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Are you a Lodging Laggard or a Leader? | By Rob Käll
Strategies for Managing Your Lodging Business through Today’s Economic Downturn - Successfully
“Chin up,” I said to the audience. “All is not lost; in fact, there is plenty to gain during this turbulent time. Lodging Leaders will manage not only to sustain through tough times, but also emerge stronger, while Lodging Laggards may end up weaker or losing their business altogether.”
Are you a Lodging Laggard or a Leader? | By Rob Käll
Strategies for Managing Your Lodging Business through Today’s Economic Downturn - Successfully
“Chin up,” I said to the audience. “All is not lost; in fact, there is plenty to gain during this turbulent time. Lodging Leaders will manage not only to sustain through tough times, but also emerge stronger, while Lodging Laggards may end up weaker or losing their business altogether.”
Hotel Perks Pack a Punch
By Rob Käll, President, Bookt
June 25, 2009 - The economy, the economy, and more about the economy... Enough already!! I don't know about you, but I have had it up to here with a constant barrage of stories about earnings reports, the failure of our banking system, business travel cutbacks – actually cutbacks of all types – and foreclosure rates. We are all well aware - we are in a recession!
Focus on Value, Not Discounts
Try these value-added strategies to bring guests to your hotel.
Price is always going to be a factor for consumers deciding which hotel to book, but discounts alone are not going to seal the deal. Today's consumers are faced with many similarly priced hotels at their fingertips thanks to the Internet, so what will they base their final decision on? Perks, perks and more perks. It's all about value.
How to handle online travel purchases gone bad
Don't give up
Sometimes it really is just a glitch, nothing more. Try to search for the fare or hotel room again, and if that doesn't work, phone the online travel agency, says Rob Kall, president of Bookt, a Web services provider to the hotel and vacation rental industry. "If you don't have any luck," he adds, "try the hotel or airline directly."
Hotel Perks Pack a Punch - By Rob Käll, President of Bookt
The economy, the economy, and more about the economy... Enough already!! I don't know about you, but I have had it up to here with a constant barrage of stories about earnings reports, the failure of our banking system, business travel cutbacks - actually cutbacks of all types - and foreclosure rates. We are all well aware - we are in a recession!
Hotel Perks Pack a Punch - By Rob Käll, President of Bookt
The economy, the economy, and more about the economy... Enough already!! I don't know about you, but I have had it up to here with a constant barrage of stories about earnings reports, the failure of our banking system, business travel cutbacks - actually cutbacks of all types - and foreclosure rates. We are all well aware - we are in a recession!
Secrets for online success
1. Get emotional in seconds
You’ve probably heard that you have just a few seconds to capture a consumer’s interest on your website. What isn’t always mentioned, however, is that capture is largely emotional. An ugly or busy site will not do the trick. Consumers are sophisticated and your site should be as well. Use the best images and design possible, and make visitors feel they belong: “I really want to experience this, I really want to visit that place.”
What are some of the mistakes that hotels make when creating their company's website.
"Rob Käll, President of Bookt, a company that develops websites for the hotel and vacation rental industry, has compiled a list of the marketing principles that hotels need to consider when developing or revamping a hotel website. Think of it as online marketing without any of that pesky tech speak!"
How to handle online travel purchases gone bad
Don’t give up. Sometimes it really is just a glitch, nothing more. Try to search for the fare or hotel room again, and if that doesn’t work, phone the online travel agency, says Rob Käll, president of Bookt, a Web services provider to the hotel and vacation rental industry. “If you don’t have any luck,” he adds, “try the hotel or airline directly.”
Q&A with Rob Käll: Vacation Rental Industry is Fragmented and Has Opportunities for Consolidation
MHN: How is the vacation rental industry surviving the recession?
Käll: It is doing reasonably well, especially compared to the rest of the travel and leisure industry. Many managers I speak to are saying that they are doing the same as last year, which is great considering the circumstances. Key vacation rental trends that we’re seeing right now are that booking windows have shortened (people are looking for last-minute deals) and that online bookings (something that was not very common a few years ago for vacation rentals specifically) is much more of a revenue driver.
Hospitality industry report set to debut at CIASF event
Rob Käll, president and co-founder of Bookt, a Miami-based web solutions company focused on the hospitality industry, called the report timely. Hotel revenues are down significantly in South Florida, he said, and this sector of the commercial real estate industry is looking for answers.
