In the hotel industry, we can observe two clashing, completely opposing trends. On the one hand, accommodation managers are doing everything possible to ensure that as many tourists as possible book directly. On the other, they are partnering with a growing number of booking portals that charge significant commissions (even up to 10 percent), simply to maximize occupancy. An intuitive booking engine is an essential tool for the first of these categories. Accepting reservations online 24/7 offers great prospects.
Booking from a given resort's website, as well as social media, city services, or travel portals (some allow for the addition of such an additional module), can easily be compared to a second reception desk. However, this one serves a theoretically unlimited number of potential customers, and at all times. The crucial question remains: how to implement such an intuitive booking engine. Generally, there are two ways out of this situation: either spend a fortune on a custom-designed IT solution, or invest in proven hotel program, equipped with appropriate functionality for online reservations.
It is worth paying more attention to NFHotel
The second of these alternatives seems more attractive and better justified from an economic perspective. This is due to the simple fact that by opting for a "ready-made" solution, you can implement a proven tool practically on the spot. Moreover, the package includes a number of other equally useful features. The intuitive booking engine can be integrated with features such as an interactive reception schedule, reports based on data from the system and statistical analyses, built-in messenger for hotel staff or channel manager to synchronize information about available and occupied rooms across all sales channelsNFHotel, a specialized software developed and systematically expanded by NetFactory, offers such an exceptionally attractive package. Of course, such a comprehensive, fully featured hotel program costs a significant amount of money. However, it's an investment that will quickly pay for itself. And it will start generating profits for hoteliers, thanks to its intuitive booking engine, among other things.
Self-service is still a priority
While much of the functionality generates profits by improving workflow and saving staff time performing daily tasks, online bookings generate direct cash flow into your account. Alternatively, if guests prefer to pay cash upon arrival, this is assuming the average internet user can navigate the entire booking process. The intuitive booking engine will be an intelligent assistant for everyoneFrom the computer geek who travels several times a year to the complete novice in modern technology and mobile devices who goes on vacation once a decade. That's why the clarity of presented information and ease of use are absolutely crucial. Graphical fireworks may look nice in a diagram, but they often just get in the way. Furthermore, designing an intuitive booking engine requires a logical division of reservations into subsequent stages. Cluttering the screen with irrelevant questions and data only confuses the mind, producing the opposite effect from the intended one.
Start with what's most important and move on
First, you need to understand what information is needed at the beginning. What will the receptionist first ask when calling with an inquiry? The number and age of guests, and the preferred date, to check if there's anything available. The procedure in an intuitive booking engine should be exactly the same. First, search for available options, and only then try to "sell" the customer extras like exclusive attractions, meals in an elegant restaurant, or special packages for a special occasion. An undoubted advantage of NFHotel is that after displaying the standards to choose from, it dynamically recalculates prices as the customer selects items from the "store." At any time, the total cost for individual rooms is visible. Then, the intuitive booking engine completes the formalities. This means displaying a short summary, and if the guest confirms everything, showing a link to the online payments (if the object has them) and send appropriate messages to the provided e-mail addressOf course, immediately and automatically, without involving any of the employees.
Better is the enemy of good – this saying also applies to direct bookings on websites. Intuitive booking engines may look less attractive, but it's booking engines full of unnecessary bells and whistles that lose more tourists. Although it would be more accurate to say that complicated, incomprehensible mechanisms actually discourage potential customers.
