250-858-7308
1-800-730-4790

Thank you sooo much for an amazing weekend. You are amazing! We truly appreciate all of your help with our wedding.  We will...
- Jenn and Doug Carter
Thank you for the wonderful hospitality. Family room #3 was perfect. We enjoyed the comfortable beds, the warm fireplace, cozy...
- Barbara & Courtney and Lee & Frank
Thank you Dieter and Paphada for another great stay. The rooms and property are one of a kind! Breakfast was wonderful! Looking...
- Lyle and Lisa
Perfect place for us to spend a night after picking up our son from university. I will be back and would love to spend at least 3...
- Sue, Joey & Marc
Thanks for all your great suggestions for sightseeing! You have a wonderful B&B. We will tell our friends.
- Barb
Lots of birds, Kingfisher, swans, geese, crows, hawk, eagles, etc. Lovely view of mountain last night. Saw a bear cub up near Port...
- Liz
Beautiful location. We enjoy visiting with he other guests and seeing the scenery.
- Mike & Linda
Beautiful room. Loved every minute of our stay. Thanks to Tobby for all his hard work at breakfast. Wish we could have stayed longer....
- Don & Jan
Our first Bed & Breakfast experience. Absolutely amazing, so blissful and relaxing. 
- Casey, Shadiah & Aveya
We have enjoyed your B&B so much. As first time B&B'ers usually traveling in an RV, we did not know what to expect. It is a...
- Julie and Rodney

Course 3.2: OTA's - Online Travel Agencies for B&B's and Vacation Rentals

BOOK DIRECT - Best Price

OTA's - Online Travel Agencies such as Booking.com, Expedia, Trivago, VRBO, AirBnB, Hotels.com, HomeAway have inserted themselves in to the reservations equation to the point they can no longer be ignored. Rather than fight, or ignore them even smaller "Mom and Pop" businesses need to embrace them if they wish to stay in business.

These are disruptive technologies similar to the effect websites had on accommodation providers in the mid to late 1990's when print advertising quickly succumbed to digital marketing. Unlike print, however, digital marketing - both websites and social media - is still hugely relevant still accounting for the majority of reservations commission free. When used in conjunction with OTA's your website remains your brand and your social media is the most effective tool to manage the reputation of your brand.

This course will identify which OTA's are best suited for your particular property and how best to utilize them for best results for obtaining reservations with the least commissions.

Each OTA also has unique quirks to them. Understanding them will either make or loose you $.

For example understanding the differences between "Hotel Collect" and "Expedia Collect" and the accompanying implications for credit card processing, charge backs, cancellations, guest interactions and service is critical when choosing this option on Expedia.

 

Dieter Gerhard

northStudio | StikkyMedia | QCollege | QAcademy | BirdsofaFeather | MarineEcotours

T: 250-391-8889
T: 800-730-4790
E: dieter@birdsofafeather.ca

 

Other courses offered: