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Case Study: How Hotels can Grow Reservations

Hotels ask us all the time how to grow their business more rapidly. As an actual case study, we were asked this exact question by a hostel in Indonesia this month, “We need your advice on how to increase increase reservation growth more rapidly this year.”

We thought, why not share the answer more widely, so all our hotel and lodging partners can benefit from the same great advice. Well, here is the exact advice we provided:

Yes, we have suggestions for you.

  1. Get more online web links directly to your hotel website. Please log in to your profile at our website, then proceed to the OPPORTUNITIES page to learn more.
  2. Your hotel currently appears on 20 individual websites in our IWB network. Your profile content is currently translated to 3 languages, which means your hostel profile appears on 60 individual pages on these websites. You can increase this to 15 translations, which means your hotel can appear on 20 x 15 actual webpages. That’s 300 webpages in total, which is significant.
  3. Social Media Marketing by IWB – You have a Facebook page with about 3.8K followers and an Instagram account with about 2.3K, good job. But we can boost your social media exposure even more. With our optional Social Media Marketing service, we will handle all your weekly social media posting on 3 social media channels, mainly Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, which are the main ones for the travel market. And, we’ll rapidly grow your follower base much faster. Please let us know if you are interested. Our posting method is highly targeted, and designed to maximize your business’ social media presence. We can multiply your followers by many times in just a short period of time, and grow it from there.
  4. Professional Video Production. Video is a crucial aspect in today’s online marketing for hotels and accommodations. We can produce a custom video for your property. We will then promote your video on all our social media channels. Your video will be featured on your profile page on all 20 IWB sites that you appear on. As mentioned above, your hostel profile information can appear in up to 15 languages, which means your video can appear on 20 x 15 actual webpages. That’s 300 webpages in total, which is significant. You also receive a copy of your video for your own private and commercial use. You get to choose the theme of your video.

To view some demos of custom videos we can produce for accommodations, please see this page:
http://www.instantworldbooking.com/video-marketing-for-hotels-hostels.php

Please let us know if you are interested in these services, which will greatly enhance your marketing efforts, and grow your reservations rapidly.

Of course, this is a just a single case study. At Instant World Booking, we provide consulting and advice to hotel accommodations, hostels, and lodging of all sizes. We also provide custom solutions for growing accommodation businesses. Please contact us to find out how we can be of further assistance to your business.


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Important CC Info For Your Business

Instant World Booking is a recognized leader in credit card collection for hotels, hostels, and lodging worldwide, and offers the widest range of collection options with an integrated booking engine for hotel websites.  Because of this experience we get a lot questions from hotel managers on how to deal with difficult and unpleasant problems with credit card collections.  Here’s one question we recently received from a lodging partner regarding a reservation they accepted directly:

I had a situation recently where a scammer paid me with a credit card and then the rightful owner of the credit card reclaimed the money. This left me with a big overdraft and i am still trying to clear it. Is there no insurance against this sort of thing? When i approached my bank (bbva in Spain.) they said there was nothing they could do as there was no signed credit card receipt from the person who made the reservation. This person is a recognized scammer and I had an e-mail from him confirming the reservation which I showed to the bank and they just ignored it.  Who is wrong?

Unfortunately, in this situation, the customer is right.  In fact, the customer is always right in these situations since credit card companies protect the cardholder first.  In a fraud situation, there is nothing you can do to recover the loss, and this can be considered a cost of doing business with credit cards.

If you want to avoid having to deal with this type of online fraud entirely, consider using Instant World Booking’s reservation booking engine on your website.  Instant World Booking offers the most flexible and comprehensive set collection options available among any online provider today.  Any deposit amount can be collected by credit card for your website reservations.  Additionally, you will not have to deal with any disputes since Instant World Booking handles everything.  An even greater benefit is the Full No-show and Cancellation Protection offered with every hotel website booking engine.

http://www.instantworldbooking.com/booking-engine.php

 

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Switzerland ~ The Crossroads Of Europe

Matchless scenery, centuries-old towns and traditions and the proud cultural heritage of the world’s oldest republic have led travelers to Switzerland for generations. The rigid Swiss national standards of hospitality, superb cuisine, cleanliness and honesty appeal particularly to Americans and enable them to enjoy the details of living while they enjoy abundant scenic and historic charms. The scenery, which usually causes visiting writers to resort to the adjective “incomparable,” is an ideal backdrop for the unlimited sport and recreation facilities found throughout the country. Of course, the really outstanding sports are mountaineering and skiing, for which this tiny republic has had a matchless reputation for generations, since fifty 13,000-footers, the most challenging peaks of the entire Alpine region, sparkle skyward in Switzerland’s Alpine rampart. Beauty, hospitality, health, sport — and education — make this not only the favorite location for all kinds of international conferences, but also the favorite vacation area for people of all nations.

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Increase your Engagement with Customers on Facebook, with Instant World Booking

#IWBMob now enables you to engage your customers on Facebook, directly from your IWB profile page.

