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      ‘Prime AAA locations will remain central to our strategy’: JB Singh, President and CEO, InterGlobe Hotels

      April 3, 2025

      Breaking Barriers and Leading with Excellence: Women in Hospitality

      March 7, 2025

      Indian Hospitality Industry Poised for Continued Growth in 2025

      January 15, 2025

      ‘India’s non-metro cities are at the heart of the country’s hospitality growth, offering immense potential and untapped opportunities’

      October 8, 2024

      ‘We’re not just hosting events but also shaping Hyderabad’s reputation as India’s top MICE destination’ : Rubin Cherian

      April 21, 2025

      ‘Hotels blending local charm with sustainability to lead next phase’ : Jitendra Taak

      April 4, 2025

      Timbertales Coorg Aims to Become South India’s Top Luxury Resort

      March 6, 2025

      ‘We aim to expand our portfolio to 3,500 keys by 2035’

      March 4, 2025

      Luxury Whisky brand The Dalmore targets India’s growing market for single malts

      May 6, 2025

      ‘We’re not just hosting events but also shaping Hyderabad’s reputation as India’s top MICE destination’ : Rubin Cherian

      April 21, 2025

      ‘India plans to double foreign tourist arrivals to 25 million in the next five years’

      April 14, 2025

      ‘Prime AAA locations will remain central to our strategy’: JB Singh, President and CEO, InterGlobe Hotels

      April 3, 2025

      Culinary Art India 2025: A Celebration of India’s Evolving Hospitality Landscape

      March 7, 2025

      ProWine Mumbai 2024: A Toast to Excellence in Wine and Spirits

      December 4, 2024

      7th AHP Hospitality Excellence Awards Celebrating Innovation, Diversity, and the Future of Hospitality

      July 26, 2024

      IHC-IIHM International Hospitality Day Awards celebrates the Glamorous Hospitality Industry of Mumbai

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      ‘Guests today seek an overall experience rather than just good food or stay‘: Chef Satyakumar GV, Executive Chef, Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel

      January 28, 2025

      Young Chefs from 50 Nations to Compete at 11th International Chef Olympiad, Feb 2-8, 2025

      January 28, 2025

      IIHM and IHC Celebrates International Hospitality Day 2024

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      Food Trends Predictions for 2024

      November 24, 2023

      ‘We’re not just hosting events but also shaping Hyderabad’s reputation as India’s top MICE destination’ : Rubin Cherian

      April 21, 2025

      ‘Hotels blending local charm with sustainability to lead next phase’ : Jitendra Taak

      April 4, 2025

      ‘We plan to drive higher RevPAR and occupancy through dynamic pricing, targeted marketing campaigns, and expanding corporate tie-ups’: Manoj Jangid

      March 29, 2025

      ‘Weddings and Room Bookings Drive Significant Revenue Growth’: Anirban Sarkar, General Manager, Radisson Blu Greater Noida

      January 15, 2025

      Balancing Luxury and Sustainability

      May 14, 2025

      ‘Weddings and Room Bookings Drive Significant Revenue Growth’: Anirban Sarkar, General Manager, Radisson Blu Greater Noida

      January 15, 2025

      Luxury Hospitality in India: A Market on the Rise

      December 3, 2024

      Redefining Indian hospitality, the TECH way

      June 6, 2024
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      The Cart or the Horse?

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      Culinary Tourism in India: A Global Perspective

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      M+A+S=H

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      What is the most important part of developing a risk management plan for a hotel?

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      Role of Facility Management in Experiential Tourism: Shaping Unforgettable Journeys in India

      September 27, 2023

      Occupancy Upsurge: Reinvigorating Business

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      Legal Obligations of Lost Properties – Infra Hospitium

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      SulaFest 2025 Kicks Off Its 14th Edition

      February 3, 2025

      Medusa Beverages and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products launches the ‘House of the Dragon’ Exclusive Edition

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      Mehra Wines sets sights on leading India’s premium alcoholic beverage market

      April 24, 2024

      WIPS-Nashik revived by Govt of Mah, HRAWI applauds the move

      January 23, 2024

      Quro Debuts as India’s First Signature Liqueur

      May 14, 2025

      Cellar 33 & Sonarys Celebrate Grower Champagne’s India Debut

      May 9, 2025

      India-UK FTA Spurs Premium Spirits Boom in Hospitality Sector

      May 9, 2025

      Luxury Whisky brand The Dalmore targets India’s growing market for single malts

      May 6, 2025

      F&B major FSIPL announces 8 New Products

      October 19, 2022

      The Health Factory startup raised INR 2 crore expanded seed funding

      August 22, 2022

      Sattvik Certifies Indian Beverages Company VARAHI Pvt Ltd

      August 22, 2022

      Cold Chain Storage & Supply to Boost the Consumption of Frozen Poultry

      May 5, 2020

      ‘Our HoReCa clients have saved between INR 2 Lac and INR 15 Lac per year by using our products’ : Jesal Sampat, Executive Director, Pune Gas

