Online Reservations
|
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.
Tips of the Month
Online reservations $50 vacation bonus
Innkeeper Comments
How to load rates and availability
Tip of the
Month
How to get more 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."
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.
Online
reservations $50 vacation bonus
BedandBreakfast.com's
vacation bonus gives $50 to any traveler who
books a two-night stay through the Online Reservations program
on BedandBreakfast.com.
The promotion is featured prominently throughout the site. Best
of all, there's no extra cost or work for you! We process
the rebate and mail the checks (after check-out); you benefit
with more two-night reservations! We take care of all details of
the $50 rebate; you don't have to do a thing but add
inventory to benefit from this promotion.
Please make sure you have lots of inventory
loaded through the end of 2008. The promotion is valid on
reservations made through September 1, 2008; travel must be
completed by December 31, 2008.
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.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
This Month's Sponsor
|
 |
Reviews = Reservations
No doubt about it:
travelers want reviews, and they are more likely to stay somewhere that
has reviews posted. The BedandBreakfast.com reviews program was developed specifically for B&Bs.
An easy way to get more reviews on your listing is to add a badge, like the
one below, to your website.
Log in to your Home Base. Click Reviews, then click Links,
Awards and Review Reminders to download the badge and other helpful
review tools.

Summer Travel Survey Results
In late June 2008,
BedandBreakfast.com polled more than 5,200 U.S. innkeepers about advanced
bookings for the July 4th weekend. The 1,346 respondents reported that July
4th weekend reservations are even with or have increased over last year at
more than 70 percent of B&Bs. Read more.
Online Trade Show
Visit our newest vendor members!

Click here to view our Online Trade Show.
Are you a vendor?
Click here to get featured!
Gift Card Reseller Program
Could you use some extra cash? Sign up for the gift card reseller
program, and make 15% on each sale! There is no cost to
get started;
click here for details. If you'd like to receive a free reseller kit, contact us at 800-462-2632 or
Support@BedandBreakfast.com.

"As much as I would like to sell gift
certificates that are exclusively for my inn, I realize that we are not
the perfect gift for everybody. This year, I gave everyone who enquired
about a gift certificate an option of a GC to be used exclusively with
me or good at any B&B in the BedandBreakfast.com membership. Many liked
the idea of having choices, and I sold them the BedandBreakfast.com gift
card. I got the commission up front, and I don’t have to worry about the
liability. I also get most of the face value back should the gift card
be used at my inn. The process was quick and easy. I am very happy with
the results and will continue to offer BedandBreakfast.com cards as an
option." Mike Venturini, Munro House B&B Spa, Jonesville, MI
Referral Program
What’s better than
three month’s free membership? How about six months? Or a whole year? Refer
fellow innkeepers to BedandBreakfast.com, and if they join at the Silver
level or above, your membership will be extended by three months for
each B&B that signs up. If four B&Bs sign up, your membership is free
for a year! For details,
log in to your Home Base and click
Referral Program under Free Member
Benefits, or call 800-GO-B-AND-B (800-462-2632).
Advertising Auctions
Featured Property and
Inn of the Month auctions are easy, affordable and effective ways to drive
traffic to your website.
Member Information
To update your entry, check your traffic statistics, and renew your membership,
please log in
with your property ID and password. Don't like your password? Once you're
logged in, click "Membership," select "Change Password," and choose another that's easier to remember.
More information
"I am happy to report that we have had several enquiries from your site,
including
one guest who is staying for five nights, so our membership cost has been
covered. Thanks for your help!" Caitlin Adair, Sanctuary, Putney, VT
Inns for Sale

Innkeepers' Info Center
Need more
info? You’ll find lots of educational
articles on our site for your convenience.
|