What is a GDS and Does My Hotel Need It?
GDS stands for global distribution system and is essentially a central reservation system for hotels, airlines, rental car companies, cruise lines, and other travel services worldwide. A GDS network puts your property in front of travel agents, corporate travel managers, and OTAs, and the importance of these networks is growing. More than half of global […]
Getting to Know WebRezPro: The Tape Chart
In such a fast-paced and competitive industry as hospitality, it’s crucial for lodging operators to streamline their reservation management processes. Bookings come from a variety of sources, including online travel agencies (OTAs) and global distribution systems (GDS) as well as your direct booking channels (website, phone, email, social media, and walk-ins). To prevent overbookings and […]
Small Things Hoteliers Can Do That Make a Big Difference to Guests
Customer satisfaction is a top priority for any business, but for those in hospitality, it’s the entire purpose. Hoteliers do what they do because they are passionate about making every guest’s stay special. And what shows anyone they’re special? Simply being valued. From a warm greeting to a good cup of coffee, the smallest things […]
Using Incentives to Boost Direct Bookings
The relationship between OTAs and hotels is a complex one. While hoteliers often resent the steep commissions OTAs charge, they also rely on them for a large chunk of their bookings. And for OTAs, well, without hotel inventory, they lose their most profitable business. The reality is that, for now and in the foreseeable future, […]
Big-Hotel Tips for Small Properties
Big-brand hotels and independent properties offer different guest experiences, and that’s the way it should be. Some travelers enjoy the familiarity and predictability of an international chain, while others are attracted to the unique local experiences provided by smaller lodgings like inns and B&Bs. Others could go either way! Big or small, each property needs […]
An Independent Hotelier’s Guide to Easy Group Bookings
Filling multiple rooms on a single reservation, group bookings are a cost-effective way to boost occupancy, especially during quieter periods. These guests often require more than just a place to stay, including catering services, meeting spaces, and additional amenities, making group reservations a lucrative opportunity for lodging operators. Group bookings were traditionally the territory of […]
Pre-arrival Email Tips for Independent Hotels
For a soon-to-be guest, the pre-arrival stage is filled with anticipation and a desire to make sure their upcoming stay meets their expectations, so booking confirmation, pre-stay, and check-in emails typically have high open rates. Pre-arrival emails offer great potential for building a relationship with the guest and driving incremental revenue before they even set […]
How to Win Holiday Bookings
Both a joyful and stressful time, the holiday season brings a torrent of travelers into the market. As of 2023, 115.2 million people were predicted to travel at least fifty miles during the December 23rd–January 1st period. While this typically means an increase in bookings, the ever-expanding selection of options (from new hotel brands to […]
Maintaining the Human Touch in a Touch-free World
While mobile check-in, messaging, and other automated solutions were steadily gaining traction in hotels before Covid-19, these applications are more relevant than ever in a post-pandemic world. Automated hotel technology is designed to augment the guest experience and improve workflow by expediting administrative touchpoints. As consumer demand for mobile grew, the hospitality industry answered with […]
How to Make Music Work For Your Hotel
As a hotelier, your biggest concern is ensuring a great guest experience to attract new business and encourage repeat stays. Providing excellent customer service and five-star amenities is essential, as is creating the right atmosphere. People experience things with all of their senses, so ambiance matters. An overwhelming scent or off-putting lighting can tarnish a […]
Fresh Fall Marketing Ideas to Spice Up Your Shoulder Season
With mornings becoming chillier and leaves beginning to turn, shoulder season is on its way. However, it isn’t the quiet, sleepy travel period that it used to be as concerns over cost, climate change, and overtourism drive guests to book differently. Seventeen percent of summer trips are planned for September after Labor Day this year, […]
Five Make or Break Moments in the Guest Experience
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” When working to create an exceptional guest experience, hoteliers would do well to remember Maya Angelou’s wise words. A seamless holiday full of five-star amenities can be overshadowed by one poor interaction with […]
Amenity or Annoyance: How Does Your Hotel Wi-Fi Measure Up?