      March 29, 2024

      UNESCO New Delhi seeks for expression of interest for catering services

      March 19, 2024

      ‘HoReCa Channel Contributes 80-85% of Real Good Chicken’s Revenue’ : Abhay Parnerkar, CEO, Godrej Tyson Foods

      August 30, 2023

      X Events Hospitality launches #chefstogether campaign to celebrate International Chefs Day

      August 25, 2022

      ‘We are planning to raise around INR 25 cr within 8-10 months’ : Krunal Oza, Founder & CEO of Hustlers Hospitality

      September 2, 2022

      A Feast for the Senses; Sheraton Hyderabad’s Culinary Gem

      February 2, 2025

      Roastery Coffee House : More than just a place to dine

      June 14, 2024

      Glocal Junction: Lifting modern Indian cuisine to new heights

      January 10, 2023

      Little Italy Hyderabad: An Italian gastronomic paradise nestled amidst Jubilee Hills

      December 7, 2022

      ‘Shoyu’ Brings Modern Asian Flavors to Hyderabad

      March 7, 2025

      A Feast for the Senses; Sheraton Hyderabad’s Culinary Gem

      February 2, 2025

      Firewater Neo Bar and Kitchen Sparks Culinary Magic in the Financial District

      February 2, 2025

      Roastery Coffee House : More than just a place to dine

      June 14, 2024

      Kolkata Orders Rooftop Restaurants Closed After Hotel Fire

      May 8, 2025

      Yi Jing at ITC Kohenur Offers a Culinary Escape with New Summer Menu

      May 7, 2025

      18% GST on Meals in Specified Hotels Elevates Dining and Event Costs

      April 14, 2025

      Clara Beach Haven Opens in Goa, Blending Art, Elegance, and Culinary Excellence

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      Association of Hospitality Professionals Announces the Seventh Edition of Hospitality Challenge 2024

      June 28, 2024

      IIHM and Mayfair Hotels & Resorts Forge Strategic Partnership with MoU Signing

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      ‘We focus on equipping students with essential skills‘

      May 6, 2024

      IIHM and IHC Celebrates International Hospitality Day 2024

      April 29, 2024

      Hyatt India collaborates with CII & EHL to launch Vocational Training across its properties in Delhi, NCR and Lucknow

      July 25, 2024

      Association of Hospitality Professionals Announces the Seventh Edition of Hospitality Challenge 2024

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      ‘We focus on equipping students with essential skills‘

      May 6, 2024

      Apeejay Institute of Hospitality celebrates the graduation of the class of 2024

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      Le Cordon Bleu Gurugram Unveils Advanced Hospitality Training Facilities

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      Apeejay Institute of Hospitality celebrates the graduation of the class of 2024

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      ISH Hosts Distin-GU-ISH-ED 2025, Celebrates Culinary Excellence

      March 26, 2025

      Le Cordon Bleu Gurugram Unveils Advanced Hospitality Training Facilities

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      HPMF Inaugurates 14th Annual Convention with Grand Ceremony in Lucknow

      September 27, 2024

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      HPMF to celebrate 14th Anniversary with Awards in Lucknow and Ayodhya Dham

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      May 14, 2024

      ‘Our HoReCa clients have saved between INR 2 Lac and INR 15 Lac per year by using our products’ : Jesal Sampat, Executive Director, Pune Gas

      March 29, 2024

      Hafele Introduces India’s First One Touch Cabinet Mechanism

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      X Events Hospitality launches #chefstogether campaign to celebrate International Chefs Day

      August 25, 2022

      Celebrated Chef Anton Mosimann Awarded with Swiss Culinary Merit of Honor

      July 25, 2021

      HRAWI organises FSSAI’s latest FoSTaC Programme in Mumbai

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      HRAWI organises Fire Marshals Training Programme

      April 17, 2019

      HRAWI organises fire safety training for hotels & restaurants in Mumbai

      March 20, 2019

      Hyatt and Quimera Energy Efficiency wins the AEE’s Western Europe Region Energy Project Award 2018

      November 9, 2018

      Rajj Tandoors Redefines Tandoor Cooking with Global Vision and Chef-Centric Innovation

      May 12, 2025

      ‘Our HoReCa clients have saved between INR 2 Lac and INR 15 Lac per year by using our products’ : Jesal Sampat, Executive Director, Pune Gas

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      EssEmm Corporation launches Cosmos Nut Butter Grinder

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      HPMF Signs Landmark MOU with WineGAI

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      HPMF and ICF Join Forces to Transform India’s Hospitality Sector

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      ‘Addressing the gap between industry demand and workforce skills is a critical challenge’

      May 14, 2024

      Global Revenue Forum 2023 to host Opportunity 2023

      January 12, 2023
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    Hospitality Biz India: Latest News & Analysis
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    Home » OTA COMMISSIONS – CAN YOU CUT BACK?
    Staah

    OTA COMMISSIONS – CAN YOU CUT BACK?

    adminBy adminJune 9, 2022No Comments5 Mins Read
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    No hotelier underestimates the marketing prowess of OTAs. Yet everyone recognises the high cost every OTA booking comes with.

