On this page, we'll introduce you to the best ways to use OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) for success in your hotel or vacation rental business. This guide is especially helpful for those who are unsure about how to choose the right OTAs.
Using OTAs effectively can increase your bookings and boost your sales! However, if you choose the wrong ones, it might have the opposite effect...
What you'll learn from this article: |
Tips on how to choose the right OTAs for your property Hints for achieving success in the hotel and vacation rental business |
What is OTA?
OTA stands for Online Travel Agency. These are websites where you can book accommodations online. With OTAs, guests can easily find and book places to stay all over the world without directly contacting the accommodation.
As more and more people use the internet to plan their trips and make bookings, OTAs have become really important in the travel industry.
Main OTAs and Their Features
Let's take a look at some of the most popular OTAs:
Jalan
Rakuten Travel
Ikyu.com
Rurubu Travel
Airbnb
Booking.com
Expedia
Jalan
Jalan is super popular in Japan. In 2022, it was the most visited tourism-related website with about 28 million users. That's a lot of potential guests!
Jalan works with about 32,300 accommodations. This means there's a lot of competition, but also a lot of opportunities.
Jalan is great at promoting local areas, which is perfect if you want to show off what's special about your area. They also offer good points for bookings, which helps bring guests back.
Rakuten Travel
Rakuten Travel is another big OTA in Japan. It's popular with all age groups and offers a wide range of prices, from budget to luxury.
The best thing about Rakuten Travel is its connection to other Rakuten services. People who use Rakuten's online shopping might book through Rakuten Travel to earn more points.
Ikkyu.com
If you're thinking about offering luxury accommodations, check out Ikyu.com. It targets wealthy guests who want high-quality experiences.
Ikyu.com has strict rules about which places they list. If you can get listed, it means your place is considered high-quality.
Rurubu Travel
Rurubu Travel is run by JTB, a well-known travel company in Japan. It's trusted by many people, especially those who use JTB's package tours.
Rurubu Travel offers a wide range of prices and can help you reach both Japanese and international guests.
Airbnb
Airbnb is the world's largest platform for vacation rentals. It's really popular with travelers who want to experience local life or stay in unique places.
Airbnb is great if you want to show off what's special about your place. It's also quick to start using, which is good for new hosts.
Booking.com
Booking.com is one of the biggest OTAs in the world. It's used by travelers from many countries and offers services in 43 languages.
Booking.com is good if you want to reach international guests. It also lets guests book other travel services like flights and activities.
Expedia
Expedia is another big international OTA. It's popular with travelers who like to book their flights and accommodations together.
Expedia works with airlines like JAL and ANA, so it's used by many Japanese travelers who want to earn miles.
4 Tips for Using OTAs Effectively
Here's 4 tips when you use OTA.
Choose OTAs wisely
Make your listing stand out
Focus on guest reviews
Use a management tool like AirHost
Let's see the detail.
Tip 1: Choose OTAs Wisely
It's good to be on several OTAs, but not too many. Aim for 2-5 OTAs to reach different types of guests without making it too hard to manage.
The two most important OTAs for vacation rentals are usually Airbnb and Booking.com. Start with these, then add 1-3 more that fit your property type and target guests.
Tip 2: Make Your Listing Stand Out
To get more bookings on OTAs:
Use professional photos
Write clear and attractive descriptions
Offer good amenities and services
Tip 3: Focus on Guest Reviews
Good reviews are really important on OTAs. Be polite and helpful, and respond quickly to any problems. Also, make sure check-in is easy, especially for self-check-in properties.
Tip 4: Use a Management Tool Like AirHost
AirHost is a tool that helps you manage multiple OTAs at once. It can help you:
Manage your calendar and prices across all OTAs
Handle guest messages in one place
Set prices automatically based on demand
Manage cleaning schedules
Make check-in easier
Balancing OTAs and Direct Bookings
While OTAs are great for getting guests, it's also good to get some direct bookings. This can help you save on OTA fees.
You can encourage direct bookings by:
Asking repeat guests to book directly next time
Having your own website with a booking system
AirHost can help you set up a booking system on your own website.
Conclusion
For small accommodations, OTAs are often the best way to get guests. The key is to choose the right OTAs and use them well.
Choose 2-5 OTAs that fit your property and target guests. Use each OTA's special features to your advantage.
Managing multiple OTAs can be tricky, so it's important to choose wisely. Match the OTAs to your target guests and decide how they'll work with your own website.
Take your time and be strategic to get the most out of OTAs.
Good luck with your accommodation business!