Latest News and Top Tech Trends from Hospitality Industry – W3, April 2022

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

Travel to Europe this summer will soar 600% over last summer, according to travel insurance vendor Allianz Partners.

India’s Yatra.com launched a Meta Search tool which will enhance booking convenience and save costs for business travelers.

TripActions data shows the first quarter of 2022 saw the kind of hyper-growth more familiar to pre-pandemic days.

More than two-thirds of STR-defined U.S. hotel markets (113 of 165) outperformed their 2019 comparables over the four weeks ending 9 April 2022, which is reflective of the industry’s rebound toward normalcy as well as some influence from inflation.

And finally, see how hotel marketers are using entity search for SEO.

Reach out to us for your hotel channel manager, rate shopper, booking engine, website development or digital marketing 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!

Americans’ travel to Europe expected to increase sixfold this summer

European destinations have made a significant effort to welcome Americans back, and data shows tremendous pent-up demand for travel to the continent.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/American-travel-Europe-expected-increase-sixfold

Yatra.com launches meta search tool for corporate travel

India’s leading corporate travel services provider announced the launch of a meta search tool on their corporate travel booking platform.

https://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/yatra-com-launches-meta-search-tool-for-corporate-travel

March blew the doors off of business travel

With Omicron cases decreasing and travel restrictions dropping, spending for U.S. business travel has seen a huge growth in the past two months, according to the latest TripActions data.

https://tripactions.com/blog/state-of-business-travel-and-expense-q1-2022

Largest U.S. hotel markets showed considerable RevPAR gains

Reflective of the industry’s rebound toward normalcy, more than two-thirds of STR-defined U.S. hotel markets outperformed their 2019 comparables over the four weeks ending April 9, 2022.

https://str.com/data-insights-blog/top-hotel-performing-markets-april-2022

How hotel marketers use entity search for SEO

A step further beyond keyword optimization, entity search focuses more on the context around search terms.

https://americas.hsmai.org/insight/seo-and-entity-search-in-hospitality-marketing/

eRevMax expands Partner Ecosystem with – TUI Group, Guestline and StaySavvy

Highlights introduction of Room – Rate Management feature

eRevMax is glad to introduce a new Product Feature called Room and Rate Management API through which you can create, update and delete room types or rate plans in different OTAs directly from your RateTiger dashboard.

With travel recovery gaining pace, it is imperative that hotels have a clear understanding of market. After over a year of closures and restricted travel, every hotelier needs to implement sales strategies that work best for their target market as well as for their local destinations. Hence it is important for hotels to know which channels and partners can bring maximum exposure to their property. Here are some of our technology and channel partners leading in their specific markets. Get in touch if you wish to connect to any of our 450+ hospitality technology as well as distribution channel / OTA partners.

TUI Group

Our newest channel partner TUI is one of the world’s leading tourism group. Headquartered in Germany, the group consists of tour operators, 1,600 travel agencies and over 400 hotels which are in major holiday destinations. TUI Group offers integrated services and unmatched holiday experience from a single platform for its 28 million customers in 180 regions. Expand your hotel distribution with TUI to attract more bookings and market share.

Guestline

Rexlynx PMS by Guestline is our featured partner for this edition. It provides independent hotels and small groups with the tools and insights and automates routine tasks, liberating your staff to focus on the guest. Fully configurable and PCI compliant, Rezlynx PMS is a mobile-friendly cloud-hosted solution that supports hotels or groups of any size. You can create and manage bookings for multiple properties, easily develop rate plans and apply region specific accounting rules, among various other relevant features. Contact us today to know more.

StaySavvy

One of the first booking platforms to focus on eco-conscious travel, StaySavvy is a new addition to the eRevMax Channel Ecosystem. StaySavvy promotes sustainable travel by helping reduce carbon footprint and rewarding guests for travelling in an eco-friendly way. 2% of every booking is allocated directly to an environmental initiative, such as tree planting or wildlife conservation. It is a revolutionary new room booking platform, generating social impact with every booking. Enlist with this channel to grow your domestic bookings and promote sustainable travel.

