Due to fear of increasing expenses, many B&B owners are still using outdated hotel technologies. Although it may seem like a sacrifice in the name of saving money, this redundant technology is only hindering the way they manage their property and is inhibiting their ability to increase revenue and enter the global marketplace.
The following five hotelier ‘solutions’ are the most dated, and if you are still using these at your B&B you should consider updating your methods before being left behind.
#1
The Year-By-Year Check-In Diary
Previously, all B&B check-ins were done with pen and paper. Battered and overused, the check-in diary is often found behind the front desk, today’s date open, scrawled with check-in times and notes.
This worked fine when guest expectation was low, but now the pressure is on hoteliers to prioritize more of their time towards enhancing their guests’ experience.
Using manual written methods puts a lot of pressure on the staff member at the front desk (and has them stuck there) to remain efficient while having to check room availability, arrivals, and departures.
Instead Try: Cloud-Based Property Management Systems
These systems give hoteliers the tools and features to manage their B&B within one online system, making the day-to-day guest management far easier.
Front desk systems allow hoteliers to keep an eye on everything in one place while rates and availability are automatically updated.
#2
Phone Bookings
While this should always be an option for your customers, hoteliers should focus their resources on providing a seamless online booking experience. Over 50% of bookings are being made online so your customers are expecting this option. Phone bookings pose a high security risk for your customers personal details, and take an unnecessary amount of time to complete.
Instead Try: Direct Booking Technology
Take commission-free bookings straight from your existing website and Facebook page by integrating with an online booking engine.
A good booking engine will have an integrated payments solution that ensures guests can book as quickly and easily as possible. Guests can search available rooms, rates and dates conveniently from your.
#3
Manual Channel Management
It takes far too long to manually manage all of your online booking channels. Personally updating inventory means you are making sacrifices on where you list your rooms, running a higher risk of double booking.
Instead Try: Channel Management Technology
Using a channel manager will allow you to sell your rooms on as many channels as possible without risking overbooking. The right channel management technology will a use a pooled inventory model to update your distribution sites in real-time.
#4
Slow Or Non-existent Website
Most leisure travelers make their final decision on a hotel by visiting its website. This is where B&B owners need to tell their hotel story and without a personalised website, they cannot convert online guests effectively.
Instead Try: A Beautiful Guest Converting Website
Create a mobile and SEO friendly website that will convert guests into commission-free bookings.
Build yourself a website that hosts beautiful images, descriptions and caters to brand colours to create pleasant online booking experience. Sell your rooms through responsive galleries and optimised page designs which help showcase your amenities and upsell to guests.
#5
Displaying Prices And Taking Payment In Only One Currency
Booking in a foreign currency is often confusing and frustrating. Customers want to know what they are paying for in a way that makes financial sense to them.
Instead Try: Local Currencies and Languages
Use an online booking engine which offers guests the option to book in their own language and currency. You’ll have bookings coming in from all around the world.
The post 5 solutions B&Bs still use which have become redundant appeared first on Front Desk & Reservation System for Small Hotels – Little Hotelier.
