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The Week, That Was – May 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!!

eRevMax expands in Indonesia with new demand partner

Indonesia based Hoterip.com, one of the fastest growing online travel agencies in Asia, has completed two-way XML integration with travel technology specialist eRevMax to offer online channel management and reservation delivery solution to its growing base of hotel customers. The seamless interface will allow hotels using RateTiger and RTConnect platforms to update rates and availability and receive reservations generated through the channel in real-time

https://www.erevmax.com/ratetiger-news/ratetiger-news-archive/may2019-erevmax-expands-in-indonesia-with-new-demand-partner.html

Online Reviews Still Important But Craze is Slowing Down

Revinate published their 2019 Global Hotel Reputation Benchmark Report, filled with insights to help travel marketers compare and optimize their own online reputation management approach. Google gas overtaken Booking in the #1 position, as both sites are now dominating the field, with TripAdvisor coming in as distant third. While 74% of reviews were posted on four sites in 2017, a greater percentage is now contentrated in only the top 3 – Google, Booking and TripAdvisor.

https://fredericgonzalo.com/en/2019/04/10/online-reviews-still-important-but-craze-is-slowing-down/

Hotel industry has to invest more in technology

For some, the hotel industry requires a fundamentally different notion to how it sells and packages merchandise, physical goods and experiences.

http://hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/295159/Hotel-tech-execs-call-for-industry-to-invest-partner

Customer loyalty in a hyper-segmented hotel landscape

While many hotel branding companies have recently announced reforms in their rewards structures, their programs are still primarily based on a point redemption system.

https://www.hotel-online.com/press_releases/release/customer-loyalty-in-a-hyper-segmented-hotel-landscape#When:18:20:44Z

Webinar: Drive loyalty through a personalized journey

In this webinar, experts from leading hospitality and hotel tech companies will share their insights and strategies on how to enhance customer loyalty.

https://try.traveltripper.com/celebrate-and-nurture-your-guests-webinar/?utm_source=hotelmarketing&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=nurture-your-guest-webinar&utm_content=landing-page

What impact Airbnb might have on the hotel industry in another recession

In 2008, Airbnb was only just launching and really wasn’t a major player, however things may be a little different the next time around, as consumers booking habits have changed and their accommodation preferences have evolved.

https://www.kalibrilabs.com/demystifying-distribution/2019/5/7/what-impact-might-airbnb-have-on-the-hotel-industry-in-another-recession/?ref=hotelmarketing_com

Corporate travel: Sabre survey reveals trends shaping booking behaviour in Asia Pacific

Sabre reveals the results of a survey that compiles insight from over 70 corporate travel management companies (TMCs) from across Asia Pacific, revealing the latest trends in terms of regional bookings.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sabre-corporate-travel-survey-reveals-trends-shaping-booking-behavior-in-asia-pacific-300843880.html

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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Top tech trends for driving your hotel revenue

With the constant evolution of technology and new trends coming and going, its important for hotels to keep a track of what is happening around them. Knowing the impact of new technology and how it can affect revenue is key to running any business successfully today. The same applies to the travel and hospitality sector which is one of the most dynamic industries today. Given the huge dependence on guest behavior, hoteliers need to know how to influence key decision makers and be visible at every key touch point. Here are some upcoming trends that we feel will have an impact on the industry and hoteliers should take notice and prepare well in advance.

  • Data explosion with 5G Network

The new 5G, with its superfast download speed and other benefits, is sure to have a massive impact on the expectations and behavior of mobile phone users. One can readily access virtual reality and videos and the 5G network is likely to bring a huge change in how guests research and book travel and hotel.  Users will have the opportunity to visualize themselves in their preferred room instead of only seeing the photos.

‘Mobile-first strategy’ will likely rule the trend. Google, being the early adopter like it is, may reward hotels that pro-actively focus on their mobile strategy and penalize the ones that are not at all mobile friendly. Thus, hotels need to make sure their brand website is mobile friendly and has a good page load speed. It’s important to develop mobile focused marketing strategy to capture this segment of guests that like to book things on mobile.

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  • Virtual and Augmented Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) will get a big boost with 5G network. However, AR proves to be more realistic than VR to hoteliers. Why? Real environment is replaced by a virtual one by VR. To visualize this, one needs wearable technology. On the contrary, AR introduces digital components into real environment that one can easily access with smartphones.

Some hotels have already started using this technology like AR-enabled maps and brochures. It is a great opportunity for hotel industry to enhance in-stay and pre-stay experience of their guests.

  • Dominance of Videos

Conveying information through videos is more effective than words because people today prefer watching than reading, especially in mobile phones. Do you know that YouTube is the second largest search engine globally? Facebook too generates huge traffic from its videos every day. With the emergence of 5G, videos will achieve greater importance.

To future-proof business, hoteliers have to invest in entertaining, informational and relevant video advertising. According to Google, videos are likely to capture 80% of online media in the coming years.

With so many innovative technologies coming up in the market, hotels have to optimize these opportunities to reap the maximum benefit for their business.

 

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eRevMax expands in Indonesia with new demand partner

Indonesia based Hoterip.com, one of the fastest growing online travel agencies in Asia, has completed two-way XML integration with travel technology specialist eRevMax to offer online channel management and reservation delivery solution to its growing base of hotel customers. The seamless interface will allow hotels using RateTiger and RTConnect platforms to update rates and availability and receive reservations generated through the channel in real-time.

Following the integration, Hoterip.com joins the ever-growing list of companies that form the eRevMax Channel Ecosystem, thus getting direct visibility to thousands of hotels worldwide that use eRevMax’s connectivity solutions.

“Our interface with RateTiger will give the benefit to us and to our hotel partners to quickly and efficiently manage their room rates, availability and restrictions to their distribution channels. In addition, connecting with eRevMax will give us the opportunity to explore new hotel partners worldwide and improve our room inventory globally,” said Sukadana, Digital Marketing Manager, Hoterip.com.

“The integration with Hoterip.com allows us to offer hotels with wider selection of leading South East Asian channels to choose from and capitalize on the region’s online travel growth story. It will further add on to the eRevMax Channel Ecosystem portfolio thereby helping hotels optimize their distribution efforts,” said Mohnish Singh, Regional Sales Manager, eRevMax.

Hoterip.com is a part of H.I.S. International Group, a Japan based Travel Agent with a worldwide network. It operates Hoterip.com as Inbound Tour Operator providing travel services in Indonesia for over 15 years and continues to grow its operations.

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The Week, That Was – May 2019 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 expands in Mexico with Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe

Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe (GHSF), one of the leading Mexican hotel companies, has put its trust in award-winning RateTiger Channel Manager and Price Shopping solutions to grow its online business.

https://www.erevmax.com/ratetiger-news/ratetiger-news-archive/apr2019-erevmax-expands-mexico-with-grupo-hotelero-santa.html

How to train staff on distribution channel conversion

Front-desk employees have the power to encourage known regular guests to book direct. Here are some tips on how to help train your front-line staff on increasing conversions.

http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/294917/How-to-train-staff-on-distribution-channel-conversion

How OTAs optimize conversion across the customer journey

According to the latest Travelport research, 64% of travelers who have researched a trip with an OTA, but did not go on to book, say they prefer to book with suppliers.

https://www.phocuswire.com/Optimize-conversions-across-customer-journey

 

Facebook bid multipliers for hotels

Bid multipliers enable the use of complex, customized bidding strategies without the need to create several different ad sets with relatively small audiences.

https://koddi.com/facebook-bid-multipliers-for-hotels/

 

Research sheds new light on the impact Airbnb has on the hospitality industry

The findings suggest that in some cases, the presence of Airbnb can help attract more demand in some markets while challenging the traditional hotel pricing strategies.

https://www.hotel-online.com/press_releases/release/airbnb-v.-hotels-new-research-sheds-light-on-how-they-can-compete-and-benef#When:17:22:28Z

 

 

Trivago greatly increases its participation in Google Hotels

Buying Google Hotel Ads, which places an advertiser’s hotel rates in Google Search, Maps, and Google Assistant, gives Trivago higher visibility around the world, Chief Financial Officer Axel Hefer told analysts Wednesday during Trivago’s first quarter earnings call.

https://skift.com/2019/05/01/google-hotels-prompts-trivago-to-increase-advertising-in-50-global-markets/

 

Amadeus: Hotels shift from transactional to experiential paradigm predicted within five years

Replacing legacy technology with cloud-based system will enable the hotel sector to transitioning from a transactional to an experiential relationship with its customers.

https://www.travolution.com/articles/111188/hotels-shift-from-transactional-to-experiential-paradigm-predicted-within-five-years

10 Great Mother’s Day Campaigns to Draw Inspiration From

Mother’s Day marketing paradoxically can be both easy and difficult for brands. To stand out, a campaign either must execute perfectly on the standard approaches or add an original twist. What do these sorts of exceptional takes on Mother’s Day look like? Here are ten campaigns from previous years that every marketer can draw inspiration from.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4093126.html

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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eRevMax expands in Mexico with Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe

Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe (GHSF), one of the leading Mexican hotel companies, has put its trust in award-winning RateTiger Channel Manager and Price Shopping solutions to grow its online business.

