Before you start looking for the best hotel booking engine, you should consider some factors, such as the functions, cost, and integration capability. To help you decide which engine to use, I have listed down the main factors to consider:
Functions
Several tools are required to manage the booking process for a hotel. Among these are the central reservation system (CRS) and the revenue management system (RMS). These tools help a hotel manager to manage all of their operations including rates, inventory, and availability. With their help, a hotelier can easily increase the efficiency of the booking process, minimize errors, and reduce labor costs. Moreover, the booking engine helps a hotel manage its customer accounts and maintains its loyalty by allowing customers to make reservations and manage their account information.
Hotel booking engines enable hotels to capture new reservations, free from the hassle of paying travel agents or third-party distribution networks. By offering flexible payment options, booking engines improve conversion rates. With the help of mobile-first approaches, some hotel booking engines now support Apple Pays, Android Pay, PayPal, and Amazon checkout. In addition, these tools make it possible for guests to pay online from any location, at any time. Apart from the perks of a booking engine, it also helps hotels manage their revenue by experimenting with different pricing strategies and revenue management.
Integration capability
A successful hotel booking engine will have the ability to integrate with other systems in the hotel and provide accurate backend operations. The booking engine should allow for online credit card authorization and gathering of credit card information. The system should be able to input the booking information into a company’s calendar and system, safely storing customer information. It should also provide real-time availability and rental rates information for hotel properties. This means that the system can be used by both the hotel and the travel shopper.
Using an online hotel booking engine will save the time and effort of a hotel’s staff. Since hotel booking engines are used by multiple channels, they can capture new reservations without having to pay commissions. Guests can book directly from a hotel website or make a booking through a third-party channel. Additionally, booking engines can be used to upsell inventory and room upgrades to increase revenue per available room. By utilizing a hotel booking engine, it will be easier to reach more potential customers and earn more revenue per available room.
Cost
In 2017, the global market for Hotel Booking Engine was valued at USD XX million and is expected to surpass USD XX million by 2022. This report analyzes the industry’s revenue from both the global and regional perspective. It also focuses on the competitive landscape and examines the recent status of the product. Detailed analysis of consumer behavior and the overall supply chain are included in the report. The Global Hotel Booking Engine market is expected to grow at a robust CAGR during the forecast period.
Currently, most travelers make their hotel bookings online. Online travel agents (OTAs) help hotels gain exposure to a huge audience and increase their bookings. However, listing on these online travel agents requires a hefty commission fee, sometimes exceeding 20%. For small independent hotel operators, this fee can be discouraging. To fight back against OTA dominance, consider installing a hotel booking engine. Here are three key benefits of using a hotel booking engine.
Customer support
If you’re considering purchasing a hotel booking engine, you’ll probably want to find one that offers a customer support option. A good booking engine will offer live chat support, so you can ask questions about the product. You also want to make sure that the hotel booking engine’s interface is user-friendly. The system should be easy to navigate, with a clear call-to-action button. The best hotel booking engines even allow you to book rooms directly from social media pages.
If you’re not sure which type of customer support you’ll need, here are a few to consider. A good booking engine is designed to handle reservations, not just manage inventory. This means that the system will be fully customizable and should match the look of the property’s website. This also ensures that guests can easily find information and book a room. The best systems also allow you to set rules and triggers that can change the rates automatically – great for increasing sales.