Are you looking to manage any new channel from your RateTiger platform? CONTACT US – https://www.erevmax.com/erevmax-contact.html

Hotel Tech News – July 2021, Week 5

RateTiger Hotel Channel Manager integrates with Simplotel, Updates from Google Hotel Ads, Booking.com and Expedia as well as Europe hotel occupancy recovery

RateTiger and Simplotel host joint webinar to showcase how hotels can accelerate direct bookings through hotel e-commerce

The two hotel technology leaders will be hosting a joint webinar on 12th August 2021 at 12pm IST to showcase how hoteliers can drive direct bookings and expand their revenue goals. The discussion will cover modern techniques and distribution tips that hotels can utilize to grow direct website bookings.

Register Now – https://rb.gy/gjqpmk

New York City hotels on the rebound

Weekly demand for hotel rooms in New York City reached its highest level since the start of the pandemic, with over 481,000 room nights sold the week of July 12.

https://www.businesstravelerusa.com/business-traveler-usa-story/new-york-city-hotels-on-the-rebound/

“Check-in date” multiplier now available on Google Hotel Ads.

The new feature allows hotels to work with a more familiar format which OTAs also use: by check in date.

https://www.mirai.com/blog/the-much-anticipated-check-in-date-multiplier-now-available-on-google-hotel-ads/

STR: U.K. leading Europe in hotel occupancy recovery

Demand is almost exclusively leisure-driven as the U.K. has benefitted from a successful vaccination program, a phased reopening and improved travel sentiment overall.

https://str.com/press-release/str-uk-leading-europe-hotel-occupancy-recovery

Price no longer primary driver of travel decisions

New research from Expedia Group reveals shifting views on travel, including positive sentiment on vaccine passports, increased budgets, and an enduring demand for safety and financial security.

https://welcome.expediagroup.com/content/dam/marketing/welcome2eg/published-assets/whitepapers/traveler-value-index-report/EN_Traveler_Value_Index_2021.pdf

Booking.com wants to become the ultimate intersection between payments and travel

The company’s new fintech unit integrates with loads of alternative payment providers, making it easier for bookers to book, and taking pressure from hotels.

https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/21/07/22160664/booking-com-fintech-lead-unpacks-payments-pivot-vision-to-refine-travel-experience

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

Thanks and have a good day!

The Week, That Was – July 2021 Week 1

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

RateTiger certified by Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) as a recommended distribution partner

Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, has certified RateTiger by eRevMax, as a preferred distribution provider for its member properties. eRevMax has recently completed seamless integration with GHA, which is the latest addition to the eRevMax Ecosystem that has over 450 integrations including leading hotel technology platforms, OTAs, PMS, CRS, GDS, wholesalers, booking engines & more.

https://www.erevmax.com/ratetiger-news/ratetiger-news-archive/july2021-erevmax-ratetiger-certified-global-hotel-alliance-distribution-partner.html

U.S. travel bookings hit a new high

As of May 2021, traffic sits at 302.5M, which is higher than pre-pandemic levels. And not only are people browsing travel sites, they are also converting into customers. Top five U.S. OTA/Metasearch sites show a 24.3% increase in average monthly traffic YoY

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/similarweb-digital-intelligence-report-from-travel-bookings-to-job-board-listings-signs-of-recovery-evident-across-the-board-301323121.html

Younger travelers more likely to choose all-inclusive packages

New research from Expedia Group reveals the influence of inclusion and diversity on booking decisions.

https://www.expediagroup.com/media/media-details/2021/Younger-travelers-are-more-likely-to-choose-accommodations-with-inclusive-policies/default.aspx

eRevMax Partner Ecosystem Highlights – Global Hotel Alliance, Trip.com

Online travel agents are increasingly important for a hotel’s distribution strategy to make their property visible among potential travelers. Not just the right OTA mix, but also the right promotions and deals targeted at different customer segments is very critical to convert lookers into bookers. Contact us today to expand your distribution connectivity today – marketing@erevmax.com

https://www.erevmax.com/blog/index.php/2021/07/erevmax-partner-ecosystem-highlights-global-hotel-alliance-trip-com/

Tripadvisor unveils new app

Refreshed mobile app debuts alongside new “Vacations Miss You” campaign, and provides more personalized inspiration for consumers already at their destination or planning ahead.

https://tripadvisor.mediaroom.com/2021-06-29-Tripadvisor-Unveils-New-App-as-Summer-Travel-Rebounds

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

Thanks and have a good day!