Various brands of the group including Krystal Hotels and Resorts, Krystal Urban Hotels, Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort and Hilton Garden Inn Monterrey Airport, among others, have been managing their online distribution via RateTiger’s intelligent solutions, powered by LiveOS. The group benefit from real-time visibility into property level business performance to monitor and improve key metrics like rate, booking production, pace and compliance in a centralized manner.

Located in Mexico City, Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe is leveraging RateTiger’s Channel Ecosystem with over 450 online sales channels to connect and distribute on better producing OTAs, resulting in an increase in occupancy and profits. The revenue management team relies heavily on the ISO and PCI certified solutions that eRevMax offers. It leverages RateTiger’s on-demand rate shopping reports to monitor competition and price movements to take informed rate decisions.   “RateTiger, powered by LiveOS, is a simple tool that provides ease of connectivity and making quick updates across all channels, saving a lot of time and effort. The support team is very good, and we have had a great experience with eRevMax,” said Iván Tapia, E-Commerce Manager, Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe.

“Mexico is one of our key markets in Latin America and we are happy to see that our clients like to use our products. This recommendation is a testimony to our commitment to making online distribution easy for hoteliers. We have invested in building a stable and secure distribution network. Our solutions simplify operations, improve efficiencies and give hoteliers time to focus on strategy,” said Julian Lindt, Latin America Sales Director, eRevMax

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Upscale hotel in Dubai recommends RateTiger, powered by LiveOS

Dubai based Golden Tulip Media Hotel, has recommended eRevMax distribution solutions for smooth and seamless connectivity with all its online sales channels. The property, which has been using RTConnect – the XML gateway for online distribution, has increased its market penetration resulting in revenue and occupancy growth.

The highly competitive Dubai hotel industry is characterized by oversupply of rooms in the city, smaller booking window and high-volume online bookings. Being popular choice of guests, not having the ability to immediately update its rooms and rates was a potential handicap for its revenue stream and constant hindrance on staff.

Prior to RateTiger, Golden Tulip Media Hotel has tried various channel managers to update rates and allotments on different OTAs but there was still a lot of manual task involved. Finding a viable option to solve this became a priority and the revenue management team opted for RateTiger Connect, powered by LiveOS platform, earlier this year.

“This partnership has been wonderful for Golden Tulip Media Hotel. RateTiger has helped integrate many online channels accurately and interfacing with the property management system. Simplicity of the setup, integrating a new channel or modifying an existing one is programmed in a very efficient way. Customer support is great, I like the speed at which my inquiries are answered. And the user interface for the LiveOS dashboard is very comprehensive,” said Moataz Tawfik, Revenue Ecommerce Manager, Golden Tulip Media Hotel.

RTConnect’s pooled inventory model allows the property to continuously distribute rates and availability to multiple booking channels, and deliver updates back into its property management system (PMS) in real-time, without worrying about overbooking. eRevMax’s stable 2-way XML connection with all leading online sales channels have allowed to them to easily connect with better performing OTAs. They can monitor their booking trends across all channels on a single reporting dashboard to react instantly with a more effective distribution strategy.

“We have invested in building stable connectivity with around 450 OTAs and technology providers. Our solutions simplify the operations, improve efficiencies and give hoteliers time to focus on strategy. Being trusted by a prestigious property like Golden Tulip Media Hotel for streamlining their online distribution shows how well we deliver when it comes to best-in-class technology and premium customer service,” said Ram Mohan Dubey, Regional Sales Director APAC/MEA, eRevMax.

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Luxury South Africa aparthotel recommends RateTiger, powered by LiveOS

South Africa based The Regency Apartment Hotel Menlyn has improved their online business with efficient rate and availability distribution through RateTiger, powered by LiveOS. The property has been leveraging RTConnect’s 2-way XML connectivity between its property management system and multiple online sales channels and utilizing the LiveOS platform to monitor competition, budget and pace for informed decision making.

The Regency Apartment Hotel Menlyn is a full-service luxury apartment hotel in Pretoria, with short-term and long-term accommodation option for business or leisure.

“Hoteliers today work with multiple technology systems. I save a lot of time as I don’t need to go into various systems to gather different information to make revenue decisions. All required information is now available at a central point – LiveOS. It is a great tool to analyze our key performance indicators and take decision accordingly. The tools have reduced our workload and increased our productivity exponentially via this cutting-edge technology on a single sign on platform,” said Anton Saayman, Revenue Manager, The Regency Apartment Hotel Menlyn.

