Amadeus LinkHotel Checklist A guide to help you get the most out of the your hotel s presence on the GDS
What is the Amadeus LinkHotel Checklist? As we all know, the hotel industry is not only a huge industry but also a complex one. We, at Amadeus LinkHotel, want to make your presence in this industry and, in particular, on the Global Distribution System (GDS) as simple as can be. This is why we have created an overview of best practices for all Amadeus LinkHotel members. The checklist consists of 10 tips that aim to help you get the most out of the your presence on the GDS and of your hotel - all with the aim of expanding your global reach, enhance productivity and drive down costs, and ultimately deliver excellent levels of customer service. Page 2
Amadeus LinkHotel Checklist Create a Best Available Rate (BAR) code that stands out! Load your complete hotel inventory and make it all available Show off your hotel Create your close-out periods in advance Feature and describe the additional services and amenities Detail your room types Advise your account manager when creating a new rate plan Make your hotel s negotiated rates worth it Make available a non-restricted rate Offer variety in your rates as well as in your channels Page 3
SA 2014 Amadeus IT Group SA 1 Create a Best Available Rate (BAR) code that stands out Create a special rate and make it available and on sale under the BAR (Best Available Rate) code. The majority of travel agents filter their searches for only hotels that have a BAR rate available which means that if your hotel does not have a BAR rate, the hotel will not appear in the travel agent s search results. 2 Advise your account manager when creating a new rate plan Advise your Amadeus LinkHotel Account Manager or send an email to linkhotel.reservations@amadeus.com every time you create a new rate plan for your hotel so we can map it in the Amadeus LinkHotel Central Reservation System (CRS) and make it available for booking immediately. You can create a new rate plan by clicking on the button Rate Plan Management in the Amadeus LinkHotel CRS. Review the screenshot below for exact location of the button or watch the step-by-step tutorial video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpu7og9kyuy Page 4
3 Make available a non-restricted rate Always include at least one non-restricted rate. The majority of travel agents prefer to book rates without any restriction such as a mandatory guarantees (credit card, deposit) or cancellation penalties. The less restrictions the rate has, the easier it is for travel agent s to book. 4 Offer variety in your rates as well as in your channels Offer a variety of rates in all of your hotel s distribution channels. If you only sell the most expensive rates through the GDSs, you might run the risk of losing trust with travel agents and eventually lose bookings through the GDS. 5 Make your hotel s negotiated rates worth it Ensure that your hotel s negotiated rates and Consortia rates are ALWAYS cheaper than your hotel s cheapest public rate and are available up until the last room available. When you load these negotiated rates, make sure that the description exactly matches the loading instructions provided by the corporation. Page 5
6 Load your complete hotel inventory and make it all available Make sure that all your hotel inventory content is loaded into the Amadeus LinkHotel Central Reservation System (CRS) and available to be booked. Rather than making your inventory available little by little, it is recommended to load your entire inventory. Then you can close your inventory availability as it becomes unavailable. This will help maximise the possibilities of bookings. 7 Create your close-out periods in advance Include your hotel s close-out periods at least one year in advance. You can set the close-out periods by clicking on the button Availability Planning in the Amadeus LinkHotel Central Reservation System. Review the screenshot below for exact location of the button or watch the step-by-step tutorial video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn8djb9iw-4&feature=player_embedded Page 6
8 Detail your room types Fully detail the room types with all features and amenities. In the description, include the type of bed (single, double, queen, king, etc.), the type of room (superior, deluxe, classic, suite, etc.) and the principal amenities or services that are included in the room (smart TV, tablet, video game console, free Wi-Fi, minibar, etc.) Watch a step-by-step tutorial video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bl_kxr2hfi Page 7
9 Feature and describe the additional services and amenities Ensure you include all of your hotel s additional and valuable services in the description of the rate in the Amadeus LinkHotel Central Reservation System. You should include all services such as breakfast included, free parking, free WIFI, etc. Note that it is required by all GDSs that the rate description must be ALWAYS written in English and be a maximum of 42 characters including spaces. Review the screenshot below for the exact location of the button or watch the step-by-step tutorial video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae9xwb-_0_w 10 Show off your hotel Choose recent photos of your hotel so that they show the reality and the most desirable amenities. Include photos that add value to your hotel such as the exterior, rooms, bathrooms, restaurants, business centres, etc. Try to avoid close up photos of floral arrangements and laptops on the bed as these do not highlight the specific attributes of your hotel. Page 8
Would you like some more details or tips? If you would like some more details on the 10 tips presented in this document, or if you would like more tips, we would be happy to discuss with you further. Please contact your Amadeus LinkHotel account manager or send an email to linkhotel@amadeus.com. To watch all of the step-by-step video tutorials of the Amadeus LinkHotel Central Reservation System (CRS), please visit the Amadeus LinkHotel Training Academy. For additional information about the Amadeus LinkHotel solution and services, please visit our website at www.amadeus.com/linkhotel. Page 9
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