and customized experiences for their first-time and repeat visitors, and in turn, capture brand loyalty to improve their bottom line.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4099189.html

The future of hotel design after coronavirus, according to hospitality architects.

Hotel designers are reworking existing projects and starting new ones with a focus on social distancing and contact-free systems. Expect fundamental changes to hotels’ meeting spaces, lobbies, guest rooms, and food and beverage options.

https://www.businessinsider.com/future-of-hotel-design-after-coronavirus-hospitality-architects-2020-6?international=true&r=US&IR=T

Analysis by McKinsey and trivago: Corona is changing German travel habits

New data by hotel price comparison site trivago shows that Germans are avoiding long-distance trips this year.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/06/16/2048493/0/en/Analysis-by-McKinsey-and-trivago-Corona-is-changing-German-travel-habits.html

Travel corridors offer path to Europe’s rebound

Confidence in a recovery is growing among European hoteliers due to lockdowns being lifted and travel corridors being established between member nations and even some non-European destinations.

https://hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/303131/Travel-corridors-offer-path-to-Europes-rebound

Google: Travel-related searches are slowly increasing again.

Using Google search data, a Joint Research Centre team has created a set of indicators to analyze how the worries of EU citizens change as the coronavirus pandemic evolves.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-06-google-insights-eu-citizens-coronavirus.html

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

Thanks and have a good day!

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The Week, That Was – March 2020 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!!

Webinar: Path to Recovery for Travel Businesses – United We Can

The ultimate extent and duration of the COVID19 outbreak is still unknown – what steps can we as travel businesses be taking to weather the storm? HospitalityUnited.Club invites industry leaders to join us for a Webinar to discuss best practices and new strategies to help your business stay buoyant and come out stronger with a defined path to recovery.

REGISTER NOW: https://lnkd.in/fPucm5J

The coronavirus crisis is making travel cheaper

Fifty-five percent of American travelers have canceled upcoming travel plans, primarily through May. Travel deals are emerging amid the chaos of the global coronavirus outbreak. Many people are probably wondering if now is the right time to buy, whether for an out-of-town jaunt or a big summer vacation.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/17/heres-why-you-should-resist-the-urge-to-grab-cheap-travel-deals.html

UK: Empty hotels will be turned into makeshift hospitals

BRITAIN’s empty hotels will be turned into makeshift hospitals and operating theatres will be transformed into wards to help the NHS cope with the coronavirus.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11177679/coronavirus-britains-empty-hotels-will-be-turned-into-makeshift-hospitals-to-help-nhs-cope/

Travel industry slashes ad spending in half amid coronavirus

Marketers need to be prepared for the possibility that demand for travel-related services might snap back as the traditionally busy summer travel season gets under way from mid-June through August.

https://www.marketingdive.com/news/travel-industry-slashes-ad-spending-in-half-amid-coronavirus/574257/

OTAs overwhelmed by Coronavirus cancellations

The entire travel industry is struggling to keep up with a wave of cancellations related to coronavirus. But OTAs are hit especially hard. As hotels tell their customers they can’t help process cancellations, sending them right back to the OTA they booked with, both Expedia’s and Booking.com’s customer service is nearly impossible to reach.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/third-party-booking-sites-coronavirus/index.html

Sojern: Insights on COVID-19 travel impact

With more than 127,000 infected as of March 12th, COVID-19 is having and will continue to have a significant impact on many industries. The travel industry is no exception, and in fact, maybe the hardest hit as hotel bookings drop and airline ticket sales take a plunge.

Download Sojern’s latest COVID-19 travel insights – https://www.sojern.com/blog/covid-19-insights-on-travel-impact/

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

Thanks and have a good day!

 

 

 

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The Week, That Was – January 2020 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!!

