Mark SimpsonHelping short-term rental hosts get the tools, tactics and training to grow direct bookings with confidence

Unlocking the Benefits of Booking Direct The Marriott & Hilton Strategy

9 Mar 2024 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:33

A short YouTube talk by Mark Simpson advising hotels to promote incentives for guests who book direct rather than through third parties. He highlights practical tactics (welcome hampers placed in rooms) and points to Marriott and Hilton as examples offering perks such as free Wi‑Fi, early check‑in, and late checkout. He recommends advertising these incentives prominently (e.g., on the homepage) to motivate direct bookings.

Chapters

So your cleaners or whoever go in. When someone books direct, they get the hamper out from storage, they put it on the table, they pop it all in there and say, hey, because you booked direct. Thank you so much. Here's your welcome hamper. And then you've got something to mention on your website, on your website, on the homepage. People need to know why they should book direct. It's not all about saving money. Sometimes it's the incentives. And if you want a perfect example of this in action, go to marriott.com, go and look at Hilton. Go look at what they do and the perks that they give when you book direct. They do it. They're free. WI fi, early check in, late checkout. Welcome hampers is the easiest way.