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Online reservations continue to increase in importance as more
and more consumers demand real-time, instant reservations. This
page will keep you up to date on industry trends and online
reservation news; if you'd like us to address a particular
topic, don’t hesitate to
contact us.
Online reservations news
Tips of the Month
Innkeeper Comments
How to load rates and availability
Online reservations trends
Online reservations news
Promo for online reservations properties:
Every month, BedandBreakfast.com runs a different
promotion for online reservation properties. Travelers book
an BedandBreakfast.com Online Reservations
property, and they get $50 off their reservation. There is
absolutely no extra cost to you for this extra marketing
and exposure, so make sure you have
inventory loaded to take advantage of these promotions!
Did you know? When you participate in
BedandBreakfast.com Online Reservations, you are bookable on all
these websites:
Load inventory to get more bookings:
Travelers are now making plans for 2009. Remember to put
more inventory in the system now before you forget! With this shaky
economy, you don't want to miss out on any reservations! Make
sure that travelers have the chance to book with you when they
search for available accommodations. Don't forget that you
can always load inventory for up to two years in advance.
Click here for step-by-step
instructions for loading inventory, or have us do it for you!
Contact 800-462-2632
extension 4 or
Reservations@BedandBreakfast.com.
More options for you:
BedandBreakfast.com now offers two pricing options for
the Online Reservations program:
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NEW! 25% option – Properties have been asking for a
lower rate on this program for some time, and we listened!
Properties can now offer net rates that are 25% (instead of
the usual 30%) below their retail rates. BedandBreakfast.com
marks the room back up and sells it at the property’s normal
retail rate. Minimum inventory allotments required.
-
30% option – Properties can offer their rates at 30%
below their retail rates. BedandBreakfast.com and our
partner sites mark the room back up to the property’s normal
retail rate and attempt to sell it. When we do, the property
receives 70% of the value of the reservation. No minimum
inventory allotment required.
Questions?
Click here for Online Reservations information, or contact
us at 800-GO-B-AND-B (800-462-2632) ext. 4 or
Reservations@BedandBreakfast.com.
Tips of the
Month
Put your best foot forward with excellent photography:
Are the photos on your listing clear, large, well-lit and
up-to-date? Please upload your high resolution images, and we
will send them to Expedia and hotels.com. If guests tell you
that your photos don't do your inn justice, you are missing
out on guests every day. If you would like to get
professional pictures taken and need a photographer,
contact us. We have a list of recommended inn photographers.
Remember that Platinum members get 25 photos, Gold members get
15 photos, Silver members get 10 photos, and Bronze members get
one.
Which room would you rather book?
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Update your availability now: Take a few minutes to update
your availability and enter inventory covering you through
2009. Thousands of availability searches are being made daily
for dates throughout 2009, and guests are currently booking
reservations through BedandBreakfast.com and our partner sites
for every month of the coming year. Don’t miss out! By getting
rates and inventory in the system now, you’ll be able to capture
any early bookings.
How to increase extended reservations:
One innkeeper told us this: "We handle and respond to every
reservation personally, even if it's made online. Every
reservation is provided with a sample four-day itinerary of
activities and sites in the area. This alone has added another
night or two to many reservations -- and since the additional
nights are booked directly with us, they are commission-free!"
Be sure your future guests know that there is so much to do in
your area, a one-night stay is not long enough!
If you have questions or would like a free online reservations
consultation, contact Online Reservations Support at
800-GO-B-AND-B (800-462-2632), extension 4; 512-322-2700,
extension 4 or
Reservations@BedandBreakfast.com.
Innkeeper
comments
"When
we surveyed our guests asking which enhancements to our
website would be the most appreciated, real-time reservations was
the No. 1 request. In response, we have changed from RezOvation
Desktop and a lag-time availability calendar to RezOvation GT and
BedandBreakfast.com Online Reservations. We had great support from
the Rezo team converting our system and are happy to be able to meet
the desires of our guests!" -- Amy & Dan, Ho’oilo House
"I am very pleased with BedandBreakfast.com Online Reservations
and used it frequently, especially in the summer months. It
makes for a seamless booking system and saves valuable time on
the telephone." -- Suzan Bazon, Bluecrest Bed and Breakfast,
Niagara Falls, ON
If you'd like to start getting more exposure via Expedia
and hotels.com, sign up today for
BedandBreakfast.com Online Reservations! Getting set up is
quick and easy, and you'll receive a one-on-one training session
to learn the program.
Are you a part of the program but are not getting the exposure
you had hoped for? Make sure you have availability loaded into
the system.
How to load
rates and availability
Adding more rates and room availability is easy! Just take five
minutes to log in and enter your rates and inventory into the
Online Reservations Manager by following these simple steps:
-
Log into your Home Base, then click the green
Online Reservations Manager
button.
-
Scroll over
the Rates/Availability tab and from the dropdown
menu, click the room type you want to add to.
-
Click on the
Add/Edit Range button; always click Set New,
even if you're entering the same rate you previously had.
Make sure that when you're entering your rate, you click on
the blue calculator button to enter it. This will calculate
your Net Rate for you.
-
Availability:
Always click Set New here as well, even if you're
entering the same number as before. Please enter the number
of rooms of this type that are available. Set any min/max
stays you may have, and choose a date range for the change.
If you only want to enter these rates for the weekdays, make
sure to uncheck the weekends, and vice versa.
-
Last, click
on the Save Changes button; then remember to
blackout any dates that are currently booked to avoid any
potential double bookings.
It's that easy! If you have any questions or need assistance
loading more inventory, please let us know. We are happy to help
you load more room inventory right over the phone. Call us
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST at 800-462-2632
extension 4.
Online
reservations trends
U.S. online travel market slows to single digit growth in 2008:
“Annual growth of the U.S. online leisure and unmanaged business travel
market will slip to single digits in 2008. This marks the first time online
travel growth has fallen below double digits since PhoCusWright began
tracking online travel in 1998. While online travel is experiencing the
inevitable deceleration of a maturing market, its annual growth will
continue to outpace the total travel market through 2010.
PhoCusWright's U.S. Online Travel Overview Eighth Edition presents
comprehensive analysis and forecasts of the U.S. total and online
leisure/unmanaged business travel market.
Key findings include:
- U.S. leisure/unmanaged business travel bookings will
reach nearly $100 billion in 2008, more than one-third of
the total travel market, and a 9% increase over 2007.
- Despite broad economic turmoil, softening consumer
spending and declining travel demand, the U.S. online travel
market is projected to grow far faster than the total travel
market through 2010.
- Dynamic packaging is experiencing a moderate resurgence
as bargain-hungry consumers respond to the "book together
and save" proposition.
European online bookings to jump 19% this year: As the
European travel industry faces global economic pressure,
online booking channels continue to increase market share.
Online sales growth for leisure/unmanaged business travel for
2008, projected at 19%, is significantly greater than the 3%
rate expected for the European travel industry as a whole.
Internet bookings of leisure/unmanaged business travel will
represent 29% of the €246 billion European travel industry at
the close of 2008, according to the fourth edition of
PhoCusWright’s European Online Travel Overview.
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