Turning Lookers into Bookers - How an effective online presence can improve your conversion rates and revenues - By Rob Käll, President of Bookt
Like many industries in the US and around the world, the travel lodging industry finds itself facing a myriad of challenges, changes and opportunities in 2009. Fortunately hotels - as a segment of the larger American (and global) lodging industry - seem poised to enjoy more opportunities than challenges in the coming year.
Vacation Home Rentals Surging in Popularity
Rob Käll, founder and president of Bookt, sees the potential for that explosive growth. He cites the maturity of new technologies, the emergence of new tourism hubs, the industry's overall shift to online marketing and the need to turn underutilized real estate holdings into profit centers as setting the stage for this emerging business model.
"From a purely macro-economic standpoint people are looking at how they can get the most value out of a trip and asking what does it really cost to bring a family to a resort?," said Käll, noting that usually requires two or more rooms and the need to eat out every meal. There has never been a better time for travelers to consider vacation rental properties; there is an enormous online selection for consumers to choose from even 2 or 3 years ago.
Vacation Home Sales Slipping in Downturn, But Long-Term Forecast Still Positive
"Yes, it’s a vacation home but it is also an investment,” Rob Käll, president and co-founder of Bookt, tells MHN. Bookt creates the “back-end engines” and online tools for property management companies and property owners to connect them with vacationers around the globe. “Maybe not two years from now, but 10 years from now, they will be able to get some revenue out of the property and that’s why they are paying in cash."
Turning Lookers into Bookers
Like many industries in the US and around the world, the travel lodging industry finds itself facing a myriad of challenges, changes and opportunities in 2009. Fortunately hotels - as a segment of the larger American (and global) lodging industry - seem poised to enjoy more opportunities than challenges in the coming year.
While this might seem counterintuitive given the economic uncertainty pervading the US, one key factor can be cited as indicative of growth and profitability within the sector - the increased adoption of both management and marketing technology, and the continued ascendance of the internet as a primary booking tool.
Rob Käll is the founder of Bookt, which specialises in helping companies in the travel industry get more bookings.
Käll talks to Amanda Gome about the trends in tourism and website development, and explains how small local tourism companies can be found and booked in this global world.
Amanda Gome: What are the trends you are seeing in the tourism industry, in terms of business models?
Rob Käll: We are in a tough climate, but online bookings over the various forms of travel continue to go up. For example Expedia reported a 10% increase in online bookings at the end of 2008.
One trend we are seeing is that even smaller companies can start taking advantage of the ability to market and close their sale online, where in the past they might have relied on the phone or traditional travel agents.
Turning Lookers into Bookers
Like many industries in the US and around the world, the travel lodging industry finds itself facing a myriad of challenges, changes and opportunities in 2009. Fortunately hotels - as a segment of the larger American (and global) lodging industry - seem poised to enjoy more opportunities than challenges in the coming year.
While this might seem counterintuitive given the economic uncertainty pervading the US, one key factor can be cited as indicative of growth and profitability within the sector - the increased adoption of both management and marketing technology, and the continued ascendance of the internet as a primary booking tool.
Turning Lookers into Bookers - How an effective online presence can improve your conversion rates and revenues - By Rob Käll, President of Bookt
Like many industries in the US and around the world, the travel lodging industry finds itself facing a myriad of challenges, changes and opportunities in 2009. Fortunately hotels - as a segment of the larger American (and global) lodging industry - seem poised to enjoy more opportunities than challenges in the coming year.
While this might seem counterintuitive given the economic uncertainty pervading the US, one key factor can be cited as indicative of growth and profitability within the sector - the increased adoption of both management and marketing technology, and the continued ascendance of the internet as a primary booking tool.
Trends Affecting the Growth of the Vacation Rental Industry
The increase in global affluence has increased the supply of vacation rental units, while the diversified portfolios of the new elite have yielded an unprecedented number of available dwellings in upscale locations.
A Killer Website or a Business Killer -- Which Do You Have?
Online Test From Bookt Helps Vacation Rental Owners Find Out If Their Website is Ready for 2009
MIAMI, Feb. 20, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Everyone knows the economy stinks. They're sick of talking about it. So let's talk about something else that stinks -- lodging websites. Many online travel companies, even businesses in general, have websites that stink according to Miami-based website development company Bookt (http://www.bookt.com/). Vacation rental websites (http://www.bookt.com/) that are outdated and don't use the latest technology to keep up with consumer expectations or ecommerce trends, or proper SEO, can make the difference between a business' success and failure, especially in today's weak economy, where businesses are vying for a shrinking number of travelers' dollars.
