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

Innkeeper Comments
How to load rates and availability

Tips of the Month

How to get more reservations through BedandBreakfast.com, Expedia, hotels.com, SideStep.com and Kayak.com.

1. Load significant room inventory. Consider adding room availability through the next year. The BedandBreakfast.com Online Reservations program allows you to display and sell rooms for up to two years in advance. Adding significant availability for dates far into the future can positively impact your placement on Expedia and hotels.com. The more availability you show, the better your chances of appearing prominently on the major travel sites.

2. Lessen the severity of your cancellation policy. Properties with lenient cancellation policies take more reservations through this program, while those with strict cancellation policies book fewer rooms. Consider setting your “no refund penalty” so that the full amount is charged only within seven days. If you charge a one-night penalty, perhaps do this only within 14 days of arrival. Finally, you might use only one of the available cancellation penalties. For example, don’t use a full amount penalty in addition to a one-night penalty. You can update this setting by clicking on Settings from within the BedandBreakfast.com Online Reservations Manager.

Allow same-day bookings. What is your advanced reservations cut-off day? This program is highly effective at filling last-minute rooms. If your Advanced Reservations Cutoff is set at two or three days, it means that potential guests finding you through the online reservations program will not be able to book your rooms in the last minute. Consider allowing same-day bookings, or at least reduce your minimum to one day in advance of arrival. You can update this setting by clicking on Settings from within the BedandBreakfast.com Online Reservations Manager.

4. Do you have restrictive minimum-stay requirements? Such requirements during times of otherwise lower occupancy levels can prevent you from getting a booking during a date when you could really use that extra reservation. Consider using minimum stays on peak weekends and travel dates and require just one-night stays at other times. A first-time guest may find you on Expedia and return in the future as a direct reservation.

5. Try new ways to sell rooms in the last minute. Your rooms are a perishable commodity; the revenue on an unsold room is gone forever. If you are nearing a date and have availability, open that room up in the Online Reservations program so that our distribution partners (Expedia, hotels.com, SideStep.com and Kayak.com) can have the opportunity to sell that room. Taking this a step further, consider lowering your rate incrementally as the date nears if you haven’t yet sold that room. You’ll be surprised at what this can do to help you sell rooms that may otherwise sit empty.

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
"I cannot believe that I have not done online reservations in the past, with all the marketing savvy that I think I have! I put special rates in the system, and business began almost immediately. I know that I offered a great value that I normally could not in peak season or weekends, but rooms filled with nice people is the goal, and you all are making it happen!" -- Celeste Carducci, McClelland Priest B&B Inn, Napa, CA

"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:

1. Log into your Home Base, then click the green Online Reservations Manager button.

2. Scroll over the Rates/Availability tab and from the dropdown menu, click the room type you want to add to.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.