 

The Week, That Was – June 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

eRevMax report shows optimism and positive outlook within the European hospitality sector

European Hotels are excited about summer travel and are looking to drive business recovery. For the first time since Q1 2020 European hoteliers are showing a sense of optimism. eRevMax has been carrying out regular #surveys to monitor hotel sentiment and help shed light on how they are reacting to the new normal and the changing travel trends. Through this survey report, we present hotel business outlook, booking sources, distribution mix, travel recovery timelines among other parameters. Access the full report here – https://lnkd.in/g525Umf

Hotel marketing campaigns balance emotion and innovation

Messaging draws a deeper emotional bond to travel for viewers, while activations appear in the types of digital- and mobile-first environments that a wider range of people have adopted over the past 15 months.

https://www.marketingdive.com/news/hotel-brands-balance-emotional-appeals-marketing-innovation-as-travel-spig/602265/

Budget hotels set to benefit, according to GlobalData

The data and analytics company notes that, with less budget for travel but a strong desire to escape, many will turn to budget providers to satisfy their travel cravings.

https://www.globaldata.com/budget-hotels-set-benefit-increase-price-sensitive-travelers-says-globaldata/

Europe’s reopening: Where U.S. travel advisors are sending clients

Italy and Greece are currently the most sought-after destinations, with France following not far behind.

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/europes-reopening-heres-where-travel-advisors-are-sending-clients.html

Tripadvisor sharing activities travelers loved the most

Awards have been expanded across a dozen subcategories, reflecting activities that have been hot since the start of the pandemic. Whether travellers enjoy planning in advance, or waiting to see what’s nearby once they’re in-destination, Tripadvisor’s Things to Do Awards surface recommendations for all types of travellers, according to the best guides: other travellers who have been there and done that.

https://tripadvisor.mediaroom.com/press-releases?item=126568

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

Thanks and have a good day!

 

eRevMax expands Partner Ecosystem with Tour10, Hotel Intelligence and Simplotel

With various companies opening their borders for vaccinated travellers, summer travel is expected to be strong and booking trends and hotel sentiment already reflect a sense of optimism. It is important for hotels to make sure they refresh their hotel description and listing travel sites and make their property visible on relevant OTAs and sell on channels that are bringing future bookings into their cities. eRevMax, the leader in hotel distribution technology, continues to partner with travel channels, booking engine providers and other tech companies to provide hotels with maximum connectivity options to choose from. RateTiger currently offers a network of over 450 deeply integrated global, regional, and local channels. Contact us to discuss how you can expand your distribution connectivity today.

Tour10

Headquartered in Spain, Tour 10 is an online wholesale travel agency with presence in 160 countries. The company works with over 180,000 properties worldwide to create magnificent vacation packages for its guests while taking care of all covid protocols. If you are looking to attract leisure travellers, you may want to consider adding Tour10 to your distribution mix. Contact us to know more.

Hotel Intelligence

France based booking engine provider, Hotel Intelligence is a newly integrated RateTiger partner and provides AI based solutions for hotels. The company helps increase hotel direct bookings by up to 10% through its simple and intuitive platform, that is flexible and reliable. Contact us today to know more about Hotel Intelligence.

Simplotel

India based Simplotel is currently powering over 2000 hotels worldwide with their booking engine and website solution. It helps hotels drive their direct business with OTA like features to increase website revenue. If you are looking to try a new booking engine or get a new website, contact us to know more about Simplotel.

Are you looking to manage any new tech partner or channel from your RateTiger platform? CONTACT US TODAY – https://www.erevmax.com/erevmax-contact.html

 

The Week, That Was – June 2021 Week 1

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

eRevMax releases Q2 Hotel Sentiment results for European accommodation providers

Europe shows positive Hotel Sentiment for Q2 – Q3 2021. Our latest survey report reflects a sense of optimism for the first time since Covid19. The survey conducted for hoteliers in April – May 2021 reports high expectations in terms of occupancy and business growth. To know more about the trends, access the full report here: https://rb.gy/e6rvnq

Leisure travel likely to hit pre-COVID levels by next year

Leisure is probably going to hit 100% of pre-COVID levels by some point next year, and United Airlines is saying that they’re already seeing leisure fares match the prices people paid in pre-COVID times.

https://finance.yahoo.com/video/leisure-travel-likely-hit-100-181911057.html

Airbnb’s future is about ‘living,’ not just travel

Working from home trend is reshaping Airbnb’s business, as it spurred flexibility in terms of where and how people live or how long they stay in one place.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-26/airbnb-s-future-according-to-ceo-brian-chesky-living-not-just-travel

