What’s New in Hotel Online Distribution and Tech Trends? W2, December 2023

Here is your weekly industry news round-up. Check out the short snippets here and follow below for more details. 

  • Future travel trends: Sustainability, AI, and slow travel 
  • Indonesia is considering visa-free entry to 20 countries 
  • ATM 2024: Global market value to pass $1 trillion by 2027 
  • Marriott raises the bar with all-inclusive luxury resorts 
  • Lemon Tree launches its 10th property in Maharashtra 

Reach out to us for discussions regarding connectivity, direct booking, rate intelligence, and website design requirements – we are happy to explore new possibilities with you for your property – contact us today. 

Enjoy the read! 

Newshound w2, December 2023

Upcoming travel fads: Sustainability, AI, and slow travel 

Travellers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) plan to increase their spending on breaks and holidays over the next three years. They will have more of an eye on sustainability than ever before. Most now check the sustainability of their travel plans and are prepared to pay over 20% more for environmentally friendly accommodation.  

https://shorturl.at/hinK2

Indonesia is considering visa-free entry to 20 countries 

Indonesia will consider visa-free entry to let more nationalities attract more tourism spending. It somewhat reverses earlier restrictions of the country’s entry rules. The government is proposing to add 20 countries to the list. It includes the US, China and India, said Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno after a cabinet meeting on Thursday. 

https://shorturl.at/dquCV

ATM 2024: Key trends shaping the trillion-dollar travel market 

 Attendees from around the world will explore opportunities spanning the full spectrum of travel and tourism – including leisure, business, luxury and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) – at the 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in the UAE from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 May 2024. Allied Market Research valued the global business travel market at $689.7 billion in 2021, predicting the segment to grow to $2.1 trillion by 2031.  

https://shorturl.at/hwzY0

Marriott raises the bar with all-inclusive luxury resorts 

All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy welcomed Marriott Hotels to its portfolio. Beginning in early 2024 with Marriott Cancun, An All-Inclusive Resort, guests can connect with the local culture through experiences, entertainment, and hospitality. With nearly 600 hotels and resorts, Marriott Hotels has affected modern business and leisure travelers, which represents an opportunity to invite travelers of Marriott Bonvoy’s flagship hotel brand for all-inclusive trips. 

https://shorturl.at/pEPU8

Lemon Tree launches its 10th property in Maharashtra 

Lemon Tree Hotels Limited announces the opening of Lemon Tree Hotel, Dapoli. This is the 10th property of the group in Maharashtra. The hotel offers 50 rooms, Citrus Café – a multi-cuisine coffee shop, and Slounge – the hip recreational bar and banquet & conference spaces for all event requirements. It also has a well-equipped fitness centre and a refreshing swimming pool to keep you fresh like a lemon. 

https://shorturl.at/wxFRU

That’s all folks!

Latest News and Top Tech Trends from Hospitality Industry – W2, March 2022

Here is your weekly industry news round-up. Check out the short snippets here and follow below for more details.

RateTiger has earned 2022 Elite status with Expedia Group! Learn more about our high-quality connection and how we can empower your business growth. Check out this in the first news piece below.

Travel is seeing the biggest revolution ever. “This revolution really is about flexibility. Suddenly you can live anywhere, you can work anywhere,” said Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb at Skift Global Forum on Travel.

UNESCO and Expedia Group will support the EU Ecolabel by offering the existing certified Tourist Accommodations the signatories’ status to UNESCO Pledge. This aims to promote sustainable travel, community resilience and heritage conservation globally.

Today’s digitally savvy travellers are doing more research, on more online booking platforms before booking hotel rooms and  hoteliers carefully managing a guest’s stay to enhance its digital reputation.

Tripadvisor released its seasonal Spring Travel Index, using a combination of search and sentiment data to reveal what – and where – is hot this spring. After a slower winter with new variants curbing many vacation plans, travel is in full bloom this spring and the strength of leisure travel demand during warm weather months has driven a rebound in U.S. hotel industry performance the past two years.

Reach out to us for your hotel channel manager, rate shopper, booking engine, or website development requirements. We are happy to have a discussion to see how we can help you achieve your property’s occupancy and revenue goals – contact us today.

Enjoy the read!

RateTiger Recognized as Top Connectivity Provider

RateTiger has earned Elite Connectivity Partner status with Expedia Group, the highest designation available in their Connectivity Partner Program. The Expedia Group Connectivity Partner Program recognizes and rewards top connectivity providers.

https://ratetiger.com/ratetiger-recognized-as-top-connectivity-provider/

Travel seeing biggest revolution in a century

As the world undergoes a revolution in how we live and work, more people are blending everyday life with travel. The ability and desire to live and work from anywhere was once considered a short-lived opportunity at the beginning of the pandemic or something for young backpackers.

https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/X-16972502.php

More hotels sign up to Expedia’s UNESCO sustainable travel pledge

Global initiative additions include Melia Hotels International, THB Hotels, Universal Hotels, and more.

https://hospitalitytech.com/momentum-grows-expedia-group-and-unesco-sustainable-travel-pledge-new-signatories

What is your hotel doing to stand-out?

