The Voice of Innkeeping Issue 2 Vol. 1 March 2016 | Page 25

2) Invest in online booking sites

Online booking sites spend a lot of money on marketing, and can give you reach into those markets that you simply wouldn’t be able to afford on your own.

Choose the right ones

Make sure the ones that you do partner with are worth the commission fees (if you’re not sure, download our exclusive report: The Most Profitable Booking Sites for Small Hotels in 2016).

Have the technology to manage it all

It’s also important that you have channel management technology to back it up, so that you’re about to sell as many rooms as possible, through as many channels as possible - without worrying about double bookings. There are affordable options out there that charge you a low, flat fee per month.

3) Invest in your most profitable channel

Direct online bookings are loved by all small accommodation providers, because you are in full control of your guests’ experience, and you pay no commission for it.

Work on your website

Have a top-notch, user-friendly website that works with mobile, and a smooth booking process to match. Take excellent photographs and use enticing descriptions to sell your rooms.

And of course, guests need to be able to book and pay for their stay online if you want to compete in today’s increasingly crowded marketplace. They need to be able to do it quickly and easily, from any device.

Integrate your systems

Ensure that your booking engine integrates with your channel manager and front desk system, so that no matter where a booking is made, your availability is always up to date, and that you have a secure online payment process.

All-in-one solutions like Little Hotelier consolidate your bookings from all sources, so that you can effortlessly manage all of your reservations from one cloud-based login.

Visit www.littlehotelier.com to learn more.