The revenue management team is leveraging RTConnect to update rates and inventory to multiple OTAs directly from their Property Management System (PMS), and get reservations delivered back into the system in real-time, without worrying about overbooking.  The LiveOS platform provides them with advanced reporting dashboard to help fine-tune their pricing strategy, monitor booking pace and demand analytics, for informed decision making.

eRevMax, the company behind RateTiger and LiveOS, provides real-time channel management, business intelligence, connectivity solutions and centralized management platform to hotel chains, independent and boutique properties and large serviced apartment groups globally, with hundreds of channel connections to choose from.

To know more, meet us at WTM Africa in Cape Town from 10 – 12 April 2019. Book a meeting now – https://www.erevmax.com/southafrica/

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The Week, That Was – April 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!!

Luxury South Africa aparthotel recommends RateTiger, powered by LiveOS

South Africa based The Regency Apartment Hotel Menlyn has improved their online business with efficient rate and availability distribution through RateTiger, powered by LiveOS. The property has been leveraging RTConnect’s 2-way XML connectivitybetween its property management system and multiple online sales channels and utilizing the LiveOS platform to monitor competition, budget and pace for informed decision making.

https://www.erevmax.com/ratetiger-news/ratetiger-news-archive/apr2019-erevmax-luxury-south-africa-aparthotel.html

Negotiation-based pricing: the future of hotels’ direct bookings?

Just as deregulation and the digital revolution gave birth to Yield Management, the current hospitality climate is ripe for disruption and innovation.

https://www.hotel-online.com/press_releases/release/negotiation-based-pricing-the-future-of-direct-bookings-for-hotels#When:18:29:20Z

Pricing psychology for hotel revenue managers

When it comes to pricing psychology, perception can be more important than reality. And frames of reference will differ across individuals. So, your guests’ perceptions may be very different from our own perceptions of your pricing and products – and will even vary from guest to guest.

http://www.nbtworld.com/perception-is-reality-pricing-psychology-for-hotel-revenue-managers/

Upselling across the guest journey

By breaking accommodations choices down and offering them throughout the guest journey, hotels will experience fewer instances of cart abandonment, discover more opportunities for upselling, and with customized, AI-generated offerings, see an increase in conversions on upselling and cross-selling opportunities.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4092831.html

Best practices for successful hotel metasearch efforts

Having a robust digital strategy not only allows for potential guests to easily find your property but allows you to properly compete with OTA’s within the various digital channels.

https://screenpilot.com/2019/04/best-practices-for-successful-hotel-metasearch-efforts/

How to build a digital culture at your hotel

There are three key areas that will encourage a digital culture change at your hotel – employee engagement, guest preferences, and data-driven decisions. Looking at them in detail will see increased productivity, stronger profitability and provide more memorable moments of true hospitality for your guests.

https://www.cendyn.com/library/how-to-build-a-digital-culture-at-your-hotel/?utm_source=Cendyn&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Create+a+digital+culture+at+your+hotel+-+guide+2019

Guest reviews, room price more valuable than brand name in hotel selection

 A survey from Expedia Group Lodging Partner Services found guest ratings have a significantly stronger influence than brand value when consumers are picking a property. The findings indicate there is a 72% chance that a consumer will value guest ratings higher than a hotel brand.

https://www.phocuswire.com/Expedia-Group-reviews-price-more-important-than-brand

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 – April 2019 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 Argentinian Hotel technology provider

Leading hotel connectivity solution provider, eRevMax has completed 2-way integration with CQR Sistemas, an Argentinian hotel management software company. Mutual hotel customers can now get the benefit of automatic distribution of availability and rates to third party online booking sites whenever they are updated in the property management system and receive reservations from OTAs.

https://www.erevmax.com/ratetiger-news/ratetiger-news-archive/apr2019-erevmax-completes-integration-argentinian-hotel-technology-provider.html

Indonesian aparthotel improves online sales with eRevMax

The Malibu Suites – Balikpapan, an Indonesian aparthotel has improved its online sales with efficient rate and availability management through RateTiger. The property offering 35 serviced apartments in Borneo Balikpapan, has been using RateTiger Channel Manager since 2018 to manage all its online distribution channels in real-time.

https://www.erevmax.com/ratetiger-news/ratetiger-news-archive/mar2019-erevmax-indonesian-aparthotel-improves-onlinesales-with-erevmax.html

