How hotels use tech-friendly privileges to increase direct bookings Among tech-savvy travelers, there’s a perception that booking hotel stays through an OTA will give them the lowest rates. However, hotel marketers know there is more to “value” than the price tag. Here’s how some of the major hotel brands are using tech-friendly privileges to increase direct bookings. Source: Hotel Marketing How hotels use tech-friendly privileges to increase direct bookings
STR: Airbnb has no ‘material’ impact on Manhattan’s room demand Airbnb doesn’t have any “material” impact on hotel-room demand in New York’s borough of Manhattan, research firm STR said in a report released this week, contradicting what many analysts, hotel operators and housing advocates have said about peer-to-peer housing’s effect on the lodging industry in the largest U.S. city. Source: Hotel Marketing STR: Airbnb has no ‘material’ impact on Manhattan’s room demand
Sabre’s new agent desktop upgrade to include enhanced hotel capabilities Sabre travel agents can expect the “next big release” of the Sabre Red Workspace this summer. The upgraded desktop will include graphical merchandising capabilities that support increased ancillary and branded fare sales, and enhanced hotel capabilities. Source: Hotel Marketing Sabre’s new agent desktop upgrade to include enhanced hotel capabilities
UK OTA sales up but high street sees decline Spending in travel agents was up by 3% year-on-year in the key January booking period, figures from Barclaycard reveal. Of this, the level of online sales rose by 11.4% while bookings made in-store fell by 4.3%. Overall consumer spending rose by 3.8% last month, partly due to prices being slashed. Source: Hotel Marketing UK OTA sales up but high street sees decline