    The popularity of online travel agents (OTAs) has always put accommodation providers in a difficult position. On one hand, their pervasive reach and high advertising budgets bring vital brand awareness for properties. Besides, many guests prefer the familiarity of booking through well-known OTA brands.

    Yet, this reach comes at a high cost. 15% – 20% for every booking. At times such as now when the industry is crippled by a virus, the expense is even harder to bear.

    So, how can you reduce your dependence on OTAs? Let’s explore in this blog.

    Firstly, OTAs are not your enemies

    Don’t play the victim. OTAs are where your guests search most, and they are here to stay. They offer something you cannot recreate – reaching the right people, at the right time. So, stop weeping about commissions and leverage this reach and guest booking journey in a manner where you can make the most of OTAs’ reach.

    Boost direct bookings
     
    We all know negotiation of commission rates is not feasible given the power of OTAs. In fact, if you push too hard you may find yourself cut off from their channel.
    Luckily, an OTA is not the only touchpoint in a guest’s booking journey. There are others, including your website. If you optimise it, converting OTA lookers into bookers, you can grow direct bookings and reduce OTA commissions. Let’s look at a few ideas to grow your direct booking pie.
    Create a stunning, user-friendly website
     
    Your website is your shop window. Every opportunity of someone peeking through is one to convert them into a sale. For that, the shop window has to be very attractive.
    High-quality videos and images that load fast and tell your story in a compelling manner are your opportunities to invite users to experience what a stay with you would look like. Understand your audiences. Curate your content to suit their needs and answer their questions. Leverage the smarts of a smart booking engine that is responsive to the users’ needs, easy to use, easier to manage at the back-end and designed to leverage insights to drive up direct revenue.

    Make compelling direct offers

    Don’t let rate parity prevent you from making offers that will lead to a booking. Get creative with how you can add value to the guest, without breaking the terms of rate parity. Provide access to complimentary amenities. Offer discounts for friends and family or return bookings or throw in upgrades. Make sure your booking engine introduces these offers at the right time of a user journey on the website, prompting a booking. Allow guests to compare rates to OTAs while on your website (a stellar feature of the STAAH booking engine) so they stay and book via your website.

    Build a loyalty programme
    Guests who have experienced your service, and enjoyed it, are likely to be your biggest advocates by referring friends and family, providing great online reviews or returning for another stay.

    Encourage guests to subscribe to your loyalty programme through incentives and ensure you always have a ready database of people to go to with direct offers and last-minute deals.

    Become a proactive digital marketer
    With the goal to sell more rooms directly, you need to adopt a more omnichannel approach. Leverage the channels OTAs are masters at to establish your own brand and identity. With a few snippets of code, a lot can be done. If it all seems a bit daunting, consider engaging a digital marketing agency.

    Search is a powerful medium. Is your website optimised for organic traffic (SEO)? What is your paid marketing strategy on Google? Have you connected Google Ads via your STAAH platform yet? It is a free and effective way to harness the power of Google search.

    Maintain your profiles on OTAs

    A well-written profile, highlighting your experience and amenities on OTAs is very important. Remember, this is where most of your guests will begin their search. In order to interest them enough to reach your website, become great at telling your story on OTAs.

    Summing up

    It’s unrealistic to target an overnight reduction in commissions – unless you go completely cold turkey on OTAs, which we don’t advise. Implement the above, however, and you should see a steady adjustment of your direct booking to OTA ratio.

    About STAAH

    STAAH Ltd. is a New Zealand-based technology company that specializes in innovative cloud-based solutions that simplify hospitality operations and open a world of online commerce for accommodation providers of all types. Founded by Gavin Jeddo in 2008, an industry pioneer, STAAH’s technology suite comprises channel management, direct bookings, online reviews management and gift voucher management system.

    Our passionate and diverse team is based across New Zealand, Australia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia,  UK and Europe providing support and service to our network of more than 12,000 + accommodation partners in more than 90 countries worldwide.

    STAAH is a New Zealand FernMark Licensee. Our quest for delivering high-quality solutions that deliver results is recognised by our industry partners such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia & Agoda.



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