Infographic – Hotel Revenue Management Trends 2020

Revenue managers are now leveraging artificial intelligence to make smart pricing decisions. Check out our latest Hotel Revenue Management Infographic – discover key trends that can help shape hotel revenue strategies in 2020 – https://lnkd.in/fhS3E-R

4 tips for better hotel sales and marketing

The world of hospitality sales and marketing is always evolving, and selling to customers requires a good PR message, collaboration among teams and creating loyalty experiences for high-tier members. During three different sessions at the 2020 HSMAI Marketing Strategy Conference, speakers gave their advice on how to succeed in different disciplines in the sales-and-marketing space.

http://hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/299960/4-tips-for-better-hotel-sales-and-marketing

Booking.com launches global rating system for non-hotel accommodation

Booking.com has developed what it claims to be the world’s first rating system for alternative non-hotel accommodation. The world-leading booking platform says it wants to see the classification system become globally accepted, like star ratings for hotels.

https://www.travolution.com/articles/113822/bookingcom-launches-global-rating-system-for-non-hotel-accommodation

Get ready for an even stronger Google in 2020

Brands need to monitor and respond to reviews to improve their online experience because customers will vote with their search behavior. And Google continues to influence search behavior.Here’s what happening in the coming year:

https://searchengineland.com/get-ready-for-an-even-stronger-google-in-2020-327941

2020 Airbnb Update

Airbnb is powered by our community. As co-founder, CEO and Head of Community Brian Chesky has said, we are committed to serving all stakeholders in the Airbnb community. Indeed, we believe that our success depends on a series of shared commitments that balance the interests of our stakeholders.

https://news.airbnb.com/2020-update/

 KAYAK Launches “Trip Builder”, Making it Easier to Plan Multi-City Travel

KAYAK, the world’s leading travel search engine, is testing a new product feature that makes planning your next multi-city trip even easier. A helpful tool designed for anyone traveling to more than one destination, the new feature calculates the cheapest routes between multiple cities for the biggest savings.

https://bit.ly/2RELmPq

Consumer Report: Nearly Half Of Travelers Book Through 3rd Parties

As consumer demands for personalized service and competition for consumers’ attention continue to increase, travel and hospitality brands are challenged to stay ahead. To help marketers succeed, Yes Marketing surveyed more than 1,000 travelers on their priorities as they progress along their journey with travel and hospitality companies, from the first time they hear about a brand, to becoming a loyal customer.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4096603.html

THE HOTEL INDUSTRY HAS EVOLVED, BUT HAS YOUR TOOLKIT?

Gone are the days when RevPAR and occupancy was enough. Today’s growth and profitability are driven by channel mix, customer acquisition costs, consumer review scores, length of stay trends, loyalty programs, and leveraging the booking curve.

https://bit.ly/2RNqK7M

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

Thanks and have a good day!

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What are the Best Practices for Creating a Google Hotel Ads Campaign?

Google Hotel Ads has emerged as an important channel for hoteliers to improve online exposure of their properties. In this blog, we list out some of the best practices that are involved with the creation of a Google hotel ads campaign.

What are the Best Practices for Creating a Google Hotel Ads Campaign

About 4.5 billion searches are made on Google every day, making it essential for every business to have presence on the platform. Over the last few years, Google Hotel Ads has emerged as the most popular platform in the metasearch space.  Which for years have been dominated by the OTAs. GHA which aggregates your hotel rates from participating OTAs and brand website and displays your hotel rates and availability on Google, across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices? Find out about some of the best practices for the creation of a Google hotel ads campaign.

Familiarize yourself with the interface

In order to be successful with Google hotel ads, it is essential to be familiar with the interface and know what goes into it. The sign-up process is quite similar to Google PPC campaign. Hotels need to create a Google Hotel Center account to send and manage hotel rates and availability across Google. The interface is user-friendly, effective and efficient. Once you have listed your property, connect your prices and availability to your ads by linking your Hotel Center account to a Google Ads account and start advertising.

Use data to your benefit

Data that is recorded by Google systems lets you pinpoint those things that are/are not working. Reports every week are offered in detail, and how your campaign is proceeding in each device. Make use of opportunity reports every week to detect missed opportunities. Know about the areas that you might have improved on, and prepare better for bid optimization in the following round.

With conversion tracking, you can exactly find out what happens when anyone visits your site. You can get information on cost per acquisition, how long a person stays in the accommodation and whether or not they booked a room. The use of this information and other performance metrics for the adjustment of Google hotel ads booking campaign strategies can help you to derive the best from your experience of Google Hotel Ads.

Group hotels and manage bids better

In case you are operating bids for more than one hotel property, group the properties together. This can let you manage the same in a more efficient way and optimize returns on investment. The principles happen to be the same for each hotel property that is part of the group. When you structure bids, you have to remember that.

Optimize your ads

For optimizing your ad spends, Google recommends hotels to provide entire inventory to Hotel Ads along with room and package Meta data. The details comprise of data about occupancy levels and rooms, and all the updated prices and active bids can ensure accuracy of prices. The ads which notch up the best numbers are generally those that offer the most information. Optimized ad can help hotels to have much better business and increase the bottom line.

