While Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) have been a go-to solution for many hotels, there are many advantages to having your hotel's own website. In this article, we will delve into the limitations of OTA listings and the benefits of having your own hotel website, along with some practical tips on how to create one that stands out.

The Limitations of OTA Listings

High Commission Fees

OTAs often charge commission fees ranging between 15% and 25% of any reservation made through their platform. These fees can erode your profit margins and pose challenges to long-term profitability.

Rate Parity Issues

Maintaining rate parity across multiple OTAs and controlling prices to ensure rooms are sold at the correct rate can be troublesome. Any discrepancies can lead to frustrated guests and potential penalties.

Limited Upselling Opportunities

Many OTAs lack the flexibility to create package deals, limiting your ability to offer upsell options, such as spa packages or additional services, directly to guests during the booking process, potentially missing out on additional revenue.

Loss of Control Over Inventory

Relying solely on OTAs means you have less control over your inventory. In some cases, hotels may face difficulties in managing their inventory effectively, leading to issues like overbooking or underutilized rooms.

Benefits of Having Your Own Hotel Website

Direct Bookings

Your hotel website is your digital storefront that allows guests to easily check for room availability, rates, and book directly with you. This not only reduces commission costs but also fosters a direct relationship with your guests.

Branding Control

Your website is where you can showcase your unique brand identity. When you have a website that shows off your values and your services, it allows you to tell your hotel's story, highlight your strengths, and differentiate yourself from the competition.

Increased Credibility

Many travelers conduct thorough research before making reservations. A well-designed website effectively conveys professionalism and credibility, building trust among potential guests and increasing the likelihood of them choosing your hotel over others.

Ability to Create Unique Offers and Promotions

With your own website, you can create unique offers that are tailored to your potential guests, setting you apart from competitors. You can also create promotions that highlight your other services like dining discounts, spa packages, or excursions.

Customer Data Management

Another benefit of having your own website is that you can keep a registrar of all customer inquiries and their contact information for future PR and email marketing campaigns.

News and Event Updates

Your hotel website can be used for uploading news about your hotel and any special events or promotions that may appeal to returning guests or loyal customers.

Tips on Creating Your Own Hotel Website

• Create Engaging Content: Populate your website with engaging content and high-quality images that showcase your hotel's unique features and atmosphere.

• Integrate Booking Engine Services to the website: Websites are static electronic brochures. Only when you integrate a booking engine into the website can you capture direct booking opportunities. Making it easy for guests to inquire about room availability and hotel rates without human intervention 24/7 helps ensure better sales conversions from your website and other direct sales channels.

• Use a Channel Manager to Manage Your Agents: Efficiently manage and distribute room inventory across multiple OTA channels and third-party agents on one platform at the same time using a channel manager, instead of handling it manually.

• Set Up a Payment Gateway: Hotels that can easily process a multitude of payment transactions from different sources will undoubtedly give themselves a competitive advantage by making the sales conversion process easier. Hoteliers should consider the CM Pay option for their hotel, which is available from the Hotel Channel Manager. CM Pay is a payment gateway synchronized with Opn Payments for fast and easy processing of point-of-sale transactions.

• Subscribe to an All-in-One Productivity Solution: For more advanced hoteliers, consider an "all-in-one" solution. This is especially beneficial if your hotel needs elements of Digital Website Marketing (Website), Direct Sales (Booking Engine), and Productivity Management (Channel Manager and/or PMS). Taken together, the package is designed to provide better functionality through integration across different platforms and an economy of scale from cost savings. An example of an all-in-one package includes Website, Booking Engine, and Property Management System.

• Implement Security Measures: Prioritize security by implementing SSL certificates and other protective features to reassure guests that their online transactions are safe and secure.

Conclusion: The Holistic Approach to Hotel Success

In summary, while the advantages of having an independent hotel website are clear, it's important to recognize that a website is just one component of digital marketing. A website alone cannot capture booking opportunities without the essential assistance of a Booking Engine. Moreover, many hotels work with various agents and wholesalers to sell their inventory, which presents its own set of challenges. Effective management of inventory and distribution demands a powerful tool, such as a Channel Manager.

The success of any hotel depends on the collaboration of its various components. That's where Hoteliers.Guru comes in, offering a comprehensive suite of cloud-based services designed to empower hotels in today's competitive hospitality industry:

• Website Design: Craft a visually appealing and user-friendly website.

• Direct Booking Engine: Capture direct bookings from your website and other channels.

• Payment Gateway: Streamline payment processing for a seamless booking experience.

• Channel Manager Services: Manage inventory across multiple channels and agents efficiently.

• Property Management System: Simplify operations and enhance guest experiences.

By embracing these integrated solutions from Hoteliers.Guru, hotels can optimize their digital presence, streamline operations, and effectively manage bookings. This holistic approach leads to greater success and competitiveness in the dynamic world of hospitality.