Booking engines integrate flight, hotel, car rental and other travel services into one streamlined booking flow for customers. They also help you solve a common booking issue: duplication of inventory listings across multiple suppliers.
Your property's inventory is automatically updated in real time due to the software's direct integration with your PMS and Channel Manager, so guests can see your availability immediately - not only on your website but other distribution channels too. With this feature, you can avoid overbookings and pricing errors, knowing your stock is accurate, up to date and ready for sale at all times.
Your booking engine can also display special promotions, deals and other extras offered by the property to boost revenue. These may be time-sensitive or holiday-specific - anything to increase awareness among potential guests about your hotel and drive more visitors to your website.
Your booking process should be user-friendly and effortless for guests to use. Your website should be optimized for all devices - mobile, tablet and laptop - so customers can book their stay from any location at anytime.
Your hotel should be able to work with different currencies and languages, since your establishment likely attracts customers from all over the globe. Enabling customers to book in their preferred currency gives them flexibility and sets their own schedules for their stay with ease.
Your booking engine should be integrated with a CRM or ERP system so that all booking information is up-to-date and accessible for use in your business operations. Doing this allows you to conveniently access customer data for improved customer service and marketing campaigns, giving your guests an individualized experience that's consistent across devices.
Booking engines should be able to craft promotions and deals that appeal to your customers and give them the most for their money. These could include last-minute discounts, extended stay discounts or strikethrough pricing options that increase overall revenue potential while helping you sell more rooms in a shorter amount of time.
These offers give you invaluable insight into your market and what motivates guests to book at your hotel, enabling you to tailor your advertising and marketing efforts accordingly.
The software should be able to store and manage customer information such as names, emails, and physical addresses. This information can be utilized for personalized follow-ups, loyalty programs, and other marketing campaigns that will increase your customer retention rates.