What are the most impactful ways to show off your property’s unique features? How do you steer travel shoppers to your booking engine instead of an OTA? What’s the best way to break out in this very competitive market?
The booking path is no longer linear and with more competition than ever before, hospitality professionals have these questions in mind and are wondering how they can increase conversion and boost revenue. We’ve outlined three easy steps that are sure to skyrocket your property’s direct bookings – the most profitable way to book guests.
1. Be where your guests are shopping
Booking direct on mobile and social media has proven to be a great way for guests to book when it’s convenient for them. The convenience factor encourages shoppers to reserve their room on the spot, rather than to put it off for another time.
More and more travel shoppers are viewing hotel websites on mobile devices. When websites are horrible on smartphones, many people will just say ‘forget it’ when they look at it. With an optimized website, you can reach and engage more travel shoppers – which will result in more bookings!
You can easily create a mobile friendly website with Vizlly. Check out this article to learn more.
2. Tell your story, your way
Ensure your property’s website shows off its unique features in a creative way. When it comes to deciding what content you want to put on your website, ask yourself these questions:
- Who are my guests?
- What makes my hotel unique?
- What are people saying about my hotel?
- What would excite and inspire you if you were a travel shopper?
Focusing on unique features and amenities communicates an anticipated experience that sets your property apart from others in the vicinity. For example, if your hotel is located in a central area, use the tabs on your website to reiterate your story. Instead of something traditional like “Area Attractions,” why not use “See & Do.”
3. A visual-first, easy-to-navigate website is key
Images are incredibly valuable because they tell a story of their own, grabbing guests’ attention immediately. A photo gallery featuring images of your rooms and surrounding area is a savvy best practice. This way, travel shoppers don’t have to dig through pages to get the information they want – it’s right there when they arrive on the homepage.
Apart from being visually appealing, be sure that your website is easy to navigate with a clear path to the booking engine. A simple way to do this is by ensuring that there’s a ‘book now’ button on every page. If travelers like what they see, they’re able to easily book a room as soon as they find something they like.
Your website is a major step in helping your continuously growing business, so be sure to incorporate these simple, affordable strategies today!