How to Drive More Direct Bookings from Your Hotel Website
Driving direct bookings from your hotel website can be a key strategy for increasing revenue and reducing the fees you pay to online travel agencies. Here are some tips for how to do it:
Intuitive Hotel Websites Convert More Direct Bookings
Make it easy for guests to book directly on your website. This means having a clear and prominent call to action, such as a “Book Now” button, and making the booking process as simple and straightforward as possible.
Create Mobile-friendly Hotel Pages
Optimize your website for mobile. With more and more people booking travel on their smartphones, it’s important to make sure your website is mobile-friendly. This means having a responsive design that looks great on all devices, and making it easy for users to find and book rooms on the go. A study by Condor shows 66% of millennials book their trips using a smartphone, while 74% use their mobile for travel-related research
Promote the Benefits of Your Hotel
Provide detailed information about your property and rooms and location. The more information you can provide about your hotel, its surroundings and its amenities, the easier it will be for guests to make an informed decision about whether to book with you. Unlike generated descriptions in OTA’s and Travel Review Websites, this is your chance to promote your best hotel features in your own words.
High Quality Media
Include high-quality photos and videos. Visuals are a key part of the booking process, and having high-quality photos and videos of your property can help persuade guests to book directly.
Drive Social Traffic to Your Booking Engine
Make use of social media and email marketing. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as well as email marketing, can be effective ways to promote your hotel and drive direct bookings.
Book Direct for The Best Rate
Highlight the benefits of booking directly: Make sure to emphasize the benefits of booking directly through your website, such as the ability to access the best rates and to make changes or cancellations directly with your hotel.
Hotel Website SEO will Improve Website Booking Conversion
Improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO): By optimizing your website for relevant keywords, you can make it more likely that your website will appear at the top of search results when potential guests are searching for hotels in your area.
By following these tips, you can increase the number of direct bookings you receive through your hotel website, which can help boost your revenue and reduce your reliance on online travel agencies.
If you are interested to build or rebuild a new hotel website, we have the experience and the tools to help.