CLOUD-BASED HOTEL SOFTWARE IS CHANGING THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY 

 

Through the emergence of cloud-based hotel software solutions , the hospitality industry has undergone a transformation  in the last decade.  With cloud-based property management software only gaining in popularity , the way hoteliers do business has been changed  forever. 

Transitioning to a cloud-based hotel software solution can seem like a daunting task at first , which may be the reason why some property owners in the hotel industry have been slow to adopt this new technology . But hoteliers are increasingly looking for better service and more integrated technology options and factors like these are just some of the benefits that cloud-based software can provide . In fact that in the next two or three years hoteliers are expected to invest seven to eight percent more on cloud technology  and it’s easy to see that the future will lead to the majority of hoteliers adopting new technology.  

This hotel software will change the hospitality industry with revolutionary features . It can provide updated data in reall time. Additionally , increased accessibility  , greater profitability and user-friendly dashboards make this software enticing for hoteliers.

 

 

 

HOW HAS COUD-BASED HOTEL SOFTWARE IMPACTED THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY?

 

For starters , cloud-based hotel software has the ability to host a property management system  (PMS) from a remote location .It allows hoteliers to access their property data from anywhere in the world with aninternet connection.

This feature is unique to software and eliminates the need for hoteliers to be physically present at their property to be able to check in on daily management operations.

Unlike locally installed hospitality software  , cloud-based  systems are hosted by a vendor’s server and give hoteliers a single system that’s flexible and easily updated. These are just a few of the reasons the hospitality industry is approaching a turning point in terms of cloud technology adoption. 

Furthermore , cloud-based hotel system allows property owners and managers to : 

 

• Eliminate the need for manual data sharing and processing

• Give staff more mobility and accessibility around the property(staff can view and update housekeeping status in real time) 

• Take advantage of frequent software updates and enhancements instead of waiting to download and install new versions of their software.

• Accelerate hotel check-in / out

• Easily integrate their PMS software with third-party tools and services

 

 

 

BENEFITS OF CLOUD-BASED HOTEL SOFTWARE

 

Cloud-based hotel software has been shown to boost productivity , efficiency and cost-effectiveness.  By automating daily tasks ,staff can spend more time attending to guests.

Additonally , hoteliers can eliminate the need for on-premise servers at each property. This can mean a tremendous amount of savings on maintenance costs. In fact, the hotel group ,Triple C Hotels and Resorts reported a 60%savings on software costs when they switched to cloud-based  hospitality  software.

 

 

 

 CLOUD-BASED HOTEL SOFTWARE AND DATA SECURITY

 

Cyber attacks and tighter regulations on privacy policies have made the need to protect guests information more important than ever. This topic is a main concern for those considering switching to a cloud-based PMS system . Thankfully , these systems undergo frequent security updates to guard against cyber attacks and reduce liability risk.

The high-level security standards followed by cloud-based hotel software is due in part to its rigid compliance with PCI requirements. For example, HOTEL RACE hospitality software implements periodic auto-logoff features . Hoteliers with cloud-based hotel software can feel secure . They feel  their data and that of their guest is safe .

 

 

PREPARING FOR FUTURE GROWTH 

 

Unlike locally installed software , one of the more attractive elements of using this  hotel software system is the ability to adapt  , grow with future trends.  In an industry that is always changing , this kind of flexibility is priceless. Flexible software options mean that changes can be made across multiple properties . It allows you market-leading innovations to be faster for operations , online bookings and customer services.

 

 

INCREASE YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT

 

In the simplest terms , cloud-based hotel software cuts costs for properties in order to help gain revenue.

Unlike convential hotel software models that require hoteliers to purchase licenses and hardware . Cloud-based hotel software is sold as a service . It enables clients to add on as many or as few tools and features as needed. This makes it  customizable with seamless integration for client and  saves money.

In fact . a  study by Frost and Sullivan showed that business can cut IT costs in half by implementing cloud-based computing solutions to customer support.

With cloud-based hotel software , hoteliers can say goodbye to traditional cost burdens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION 

 

Distribution management remains one of the most important things a property has to oversee in 2017. While we believe a good distribution strategy is a healthy mix of third-party distribution partners, we want to focus on how properties can win more direct bookings. Depending on your property, you may have varying opinions about direct bookings strategies  and their importance to your revenue and brand.

Regardless of your property type, direct bookings (should) offer higher profit margins and an opportunity to connect with your guests.