A Killer Website or a Business Killer -- Which Do You Have?
Online Test From Bookt Helps Vacation Rental Owners Find Out If Their Website is Ready for 2009
MIAMI, Feb. 20, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Everyone knows the economy stinks. They're sick of talking about it. So let's talk about something else that stinks -- lodging websites. Many online travel companies, even businesses in general, have websites that stink according to Miami-based website development company Bookt (http://www.bookt.com/). Vacation rental websites (http://www.bookt.com/) that are outdated and don't use the latest technology to keep up with consumer expectations or ecommerce trends, or proper SEO, can make the difference between a business' success and failure, especially in today's weak economy, where businesses are vying for a shrinking number of travelers' dollars.
TravelDailyNews.com
This brief report from travel industry supplier Bookt details the benefits of vacation rental stays for consumers in 2009, including cost savings, flexibility and convenience.
Consumers no longer have to cancel their upcoming holiday plans because they are on a budget. Choosing a vacation rental over a hotel can make a great deal of difference in ensuring that travelers' stay well within their budget without losing out on their vacation experience.
E-Commerce Times
Can small software vendors compete against the IBMs of the world when it comes to cloud computing? Maybe not, but, then again, few are trying to. There's room in the cloud for a variety of offerings. Hosted infrastructure services play to the strengths of giants like Amazon, Google and IBM. However, smaller companies can shine hosting specialized applications. Specialization is also key, Kall said, which is easier for a smaller provider. "In general, services that require specific industry knowledge and relationships are more suitable for a startup, whereas solutions that rely on massive capital investments -- like multiple redundant data centers -- can only be offered by the very large players."
Travel Weekly
With the growing popularity of Homeaway.com, VRBO.com and Craigslist, the market for vacation rentals has grown to $24 billion, representing 10% of the total travel market, according to the latest research. And it set to keep growing. “The problem with [owner-to-consumer sites] is that
you never know what you are getting,” said Rob Kall,
president of Bookt.com, which develops websites and other
technology for the vacation-rental industry. “You might
be renting a place where the owner is not there, and the
faucet breaks and you are stuck.” (Pg. 18-20)
2009, Make or Break Time for Vacations?
Future of Consumer Travel Industry in a Recession
With the announcement of an official recession, which was suspected all along, the country has gone into freeze mode. Hotel and airline analysts have downgraded their already grim forecasts for 2009 and many consumers are scaling back or abandoning their upcoming vacation plans altogether.
But for the travel industry, there is one bright spot on the horizon - worth over $24 billion - that's poised to grow in 2009.
A New Era, a New Model for the Vacation Rental Industry
MIAMI, FL – Sept 30, 2008 – One of the fastest-growing sectors of the worldwide leisure travel market is the vacation rental industry. In the US alone, it’s already an estimated $63B market and counting.
The Vacation Rental Industry: Here and Now
Six Industry Trends That Are Impacting the Global Vacation Rental Industry
By Rob Käll, President of Bookt
Large, complex, long understudied and definitely underestimated, the U.S. vacation rental market is poised for change. Demand for vacation rentals is growing, at a time when nearly $100 billion in leisure travel will be booked online in 2008.
The Vacation Rental Industry: Here and Now
Rob Käll, President of Bookt presented six industry trends that are impacting the Global Vacation Rental Industry.
Vacation rentals are one of the fastest growing segments of the global leisure travel industry; in the US alone, it’s an estimated $63b market already.
Six industry trends that are impacting the global vacation rental industry
Vacation rentals are one of the fastest growing segments of the global leisure travel industry; in the US alone, it‘s an estimated
$100 billion market already. This growth has been fuelled by substantive shifts in consumer purchasing behavior, technology and
the marketing and distribution of individual vacation rental units. (Pages 22-25)
Vacation rentals for savings & convenience
With the end of the recession nowhere in sight, the country has gone into freeze mode. Hotel and airline analysts have downgraded their already grim forecasts and consumers are considering abandoning their upcoming vacation plans.
Hotel occupancy rates are down, pointing to the continued growth of the vacation rental industry.
Investing in the U.S. in uncertain times
Vacation rental properties are one of the fastest growing sectors of the global leisure travel industry. Even in during the current economic slowdown, this segment continues to go strong.
According to Bookt, a web services provider to the global vacation rental industry, it’s an estimated $63-billion market in the United States alone.