I just read the comment that was posted to our previous Blog entry, suggesting that Instant Online Booking is not for everyone.  While this is an important topic that will be addressed in future blog posts, I think it is useful to comment at this time.

Let me emphasize that Instant Online Booking IS for everybody.  There are many arguments I’ve heard to not using instant booking — I only have a few rooms, I can’t check availability daily, I can better allocate my rooms otherwise, etc.

Know that Instant Online Booking can be used by everybody, and adapted to your own specific needs and circumstances.  Unless you can say that you are willing to pass by over 80% of the online travelers who consider booking your property, either on your own website, or a service like BedBreakfastTraveler.com, then instant online booking is for you.  For example, if you only have a few rooms to play with, putting one or two rooms in online availability is always better than not having any.  If you don’t have time to monitor all your availability online every day, then only put a subset of your availability online.  This will help avoid double-bookings.

This concept is so important, you need to understand it.  The number one goal with online bed and breakfast or hotel marketing is to maximize the number of online guests considering your property.  By not offering at least some instant availability for booking, the vast majority of guests who find you online will inevitably pass you by and book elsewhere.

This is Online Booking 101, and if you use it properly, online booking is for you.  Don’t be fooled by the old way of working.  We are entering a new world of online tourism technology, and the whole paradigm for online booking is evolving in exciting new ways.

Please look forward to our future blog posts on the important topic of Instant Online Booking.