Increase last minute Easter bookings

When your potential customers are frantically browsing their last minute getaway options, each and every feature they see makes a difference – so don’t leave any out on your rate plan! Keep it short and sweet – you want them to get a handle on everything included as soon as possible without insisting they scan through unnecessary fluff to get there. Try and highlight the key features of the offer immediately.

https://blog.netaffinity.com/increase-last-minute-easter-bookings/

Google is at a crossroads with its ambitions in travel

For consumers, at a basic level, its role at the top of the funnel has changed very little in the years it has been a search engine – giving travelers the opportunity to find details and information on destinations, routes, products and a lot more. The role that Google plays in travel is changing and has now done so over the course of a number of years. And, crucially, it is that evolving role that concerns executives through the industry.

https://www.phocuswire.com/Google-analysis-Phocuswright-Europe-2019

The hotelier’s guide to building a successful distribution strategy

Take a deep dive into identifying the right mix of direct and indirect, which distribution channels to focus on and invest in, making the most of data and thoroughly explore.

http://www2.sabrehospitality.com/direct-distribution-guide?utm_source=hotelmarketing_com

RevPAR vs. GOPPAR and why we need a new champ

To better and more consistently deliver profit at different revenue points, hotels need to deploy and support tools to assist their leaders in delivering superior financial results.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4092562.html

Google teases new reward system

After the tech giant quietly rolled out its Hotel Search site – which has kept every metasearch and OTA on their toes – the company has now teased its new rewards program.

https://www.traveldailymedia.com/google-engagement-rewards/

 

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 – March 2019 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!!

Luxury UK hotel trusts RateTiger Shopper for pricing decisions

The Greenbank Hotel has been leveraging eRevMax’s price intelligence tool – RateTiger Shopper to monitor competitor rates across multiple sales channels and take informed pricing decisions to stay ahead in the market.

https://bit.ly/2OjzZdW

Traveler survey yields insights into booking behaviors

Online travel agencies have been a dominant force in the holiday booking space for years, but this dominance is coming under threat. How hotels view working with OTAs is a subject covered recently by Hotel News Now, but STR’s Consumer Travel Insight reports offer a different angle on the rising pressure that OTAs face due to shifting perceptions among travellers.

http://hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/294453/Traveler-survey-yields-insights-into-booking-behaviors

Customer acquisition costs continue to rise

Whether the booking costs are transaction-specific as in commissionable OTAs or GDS, or there are cross-channel costs via social media, franchise fees and even labor for sales and marketing, the total costs for acquiring our guests are increasing over time.

http://hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/294289/Owners-must-be-informed-on-customer-acquisition-costs

The state of corporate travel management in 2019

A new survey gathered more than 1,500 people responsible for managing employee travel, including executive assistants, who opened up about several major pain points of business travel. Half of those surveyed said the amount of time spent adjusting bookings and travel arrangements is an issue, as is time spent gathering receipts and completing expense reports (44 per cent).

https://www.hotelmarketing.com/articles/the-state-of-corporate-travel-management-in-2019

How social proof influences the travel booking cycle

A new study revealed that when it comes to planning travel, consumers increasing look to authentic social proof for inspiration and validation.

https://www.hotelspeak.com/2019/03/how-social-proof-influences-the-travel-booking-cycle/

Online travel agency giants spent $10.6B on marketing in 2018 (but look closer)

The power of the platforms is huge: Expedia Group and Booking Holdings splashed out a record amount on customer acquisition during 2018. The pair spent $10.6 billion on what they loosely term “performance advertising and brand advertising” in the case of Booking Holdings and “selling and marketing” at Expedia Group.

https://www.phocuswire.com/Booking-Holdings-Expedia-Group-marketing-spend-2018

Changes in consumer booking patterns reshape distribution strategies for hoteliers

As hoteliers grapple with implementing diverse distribution strategies that optimize their spend, reach and results, emerging trends around channel development and how consumers interact with direct and indirect channels are adding new dimensions to the challenge.

https://www.phocuswire.com/Consumer-booking-patterns-hotel-distribution

What will Google Hotels mean for OTAs?

Google Hotels offers all the functionality and tools of its competitors such as Kayak, Expedia and Booking.com. It has the benefit of Google Maps and integration with Google search results (generally pretty high in results). The question thus arises: will Google Hotels create a giant black hole that sucks all the direct traffic away from online hotel booking sites?

https://searchengineland.com/what-will-google-hotels-mean-for-online-booking-sites-313851

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

Thanks and have a good day!