Running a hotel in today’s competitive market involves more than just offering comfortable rooms and great service.
With the hospitality industry adapting to evolving guest expectations and the rapid growth of online booking platforms, managing hotel operations become increasingly complex. Hoteliers face several challenges that include juggling between online travel agents (OTAs) to maintain rate parity and ensure smooth operations without overbookings or missed opportunities.
In this blog we look at some common issues that hoteliers – of any size – face and where effective channel management through the right platform helps overcome these.
Overcoming common challenges in channel management for hotels 116″>Reaching the right guests, at the right time
The biggest change for hoteliers is keeping up with the constantly evolving landscape for hospitality. It’s no longer about just being online. It’s about being online for the right guests at the right time in their booking journey.
An effective channel manager gives the power back in the hoteliers’ hands to manage their channel mix, featuring a combination of the big OTAs, a selection of the right B2B and other niche channels whilst not leaving behind the direct booking channel (hotel’s own website) and GDS. A combination of the right channels provides hoteliers the right marketing approach to enhance their visibility and branding as opposed to traditional marketing.
STAAH connects to more than 500 OTAs, including niche channels. STAAH’s content distribution and direct API connections enable seamless tailoring of messaging for the audience.
Data-led decisions
One of the greatest boons of modern hospitality is having the power of data to inform business decisions. Whether it is guest segmentation, market performance or channel performance, a channel manager can bring together analytics from multiple sources and unlocks deep insights.
STAAH’s property overview dashboard is a click away to help you make informed decisions on rates, availability and channels.
Maximising presence on larger OTAs
An advanced channel management solution can help you unlock the full potential of the bigger and competitive OTAs such as Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb etc. STAAH has premium partnerships with these channels that directly benefit its hotel partners, in addition to seamless content distribution and direct API integrations.
Overcoming common challenges in channel management for hotels 117″>Overcome missed revenue opportunities
Among the many benefits of channel management is the revenue optimisation through effective rate and inventory management, and greater control on pricing.
STAAH has a slew of automations for rates and inventory rules that unlock a property’s revenue management capability. It integrates with more than 100 property management systems and most leading revenue management systems to power an integrated revenue optimisation approach. Among its capabilities in this area include promo codes, stop-sell limits, dynamic pricing, pooled inventory, self-mapping OTAs, drip feed and more.
Aiming direct
One of the most profitable channels for hotels is the direct channel – their own website. The combined power of STAAH Max booking engine and STAAH channel manager has seen many of customers grow their zero-commission direct bookings significantly, leveraging the combined revenue management features of the two platforms.
Operational efficiencies
Losing precious staff hours to manual uploading of rates and inventory across multiple OTAs is a thing of the past. Channel management allows real-time uploading of rates and inventory across all connected channels, made even more seamless when integrated with a PMS.
The resulting operational efficiencies and fewer booking errors can directly be associated with improved guest experience through freeing up of staff from manual tasks.
For guests, booking confirmations are automated and payments secure, making the experience seamless.
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Choosing the right channel manager for your hotel
Channel manager software is a valuable resource for revenue managers as they balance profitability-per-booking with gross room revenue targets. Distributing your inventory to the broadest base of connected channels maintains visibility and increases your chances of bookings. The ability to selectively choose online channels keeps you in control over the optimal channel mix and profitability at the booking level.
When choosing a channel manager provider, here are some questions to ask to determine the best channel manager for your property:
- How many channels are you connected to? Are you connected to the most important channels for my hotel?
- How many channels, room types per channel and days can my hotel manage simultaneously?
- How far out can you manage availability?
- What reports will you provide me? Will you show me which channels deliver the most bookings and which provide the most revenue?
- How long does the implementation take?
- Does the channel management system support multiple users?
Connect with the STAAH team to find out more about the STAAH channel manager, and why it is right for your hotel. Whether you’re a first-timer looking for a channel manager or looking to switch from your existing one, STAAH’s flexible features are suitable to all property types.
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