Today’s digitally savvy travelers are doing more research, on more online booking platforms before booking hotel rooms.

https://www.traveldailymedia.com/todays-hotel-guest-is-online-and-digitally-savvy-what-is-your-hotel-doing-to-stand-out/amp/

Tripadvisor’s Spring Travel Index shows Americans are spending big

Over half of Americans are planning on traveling this spring, with over a third planning on taking two or more trips – and travelers are also planning to splash more cash.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tripadvisors-spring-travel-index-shows-americans-are-spending-big-prioritizing-rr-this-season-301498451.html

Spring forward: US hoteliers hope for another demand boom

Hoteliers believe that demand for leisure travel is setting the stage for another strong spring and summer, but visibility remains short, and questions remain about group and business travel.

https://www.costar.com/article/1494723711/us-hoteliers-hope-for-another-demand-boom-with-mother-of-all-spring-breaks

 

 

 

 

Metasearch Advertising & Marketing – Key to Increase Hotel’s Visibility

Interest in travelling never diminishes!

It’s true the pandemic has brought a big blow to the travel industry but slowly the industry is coming back to form. 2021 was better than 2020 and so is expected down the line in 2022 and years to come.

But the question is: Are you prepared to tackle the new upcoming rush to your hotel?

The Pandemic Isn’t Permanent

Whether a brand is making profit/loss, the travel industry doesn’t sleep. Your guests might be now sleeping in their homes, but this is the best time for you to anticipate your Plan of Action to lead the market when it opens.

Though the industry was going slow Metasearch advertising started booming with Google’s entry into the Google Hotel Ads. This revamped the marketing structure for hotels and reduced dependency on OTAs. Have you included Metasearch marketing in your advertising plan and budget?

Keep reading to know how to boost your hotel’s outreach and ROI via Metasearch advertising.

What is Metasearch Engine?

Like any search engine, Metasearch Engine is the channel that presents to you results from various websites. A search engine has its own database and sends crawlers over the web the moment a user types anything on the search tab.  Metasearch works similarly but it doesn’t have its own database. Metasearch sends crawlers to different websites and therefore, combines and prepares a list of the related sites from all sources. This was Metasearch vs. search engine.

Next, you need to understand that Metasearch isn’t a booking platform. It is an advertising platform that brings several hotel booking channels together bidding for a room.

In simple terms, Metasearch Engine brings you a list of websites (in this case: hotel sites/ OTAs) for the customer to browse and compare the prices of the same room on different platforms. It is the gateway to bring qualified traffic to your hotel’s website.

Why Do You Need Metasearch for Your Hotel?

With technological advancement, people are also progressing! The Internet has brought everything to their fingertips from travelling plans to hotel bookings to return journeys. So, instead of flipping through multiple OTAs, the customers prefer to have all the room rates and features listed on one platform for better decision making. This makes sites like Trivago, Google Hotel Ads, TripAdvisor so popular and successful in today’s time.

It only increases your visibility to the prospective travellers but only gives you the freedom to own the relationship with the guests.

Working of Metasearch for Hotels:

Witnessing the importance and the rising bookings on Metasearch platforms, Online Travel Agencies have started participating with different Metasearch providers. When a potential customer looks for a hotel on Metasearch, it shows them a list of the hotels in that location and dates with prices on several OTAs and sites at a go.

Finding the best deal, the traveller is free to click on the link they want to book from and make the booking instantly. Unlike an OTA, you cannot book directly from Metasearch and this is how it helps you own the relationship with your customers. In return, the OTA/ hotels pay the Metasearch in CPC or CPA or a referral fee.

Now, when you are up on Metasearch platforms like Trivago, Google Hotel Ads, Kayak, and TripAdvisor, the booking process wouldn’t be simpler for the prospective customers:

  • A traveller searches for a hotel on a Metasearch website.
  • He/ she finds a list of hotels available with real-time rates from different sites/ OTA.
  • RateTiger bids on behalf of you to get your hotel on top of the list and maximum visibility.
  • The traveller clicks on the link and makes a direct booking.
  • Metasearch charges a fee in exchange from the hotel owner or the OTA.

Metasearch Advertising is a win-win for all – Hotel owners/ OTAs/ Metasearch websites.

All you need to do is find the right Metasearch advertising partner to invest your budget at the right place. Keeping your visibility intact, Metasearch marketing is of utmost importance to boost your hotel outreach in the time of Google Hotels Ads.

Key to Success with Metasearch

From individual hotels to big chains to OTAs, Metasearch is the apt platform to boost your reach and bookings. While hotel owners find this advertising method a bit complex, the OTAs are dominating every popular Metasearch website.

Regardless of experienced or a beginner, small or high on budget; all you need to do is strategize your marketing plan to bounce back post-Covid-19.

  • Choose the Right Site

All Metasearch engines aren’t the same. Some provide better results than others. Whereas, some are used more in one location and less in the other. Choose the right platform used by your target customers.

  • Join Hands with Technology

Technology is the backbone of every business. Handling another platform may be daunting for the management team. Sync the Metasearch platform to your hotel channel manager and avail seamless bookings.