Google Hotel Ads campaigns can provide future travelers with the chance to reserve a hotel room at many important hotels all through their research. Wherever a user makes decisions related to travel, hotel ads are surfaced by Google to assist them in the assessment of booking options and pricing available to them.

Find Hotel channel manager and Online Distribution.

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The Week, That Was – January 2020 Week 2

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!!

Is your PMS enough for distribution?

With inter-connectivity being one of the key focus for 2020, hoteliers need to get the distribution basics right. Are you getting real-time reservation updates directly into your hotel system? Do you get a bird’s eye view of your inventory status at all times? Are you struggling with overbookings or manual entry errors? It’s time you connect your PMS to your channel manager for seamless updates.

https://www.erevmax.com/blog/index.php/2019/12/is-your-pms-enough-for-distribution/

Google now includes taxes and fees in hotel searches

Google launched features intended to make finding, comparing, and booking hotels less stressful. Starting this week, guests will be able to browse personalized search results and narrow down properties by neighborhood, and view hotel receipts that reflect the actual amount you can expect to pay for a given stay (including taxes and fees).

https://venturebeat.com/2020/01/08/google-now-includes-taxes-and-fees-in-hotel-searches/

Four key trends the hotel industry can’t ignore during 2020

Now that we’re all back at work, attention is turning to the year ahead. Dori Stein, CEO, Fornova shares his predictions for the main trends that will influence hotel chains’ success in 2020.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4096435.html

Hotel Technology Trends 2020

When adopting hotel technology, the hospitality industry is like an elephant. Interestingly it also favoured elephants in its partners as well. Same as the animal, hotels preferred to spend time with those the same as them.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4096402.html

Could subscription travel be the new way to holiday in 2020?

A new company promises insider knowledge and free hotel stays via its subscription concept.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/travel/a30440445/subscription-travel-trend/

Is Personalization in Hospitality Dead or Alive?

Personalization of the customer experience – from digital marketing and website experience, revenue management and pricing, CRM and loyalty marketing, and on-property guest experience – has become a buzzword at industry conferences, webinars and in the hospitality media. So… is personalization dead or alive in hotel digital marketing, website experience, revenue management, CRM and on-property guest experience?

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/panel/125000035.html

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

Thanks and have a good day!

 

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The Week, That Was – December 2019 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!!

Is your hotel channel manager doing what you expect of it?

Here are 5 questions that you have to ask about channel management software systems for hotels.

https://www.erevmax.com/blog/index.php/2019/12/5-questions-to-ask-about-channel-management-for-hotels/

Responsible and purposeful travel: the way forward

Technology and consumer preferences are constantly evolving and the threats to the environment and personal data are becoming ever more prevalent, according to Travel Weekly’s Insight Annual Report 2019-20.

https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/travel-weekly-insight-annual-report.html

Five trends shaping the future of customer experience in 2020

As we enter a new decade, customer experience is firmly positioned as a competitive advantage and something most companies are prioritizing. Instead of worrying about new technology, brands need to consider the psychological foundation. Before they even want to use the technology, customers need to feel acknowledged and understood.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2019/12/17/5-predictions-for-customer-experience-in-2020/#1314960e2ec7

Where Airbnb goes, hotels will follow

Luxury hotel brands are stepping into the homeshare arena to compete with Airbnb, and are now making strides in one of Airbnb’s most successful arenas: experiences. When Airbnb launched its Experiences program in 2016, it was a gamble, but one that seems to be paying off as it has resulted in seven times more bookings year-over-year since 2018.

https://www.gartner.com/en/marketing/insights/daily-insights/where-airbnb-goes-hotels-will-follow

Google wants to be your holiday tour guide

Getting dropped into a new city is disorienting, and all the more so when you need to ask for help but don’t know how to pronounce the name of the place you’re trying to get to. Google Maps now has a fix for this.

https://www.blog.google/products/maps/let-google-be-your-holiday-travel-tour-guide/

 How can travel brands remain human in a digital-first world

Travel brands are trying to figure out how to strike the right balance between digital touchpoints and in-person interactions.

https://skift.com/2019/12/16/how-can-travel-brands-remain-human-in-a-digital-first-world/

Is this the future of travel bookings?

