Hotel reservation software has changed alot
throughout the years. In the late 1990's if you were at a hotel
and wanted to take reservations online there
were few options you had in software. Companies like Worldres
dominated not only the market but your pocket book. There were no
flat fee booking engines. Percentages of 5% to 10% were common.
As the internet became more main stream and users
were booking online, hotels revolted. Flat fees solutions emerge.
Since 1998 Alternate Image has always offered flat fee reservation
software. We were hoteliers during those early days and remember
the checks written to booking engine software companies in excess
of $1800 a month.
In today's market you should look closely not
only at pricing obviously but at the features your online hotel
reservation software provides compared to the competition.
Here are a few of the features that be Open Hotel
online reservations software provides and how it compares to others
on the market.
*Does your software reside on a URL connected to
your website such as book.yourhotel.com or does it click off to a
third-party? If it clicks off to a third-party remember a couple of
things. First, Google does not give you any credit for the content
on your booking engine if it clicks off to a third-party. Second,
consumers feel more confident remaining on your site. And lastly,
if you discontinue service with your hotel reservation software company you immediately lose all
links that you have created. If you're online booking engine
resides on a subdomain of your site your webmaster can always
redirect links if necessary.
*Does your hotel booking software allow you to create dynamic
packaging? Consumers want to not only stay and hotel but they want
to know what is available to do while they are at the hotel. All
packages may not be booked often dynamic packaging is a great way
to showcase things to do.
*Do your online reservations have the option and
the flexibility to work the way your property does? Can you do
length of stay discounts, advance booking discounts, promotional
codes, free night discounts, and have them all work together?
*And finally is your hotel reservation software available and
affordable flat rate with no percentages with amazing customer
support?