The Importance of a Property Management System (PMS) in the Hotel Industry

With travel recovery steadily picking up pace, hotels are seeing encouraging signs with reservations starting to trickle in. Expanding hotel occupancy and online revenue will be one of the key focus for rest of the year and there will be an increased focus on inter-connectivity of systems and getting the distribution basics right. Does your Property Management System integrate to various other technology solutions you use today? Are you getting third party reservations delivered directly into your hotel system? Do you have a bird’s eye view of your inventory status at all times? Find out the key to a good Hotel PMS. Read more – https://lnkd.in/gq73Rs5

Google Hotels adds vacation rentals

Google is adding vacation rental listings to its Google Hotel platform, with both vacation rental and hotel options set to appear alongside each other in search results for a given destination.

https://searchengineland.com/348972-348972

Expedia launches huge deals promo

From June 8 to 12, travelers will be able to save up to 60% on hotels and activities for travel until the end of January 2022.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Expedia-post-pandemic-sales-blitz

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

Thanks and have a good day!

 

The Importance of a Property Management System (PMS) in the Hotel Industry

Hotel Property Management Systems have come a long way to become one of the most essential technology tools for accommodation providers today. Simply put, a good PMS is considered the backbone for a hotel. Property management systems make it easier for coordinating the functions of the front office, guest management, sales, planning, and reporting. It allows property owners to manage front desk operations, rates and promotions, and customer loyalty data, consolidating the status of all hotel properties in one place.

Why every hotel needs a PMS and the benefits they can derive?

Guest Reservations

The most important benefit of a PMS is that it helps hotels to seamlessly manage guest reservations. An ideal PMS should allow a hotel to centralize all guest bookings in one place whether they are coming from third party channels. Brand.com or direct walk-ins. When all the reservations are reflected in one place, it becomes easier for the hotel staff to have access to up-to-date inventory information. It gives clarity to hotel employees to know which rooms are reserved and when, so they can manage operations accordingly.

Managing online third-party sales channels

Most PMSs work with various hotel channel managers, like RateTiger, to make it seamless for hotels to transfer rate and availability data to OTAs and get reservation delivery into the hotel system. Some PMSs offer in-built channel management functionality which allows hotels to offer better online reservation experience through a vast network of volume-producing online sales channels.

Revenue Management

Property management systems also helps hotels to manage revenue effectively.  It helps hoteliers to assess the performance of the property, using key performance indicators like ADR (average daily rate), RevPAR (revenue per available room) and GOPPAR (gross operating profit per available room). A good PMS also offers rate plan management where hotels can quickly create room type-rate plan combinations, which assists hoteliers to easily respond to changes in demand. These change in demand may occur due to seasonality, local events, and various other factors.

Front-desk Operations

A front-office module allows a front-desk manager to view and update room reservation status, manage guest check-ins, and process payments. Some property management systems offer integration into check-in kiosks or allow checking in or out via QR code. This module connects reservation, housekeeping, spa, activities, and guest relations management modules in a single environment.

Digital Check-In

With social distancing becoming the norm, digital or contactless check-in is a preference for many guests nowadays. The contactless technology allows guests to arrive, and then check-in using the mobile app on their phone, or by using a self-service check-in machine. The PMS can sync automatically, keeping check-in and occupancy information updated.

Guest Data Management

It is critical for hotels to collect and organize guest data to keep in touch with current and past customers during and after check-out. A CRM integrated with PMS can help the front desk and reservation team to collect all guest information from these sources, store guest data and have a database in an accessible format.  Advanced PMS also enables hotels to manage guest loyalty programs effectively.

Third Party Integrations

Hotels today need multiple technology solutions to manage their property efficiently. But the key challenge for hotels is that most technology solutions work in silo, and it becomes difficult for hotels to get a clear picture of how everything can work together. An integrated system helps hotels to have synchronized data essential for informed decision making. Hence it is important for a hotel PMS to have open API or option to integrate to other technology systems so that hotels can take benefit of it.

Reporting

Last but not the least, is reporting. Everyday hotel staff access many reports including guest data, reservation, booking pace and trends, channel performance and various other relevant metrics for business performance analysis. A good PMS provides quality reports with advanced analytics and insights in easy-to-use formats.

How to get started?

