Direct bookings from your website.

In the competitive world of hospitality, direct bookings benefit your hotel, guest house or Bed & Breakfast most, when done through your own website. Not only do direct bookings bypass hefty third-party commissions, but they also allow for a more personalised guest experience. 

OTAs (online travel agencies) allow for a quick and easy way to book accommodation online. They offer you international exposure and 20% of their visitors also look at your website before making a reservation. This offers you a unique opportunity to ensure booking directly is attractive and easy for potential guests.

Here are some strategies to ensure your website booking engine drives more direct bookings. 

How to get the most direct bookings:

1. Mobile-friendly website. Do the test. Go on! Have a look at your own website from your smartphone. More and more online reservations are booked from a mobile device. It’s vitally important for your website to be compatible with mobile phones and for your website to display correctly on a mobile device. Chat with our partners — Springnest — for a great-looking mobile responsive site.
   • READ: Spring clean your website
2. More than just the basics. Guests do not just visit your property, but also the region so why not add some information about things to do in the area or some upcoming events? Include great restaurants to eat at, places to visit and things to see.
   * Make use of —NightsBridge Concierge— to book these activities for your guest and earn a 10% commission.
3. Making it easy to convert. Now that you have shown what your property has to offer and all the additional services you provide, it’s crucial to have an easy and quick way for the visitor to book.
   * Add the —NightsBridge Booking Engine— onto your website to display availability, specials and rates.
4. Create a loyalty program. Reward your return for their loyalty towards your property and create a client login with reduced rates for them on your booking engine. This will allow your return guest to view the availability and discounted rates you have on offer and encourage them to return.

Take some action today to turn your website into a convenient one-stop shop for your guests. Accommodation providers benefit the most from direct bookings so make sure you don’t miss out! By implementing these strategies, as an accommodation provider you can enhance your website booking engines and increase direct bookings, leading to higher profits and more satisfied guests.

Happy booking!

READ more guides on this topic on direct booking benefits for hotels:

Get direct bookings from your Facebook page 

Get direct bookings from Google Hotels