Tips for Effective Hotel Channel Management

With the recessionary economy today, travel decisions have changed dramatically. For hotel revenue managers to maximize profits, they need to understand where their customers are coming from. One of the biggest hotel booking channel is the coordination with meeting and travel planners. Understanding how this segment operates is important to maintain consistent profits and boost hotel profitability.

Golf, spas, and clubs are taking second place. Travel and meeting planners are pressured to come up with value for money proposals that are in-tune with the business environment. Expectations of the hotel facilities go back to the basics. Among the things that are necessary include reasonably price food and beverage, internet access, cable TV, desk, chairs, and comfortable bedding.

In addition, a lot of planners need to minimize travel expenses. Thus, most of the sites they choose for meetings need to be close to airports, the office, or the area should have affordable rental cars and other transportation. As you can see, yield management today is more focused on providing the most basic amenities with excellence. And as always, the hotel service of the establishment itself is of foremost consideration. The reasons why all these changes were made include:

Practicality – the practicality the hotel provides is a crucial consideration for planners. It is important to give an impression that the establishment offers value for money. And that everything that is needed by the guest is already provided by the hotel.

Reliability – before closing in and increasing hotel bookings, smooth transactions are required. No one wants to deal with an unreliable hotel with changing policies. Being reliable also help those in the hospitality industry build relationship and increase hotel sales in the future.

Building on these Relationships – once relationships have been established, it should be maintained. Hotels will be giving up their advantage if they don’t strengthen these types of relationships especially if it involves a profitable hotel distribution channel. Joining social networks, getting recommendations, and receiving good feedback will all inspire others to try the hotel.