If you are looking for a good PMS, get in touch with us today. RateTiger works closely with all leading PMSs including Opera, Prologic First, IDS Next, WinHMS, ArabSoft, Cenium, Guestline, ePMS, Ezcloud, Hotelogix, HotSoft, Indra, Infor, Protel, Intimus, Mews, Oracle, Skyware, and Visual Matrix,  and we are happy to recommend you systems that work well in your region.

Further, if your property is looking for any technology solution individually or integrated on a platform – Hotel Channel Manager, CRS, Internet Booking Engine (IBE), Rate Shopper, GDS & Metasearch management, Website development, Business Analytics – please reach out to us for a ‘no-obligation’ demo today – https://www.erevmax.com/erevmax-contact.html

 

 

 

The Week, That Was – May 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

RateTiger becomes one of the first channel managers to offer Promotion feature for Expedia, Booking.com & Agoda

Hotels using eRevMax channel manager and connectivity solutions can now create specific Promotions on Expedia along with Booking.com and Agoda directly from their RateTiger platform to attract more visibility and rebuild demand.

https://www.erevmax.com/ratetiger-news/ratetiger-news-archive/may2021-erevmax-releases-promotion-feature-expedia.html

Seeing is believing: The power of short-targeted videos in travel marketing

There is a significantly higher chance of your potential customers watching your video content than engaging with your emails, or reading information on your website.

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/travel-marketing-engineering-bounce-back/1717202

Spanish Hoteliers Upbeat As COVID-19 Restrictions Ease

Hotels across Spain are reopening as the vital summer season gets underway, fueled by an easing of travel restrictions and increasing vaccination levels.

https://www.costar.com/article/209858740

Airbnb predicts historic travel rebound in 2021

Airbnb has been conducting surveys and are optimistic about the future of travel. It recently shared its top 2021 travel trends and tips for hosts which reflect a strong pent-up demand leading to significant travel rebound. If you haven’t already signed up with Airbnb, now is the time to get started. You can manage you property on Airbnb via RateTiger – contact us today on marketing@erevmax.com

Read more – https://lnkd.in/gFAdNeG

Reaching potential travelers

Where should travel marketers be spending their budgets right now? Americans are thinking of life beyond COVID-19 and travel marketers will need to understand consumers’ appetite for different types of advertising.

https://adage.com/article/YouGov/top-post-vaccine-travel-and-vacation-trends-marketers-should-know/2337826

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

Thanks and have a good day!

 

The Week, That Was – May 2021 Week 2

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

Connect to niche travel channels to generate more bookings through RateTiger

Are you reaching out to specific customer segments to increase occupancy? Niche channels like VeryChic and Halalbooking can give you access to guests who are looking for properties that can cater to their needs. Its time to expand your hotel distribution net and connect to these channels. RateTiger offers you 450+ global and regional channels to choose from – contact us today to know more about these two niche channels – https://lnkd.in/gfTGFRM

Expedia reluctant on travel habits changing permanently

Expedia Group CEO says he’s ‘rooting for revenge travel’ as revenue sinks 44% in Q1. However, one trend of the past year – people getting more into vacation rentals – has accelerated and exposed more people to the product and is a long-term trend, Expedia says.

https://www.geekwire.com/2021/expedia-group-ceo-says-hes-rooting-revenge-travel-revenue-sinks-44-q1/

EU confident of COVID-19 travel certificate for summer

The European Commission expects to finish work soon on a COVID-19 certificate that could allow citizens to travel more easily this summer in the 27-nation bloc.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/covid-certificate-will-be-signal-travel-eu-germany-says-2021-05-11/

Airbnb and sustainable travel

A new study published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism suggests Airbnb has a bigger carbon footprint than many realize.

https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/features/features-articles/the-carbon-footprint-of-airbnb-is-likely-bigger

Trivago sees a strong travel recovery ahead

In the U.S., qualified referrals increased from 30% of 2019 levels in January to 70% in April, a sign that one of its biggest markets is making a steady recovery as vaccination rates improve.

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/trivago-sees-a-strong-travel-recovery-ahead-2021-05-07

Higher earners, millennials lead charge back to travel

Traveler confidence is returning this year, especially among higher earners and millennials, according to a joint study from Accenture and Tripadvisor.

https://tripadvisor.shorthandstories.com/future-of-travel/index.html

Meet RateTiger at ATM Dubai from 16 – 19 May 2021 – book a meeting today –https://www.erevmax.com/eshots/invites/erevmax-invite-atm2021-register.html