  • Bidding Models as per Site Demand

The one-for-all formula doesn’t work here! Read, research, experiment and modify to figure out which bidding strategy works for which website. Do not blindly follow the “Be on the top” principle. At times, targeting the 3rd or 4th position on a platform gives you a better ROI.

  • Maintain Price Parity

Remember the audience is here to book a room. So, make sure to maintain price parity with your competitors to not your prospective customer to them. Again, technology can help you to compare and set the price in line with the competitor’s price.

If you aren’t on Metasearch platforms yet, it’s time to update your hotel marketing plan and includes Metasearch advertising in your POA to boost your reach.

Connect with us for your connectivity needs to make the most of hotel online revenue- https://ratetiger.com/contact/

What’s New in Hotel Distribution and Tech Trends? W2, February 2022

In the news round-up today, Expedia  the online travel giant posted fourth-quarter profits that exceeded Wall Street’s expectations. It’s looking like “a solid return to travel,” observing that bookings have rebounded anywhere Omicron has started to decline.

Hotel Beacon, a landmark property in New York has increased Occupancy & Sales with RateTiger channel management and distribution. They find RateTiger as their preferred connectivity partner for managing online distribution in the extremely competitive New York hotel market.

CWT announced the $100 million investment in product development. They will invest in content to “expand the breadth of travel choice and trip options.”

Hotel company chief commercial officers across Europe have used the past two years to analyze their brands, focusing on how to attract locals and put in place strategies for welcoming back events and corporate business.

Trivago talked about gaining market share through its city break product which could provide it with a “tailwind.”

Lastly an articleon US Hotel Performance which Shows Signs of Exiting Post-Holiday Leisure Travel Lull.

Reach out to us for your hotel channel manager, rate shopper, booking engine, or website development requirements. We are happy to have a discussion to see how we can help you achieve your property’s occupancy and revenue goals – contact us today

Enjoy the read!

Expedia sees ‘solid return to travel’ as profits top expectations

Consumer travel in the age of COVID-19 is moving into a new phase of manageable risk and minor inconvenience as the Omicron variant starts to decline.

https://www.geekwire.com/2022/with-tech-overhaul-in-place-expedia-group-sees-solid-return-to-travel-as-profits-top-expectations/

Hotel Beacon NYC relies on RateTiger for growing online bookings

Hotel Beacon, a landmark property in New York, has recommended RateTiger for managing online channels and distribution connectivity. The upscale property has been using RateTiger Channel Manager for the last 6 years to update rates and inventory across online sales channels and receive reservations into their Infor HMS property management system (PMS).

https://ratetiger.com/hotel-beacon-nyc-relies-on-ratetiger-for-growing-online-bookings/

CWT sets priorities for $100M platform investment

Sustainable travel initiatives, improving connectivity and increasing content are top list of goals.

https://www.businesstravelnews.com/Management/CWT-Sets-Priorities-for-100M-Platform-Investment 

Flexibility is the new black in hotel revenue management

As consumers have been educated now around flexibility, getting the right guests at the right price with the right experience will require flexibility from hoteliers.

https://www.costar.com/article/988842786/hotel-sales-execs-key-in-to-often-overlooked-customer-bases-patterns

Trivago eyes growth through tech

The company says innovation, marketing to raise brand awareness and broadening products and services are key levers for its future growth.

https://www.phocuswire.com/Trivago-Q4-2021-earnings

US hotel occupancy begins to trend upward

The U.S. hotel industry neared 50% occupancy in the latest weekly results as leisure travel began to reemerge from a post-holiday hibernation.

https://www.costar.com/article/1809942119/us-hotel-performance-shows-signs-of-exiting-post-holiday-leisure-travel-lull

The Week, That Was – July 2021 Week 4

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on

Leisure travel is bouncing back in parts of Asia

Tourist hotspots like Phuket are now open to international tourists who don’t have to quarantine, and others like Koh Samui are following suit.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/19/travel-recovery-in-asia-but-covid-risks-remain-minor-international.html

Americans prefer hotels and resorts to vacation rentals

In addition to favoring hotels’ amenities and ease of booking, 74% of survey respondents feel hotels keep travelers safer.

https://www.valuepenguin.com/americans-prefer-hotels-and-resorts-vacation-rentals

Tips for managing a return to corporate travel

As the situation continues to change daily, there are a number of factors that can be considered now to best manage the return of business travel.

https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/tips-for-managing-a-return-to-corporate-travel

How embedded fin-tech fuels hotel bookings

Many independent hotel owners will have to up level their payments systems from legacy systems to SaaS based offerings.

https://www.paymentsjournal.com/managing-payments-how-embedded-fintech-will-fuel-travel-revenues/

Day passes help hotels plug pandemic holes in revenue

As hotels and resorts continue to look for ways to lure leisure and local travelers amid the pandemic, day passes have gained new relevance.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Day-passes-helping-hotels-plug-pandemic-holes-in-revenue

 Reach out to us for your hotel connectivity needs to make the most of your online revenue- https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

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