In the modern age of hospitality, where smartphones are practically glued to our hands and laptops are as common as room keys, hotel Wi-Fi isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. But is your property’s Wi-Fi an amenity that guests can’t live without or an annoyance that leaves them frustrated and ready to check out early? […]
7 Simple Ways to Personalize the Guest Experience
Today’s travelers seek personalized guest experiences, which in turn require robust, flexible hotel technology. Personalization is no longer a trend—it’s an expectation. However, it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, small, independent lodgings are perfectly positioned to curate individualized stays for their guests. Here are seven simple ways to do it. Build […]
Getting to Know WebRezPro: Housekeeping Report
Many things are evolving in the hospitality industry, but one thing that will never change is the essential role housekeeping plays in the operation of a successful property. As one of the most significant contributors to guest satisfaction, cleanliness is a top priority for any lodging provider. Supporting staff with the right tools for managing […]
Not Just a Pretty Room: Selling an Experience
From Baby Boomers to Gen Z, today’s travelers want more than a standard room to sleep in—they want a stand-out experience backed by convenience, luxury, and personalized customer service. When shopping for a place to stay, guests seek properties that give them something to connect to emotionally, such as a unique story or the promise […]
5 Tips for Making the Most of Your Hotel Lobby
Your hotel’s lobby is the heart of your hotel. Could it be doing more for your bottom line and your guests? With a little forethought and planning, your property’s lobby could be much more than just a place to check in. Here are five tips to make the most of your lobby and transform it […]
Peak Season Prep: An Independent Hotelier’s Checklist
As we head into summer in the Northern Hemisphere, properties are gearing up for peak season. This preparation can both excite and intimidate lodging providers. On one hand, occupancy and revenue are up (yay!), but on the other, the pressure is on to maintain top-notch service with less time and more stress (eek!). It’s a […]
Sizzling Summer Marketing Ideas for Hotels
With the promise of long, warm days and lazing outdoors, hotels are kicking off their summer marketing campaigns. While occupancy tends to be higher during the summer, the market is competitive as travelers put their time and effort into planning these much-awaited getaways. Whether you’ve noticed peak occupancy slipping or simply want your property to […]
8 Ways to Improve Guest Satisfaction and Your Online Reputation
With endless travel booking options, enticing social media posts, and countless online reviews, guests have the pick of the litter and, therefore, increasingly high expectations of lodging providers. Focusing on offering next-level service and boosting your property’s online reputation is your key to standing out from your competitors and maintaining customer loyalty. 1. Gather and […]
Boost Revenue with Mother’s Day Packages
With Mother’s Day coming up, many properties are enticing moms to stay and play (and brunch!) with special offerings. Like other popular holidays such as Easter, Black Friday, Christmas, and of course Father’s Day, it’s a great opportunity to generate attention and occupancy through value-added packages and activities. Packages Value-added packages are about more than […]
10 Ways Independent Hotels Can Increase Direct Bookings
Creating a strategy to increase direct bookings not only slashes commission fees and increases profit but builds customer relationships and loyalty by offering unique, personalized incentives and services for booking direct. Your direct booking channel is also the only one you have complete control over, so it’s worth cultivating on that basis as well. An […]
A Hotelier’s Guide to Responding to Online Reviews
Consumers rely heavily on reviews to make purchasing decisions. The quantity and quality of online reviews help them decide what to buy or where to book, which makes reviews critical to a business’s success. As of 2021, 99.9 percent of US consumers look at them when they shop, at least some of the time. But […]
Five Habits of a Successful Hotelier
Whether you’ve been running a hotel for decades or are brand new to the game, reflecting on your practices as a hotelier is always a valuable exercise. Nobody’s perfect, but taking the time to consider your methods and improve where you can points you in that direction. Curious if you’re doing everything in your power […]
