Three stars for the win.
The current market conditions, inflation, and economic uncertainty make three-star properties a favorable choice. Expedia predicts 2023 to be the year of the “no-normal” as travelers rethink different ways of traveling. Ditching one big blowout expedition and spreading the dollars by opting for more spontaneous, easy trips will be the new norm. These hotels also make an excellent option for bleisure trips that saw an upsurge in 2022 and are continuing to gain more momentum.
Recommendation: Many 3-star properties already stand apart in character and ambiance; In addition, they can add more value in better revenue management, upsells, and proper marketing, which can be achieved seamlessly by adopting automation.
Videos: the new marketing must-have.
Videos have progressed to the top of how we consume content. Thanks to social media like TikTok and Instagram, short-form videos - videos under 10 minutes - are gaining rapid popularity and have become critical for travel research (#Travel has over 94 billion views on TikTok). A recent survey from Google revealed that more than half of respondents depend on videos as a vital resource for travel searches.
In addition, Google is changing its algorithm to favor more short-form videos, making it a must-have medium in 2023. So for those who still need to get on social media, now is the time to rethink your marketing strategies and consider opting in on these platforms to prevent yourself from staying behind the curve.
Regain OTA commission.
Maximizing customization with Akia's payments, cashless tipping, and upsells enables Ski country resort to multiply its revenue and offer a more significant bonus to housekeepers. Leveraging payments and automation, the property also regains the dollars lost in commission. "[Akia] helped give our housekeepers a better bonus after a busy Christmas. It has also been a nice way to regain some of those commissions we pay to third parties." - Shannon Sinnard, Ski Country Resort.