 

 

 

 WHY YOU  SHOULD CARE ABOUT DIRECT BOOKINGS 

 

There are an endless amount of reasons why you should care about direct bookings, but we’ll outline a few of the most important ones. OTAs are great in many ways, but in others, they infringe on your business.

Creating a healthy distribution mix is a never-ending battle .You should revisit your distribution management strategy on a regular basis.

 

 

 

BRAND LOYALTY

 

When guests book direct, you and your property are able to control the guest’s experience in its entirety. If a guest books on an OTA, the OTA in large part is controlling the pre-arrival process. The OTA sends the booking confirmation, and if it’s a large OTA, they will continue to try and cross-sell the guest until long after their trip is over (i.e. car rentals, activities, guides, future trips etc.).

If the guest books direct , the only communications they’ll receive about their stay is from you. This allows you to maintain a stronger hold on your brand and messaging . You know more about your property and destination than any OTA and you can use that to your advantage. 

As the property owner or manager , you have the ability to offer insider information and  better travelling advice. An OTA can offer cookie-cutter information based on location and simple demographic data . But you understand the nuances of your location more deeply. 

In today’s market , we see consumers becoming brand loyal to OTAs like Expedia and Booking.com . With ‘member-only’ pricing and branded loyalty programs  ,it’s not surprising that travelers turn to OTAs when researching and booking travel.

Your property can combat this by creating your own loyalty program and offering direct booking perks, like including breakfast or another extra amenity.  OTAs have large and intense marketing campaigns  to target people during every stage of their booking process.  An independent property doesn’t  have the time or resources to operate at the same scale. But you can have an easy-to-use website, blog posts and active media to strengthen your online presence.

 

 

 

COMMISSIONS

 

An obvious reason to focus on direct bookings is because they’re commission-free. Depending on the OTA, the commission charge could be above 20% or it could be as low as Airbnb’s 3%. Recently,  an article called OTA fees the steal of the century infavor of the OTA. The argument is that the commission fees are used to directly market properties.

It was an interesting take on how the commission fees are actually used. But, for any property, if you’re comparing the same exact reservation, you’d rather it was booked direct rather than on an OTA.  Direct bookings = more money.

However, the benefit of an OTA is discovery and bring properties reservations they may not have received without the added distribution. As we’ve mentioned before, a healthy distribution mix is necessary, but you need to put yourself in the best position possible when a guest visits your website.

 

 

 

 HOW TO GET DIRECT BOOKINGS IN 2019

 

Gaining more direct bookings in 2018  isn’t much different than getting them in 2019. The internet remains the most powerful and efficient way to obtain new bookings and that’s not changing. The “too long; don’t read” version of this would be to get a good looking and easy to use website, fill it with content and post it to social media. But, if you’re interested in more of the details, continue reading.

 

 

 

A SOLID ONLINE PRESENCE

 

No matter where a guest is in their travel journey, whether it’s dreaming, planning, booking, experiencing, or sharing, you want to make sure their online experience is strong. This means having a beautiful website that’s easy to navigate and understand. Don’t hide important information like room types, amenities, and most importantly the book now button. It should be painfully obvious how and where to check availability and book a stay.

Keep your website updated with regular content on a blog. As you probably know by now, Google and other search engines prioritize sites that are updated regularly. New content gains attention from search engines and boosts the entire website’s performance.

Blog-like content can also help convince travelers to stay at your property. Content can often help paint a complete picture of what your property has to offer. On an OTA, your property’s listing will look like every other listing.

One of the major advantages of being an independent property is that you and your staff are extremely knowledge about your property and usually travel in general. Big, branded hotels have employees who are passionate about travel and know a lot, but we find there’s a different level of passion with independent hoteliers and property owners. Translate that knowledge and passion into shareable content. It will pay off in the long run.

 

 

 

 

UTILIZE RETARGETING ADS

 

Retargeting ads are one of the OTAs most widely-used marketing tactics. Follow their lead and make sure you create your own retargeting campaigns to remain competitive. 

There are several ad distribution companies that you can  use to essentially ” follow ” your customers around the web. You can install a few lines of code on your website that will then track all the people  who visit . Then it will display your ads to those same people on different websites around the web and keep your property top of mind.

Facebook also allows you to do this with their pixel. You can advertise to people who  visit your website and track those who booked because of it with their conversion-based ads. During the dreaming and planning stage of travel , potential guests will visit several different websites and likely check out many different options .  Retargeting ads allow you showcase your property.

These ads will help increase direct bookings because they link directly  to your website or proprietary booking engine. You never want a guest to visit your website and end up booking offer is more attractive , retargeting ads help seal the deal.