Excellent Ways to Boost Direct Reservations on Your Hotel Website

Any hotelier would hope to encourage direct bookings of hotels on their website at some point. And chances are he's already making efforts to get reservations via his hotel website if he has one. However, the majority of hotels work to rank higher than OTAs in search results. So few people browse the hotel website that they hardly ever book there. So, in this blog, I'm going to discuss some excellent strategies for boosting direct hotel reservations through your website, including actions to elevate it above OTAs in search results.

Let's begin at the top.

WHAT ARE DIRECT BOOKINGS IN HOTEL INDUSTRY?

Direct bookings in the hotel industry refer to bookings made directly with the hotel, rather than through an intermediary such as an online travel agency (OTA) or a tour operator. Direct bookings can be made through the hotel's website, telephone, or in-person at the hotel. The benefits of direct bookings for hotels include increased profitability, as they don't have to pay commissions to intermediaries, and greater control over the customer experience, as the hotel can collect guest data and communicate directly with guests.

The majority of guests prefer to make direct hotel reservations

There are two channels you may use to boost direct bookings: Your website or alternative platforms. In this blog, I am giving you 10 assured strategies to increase direct hotel reservations.

Let’s first see,

HOW TO INCREASE DIRECT HOTEL BOOKINGS FROM YOUR WEBSITE?

Your hotel's website serves as the public face of the organisation, thus it must be well-designed. Here's how to get the most bookings possible from your website:

1. User experience & mobile optimization: Make sure your website is easy to navigate and provides all the information a potential guest needs to make a decision. Optimize the site for mobile devices, as more and more guests book through their smartphones.

2. Competitive Rates and Packages: Offer rates and packages that are competitive with online travel agencies (OTAs). This will encourage guests to book directly through your website rather than through a third-party site.

3. Easy and secure booking : Make the booking process as easy and straightforward as possible. Provide guests with a secure payment system to ensure their personal and financial information is protected.

4. Direct Booking promotions: Offer special promotions and discounts for guests who book directly through your website, such as early check-in or late check-out, complimentary breakfast, or room upgrades.

5. Social Media & Email Marketing: Utilize social media and email marketing to drive traffic to your website and promote your hotel. Offer special promotions and discounts for followers and subscribers.

6. Loyalty & Referral programs: Offer loyalty and referral programs to reward guests for booking directly through your website and referring their friends and family.

7. Dynamic Pricing : Implement dynamic pricing to adjust rates based on demand and seasonality. This will allow you to optimize pricing to maximize revenue and occupancy.

8. 24/7 support: Offer 24/7 support via chat or phone to answer any questions guests may have and provide assistance throughout the booking process.

HOW TO INCREASE DIRECT HOTEL BOOKINGS APART FROM YOUR WEBSITE?

1. Promotions and packages: Offering special promotions, discounts, and packages can increase the number of direct bookings by providing a compelling reason for guests to book directly.

2. Local business partnerships: Partnering with local businesses can help you cross-promote each other, attract new guests, and increase direct bookings.

3. Google and trip advisor ads: Utilizing Google and TripAdvisor Ads can help you increase visibility and drive more direct bookings.

4. Best rate guarantee: Offering a Best Rate Guarantee can incentivize guests to book directly with your hotel and provide peace of mind that they are getting the best deal.

5. Referral program : Creating a referral program that rewards guests for referring friends and family can help drive more direct bookings.

Utilise online travel agencies (OTA’s ) & meta-search engines: Utilizing popular OTAs and meta-search engines can increase visibility and drive more direct bookings by providing potential guests with multiple booking options.