With online travel agents, we’ve already seen the way the travel industry has changed. While travel purchases are currently made through online booking agents or directly with the hotels or airlines, it won’t be long before we see new and advanced options come into play.

https://www.iol.co.za/travel/sponsored/is-this-the-future-of-travel-bookings-38980837

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

Thanks and have a good day!

 

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The Week, That Was – December 2019 Week 2

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!!

Upscale hotel in Papua New Guinea selects RateTiger for online connectivity

Crown Hotel Port Moresby, an upscale property in Papua New Guinea has selected RateTiger, powered by LiveOS, for increasing their online revenue through optimal distribution. The hotel is using RateTiger’s Channel Manager to manage their rate and room inventory across online sales channels and GDS.

https://bit.ly/35ihcY5

Maldives Travel Trends

Regarded as the epitome of luxury tourism in South Asia, Maldives, with its over 1000 coral islands has emerged as a ‘premier’ brand. Tourism remains the largest economic industry in the country.

https://www.erevmax.com/blog/index.php/2019/12/maldives-travel-trends/

2019 Chinese Outbound Travel Report

Total spending from Chinese travelers covered 158 countries worldwide, and the report suggests that they are increasingly willing to go further afield for the best shopping experiences. Although Japan still topped the list of most-visited destinations, the rest of the top ten overseas shopping locations for Chinese travellers in 2019 dotted the globe.

https://www.moodiedavittreport.com/jing-daily-2019-chinese-outbound-travel-report-key-takeaways/

What is the impact of social media on travel?

Everybody wants to return home with an album full of aesthetic and ‘instagramable’ photos that show off their trip. In fact, 40% of UK Millennial travellers say that they consider how “instagramable” a location is when planning their travels, whether it will look good on their feed and get enough likes.

https://theboar.org/2019/12/what-is-the-impact-of-social-media-on-travel/

How Google is navigating today’s privacy environment

Laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), enacted over a year ago in Europe, and the CCPA, taking effect imminently, introduce new requirements for how businesses collect and use data.

https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-resources/data-measurement/google-user-privacy/

How to drive demand during a slow season

Just because a market enters its off-season, it doesn’t mean hoteliers in the area have to halt business. Here are three key ways your hotel can win during a slowdown and maintain a positive revenue stream.

http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/299192/How-to-drive-demand-during-a-slow-season

Younger travelers more likely to consult with travel advisors

Travelport Global Digital Traveler Research 2019, which mapped travel preferences according to age groups, turned a common assumption on its head, finding that younger travelers are more likely to consult with travel advisors and tour operators for assistance in booking.

https://skift.com/2019/12/10/who-loves-travel-advisors-the-most-its-millennials-not-boomers/

Brand.com, OTA bookings continue to grow

Brand.com year-to-date bookings are up +7.7% compared to the same period last year and are growing faster than OTA (+7.1%), according to new Kalibri Labs data.

https://www.hotelbusiness.com/report-brand-com-ota-bookings-continue-to-grow/

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

Thanks and have a good day!

 

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Maldives Travel Trends

Regarded as the epitome of luxury tourism in South Asia, Maldives, with its over 1000 coral islands has emerged as a ‘premier’ brand. Tourism remains the largest economic industry in the country.

To keep up with the tourism demand, which is expected to cross 1.5 million in 2019, the Government has been undergoing renovation of its key airport and actively encouraging new luxury resorts. International brands like Waldorf Astoria, Pullman, Westin and Hard Rock Café have recently opened in the archipelago.

With over 135 resorts and 10 major hotels along with numerous guest houses, the occupancy rate in the country however has remained stagnant for the last few years. While China, Germany, the UK, Italy and India has consistently been the top five source market, in recent times Maldives has seen a surge in tourist arrivals from South Korea.

A long stay destination, where average length of stay is over 6 days, hotels for years have depended on tour operators and travel agents for bookings. However, with the increase in supply of rooms and change in guest booking behavior, hotels have been adapting to online travel.

Global OTAs like Booking.com, Expedia and Agoda  has become quite popular with hotelieres. Booking.com, for instance, has 795 properties listed, Expedia has close to 700 hotels and guest houses in Maldives listed on its channel.

As online distribution evolves, hotels are increasingly adjusting to changes in market dynamics. While GDS remains their most popular channels, they are opening up to OTA and metasearch as well.

Are you connected to right channels and keeping them automatically updated with rates and availability on a regular basis?

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