A few weeks ago, we announced the introduction of IWB’s new mobile website, called IWBmob. The next phase of this re-branding is now underway. It is a mobile-first design. As an Instant World Booking hotel/hostel/B&B partner, your profile page, and the entire booking process, has already been redesigned. The impact so far has been remarkable. For users of our new booking engine, the experience surpasses almost any modern booking site available today.

In our last announcement, we promised to introduce some innovative methods of integrating your experience with Facebook and IWB.  These are brand new innovations that have not yet been used by other booking services. Now, you and your customers can start a Facebook conversation, directly from your profile page on IWB. This is an innovative method of integrating social media with your booking media.  Just post the URL of your IWB profile on your Facebook page, inviting your customers to comment and join the conversation. Then, go to the IWB profile, and begin the conversation by directly posting your Facebook comments there. For more specific instructions, continue reading below.

Why is this important?

Worldwide, there are over 2.01 billion monthly active Facebook users as of 2017. If you think Facebook has peaked, consider that this number has grown 17% since last year. With 2.01 billion, Facebook has more monthly active users than WhatsApp, Twitter, and Instagram combined (Source: CNBC). For hotels, hostels, and accommodation, Facebook is very important. It’s so important that Facebook has introduced an API called Dynamic Ads for Travel, specifically for hotels. So, this means that Facebook is a very important audience for you, one that you can’t ignore. You should consider how to increase your involvement in this platform.

This is where Instant World Booking enters. We give you a creative and effective way to increase your engagement on Facebook. There’s no cost. See the instructions below. If you are interested in other ways of advertising on Facebook, or just need help setting up or maintaining an active social media presence, we are now offering these services to our partners. Just contact us for help.

Instructions: How to interact with Facebook on your IWB profile page

  1. Copy the URL of your profile page (assuming you’re a hotel/hostel member of IWB).
  2. Post the URL on your Facebook page. Add a comment like, ‘Dear customers, friends, and fans, we’re partnering with Instant World Booking to start a conversation on Facebook. Please go to this page, and post your best photos of our hotel, share your experiences, and enjoy some dialogue. Let us know what you think.’
  3. Go directly to the IWB profile page. Post the same comment there, perhaps with a new photo that you want to share.

Then, sit back and watch the comments come. When you engage properly with your audience, a lively conversation, with photos, is one of the best ways to increase your popularity on Facebook.

The Bonus

There’s a bonus. Any comments that are shared this way have the possibility of appearing automatically on your Facebook page, your IWB profile page, and IWB’s Facebook page. So, your exposure is tripled.

Don’t forget your Book Now button on Facebook

The most valuable feature you can use on your Facebook page is a Book Now button. This is a feature of Facebook that enables your social media followers to book instantly with you. If you know how this works, just add the URL included in our instructions above (#1) as the target of your button. If you have a custom booking engine with IWB, use that URL. If you need help with this important Facebook feature, we can guide you, or install it for you. Please look for our future emails and blogs, since we will be sharing more ways and instructions to get the most out of your social media
Blog – Hotel and Hostel Marketing Experts

Espanol

#IWBMob ahora le permite involucrar a sus clientes en Facebook, directamente desde su página de perfil de IWB.

Hace unas semanas, anunciamos la introducción del nuevo sitio web móvil de IWB, llamado IWBmob. La próxima fase de esta re-marca está en marcha. Es un diseño móvil primero. Su página de perfil, y todo el proceso de reserva, ya ha sido rediseñado. El impacto hasta ahora ha sido notable. Para los usuarios de nuestro nuevo motor de reservas, la experiencia supera prácticamente cualquier sitio de reservas moderno disponible hoy.

En nuestro último anuncio, prometimos introducir algunos métodos innovadores de integración de su experiencia con Facebook y IWB. Se trata de innovaciones nuevas que aún no han sido utilizadas por otros servicios de reserva. Ahora, usted y sus clientes pueden iniciar una conversación en Facebook directamente desde su página de perfil en IWB. Se trata de un método innovador de integración de medios sociales con sus medios de reserva. Simplemente publique la URL de su perfil de IWB en su página de Facebook, invitando a sus clientes a comentar y unirse a la conversación. A continuación, vaya al perfil de IWB y comience la conversación publicando directamente sus comentarios de Facebook allí. Para obtener instrucciones más específicas, continúe leyendo a continuación.

¿Porque es esto importante?

En todo el mundo, hay más de 2.01 mil millones de usuarios activos de Facebook a partir de 2017. Si usted piensa que Facebook ha alcanzado su punto máximo, considere que este número ha crecido un 17% desde el año pasado. Con 2.01 mil millones, Facebook tiene más usuarios activos mensuales que WhatsApp, Twitter y Instagram combinados (Fuente: CNBC). Para hoteles, albergues y alojamientos, Facebook es muy importante. Es tan importante que Facebook haya introducido una API llamada Dynamic Ads for Travel, específicamente para hoteles. Por lo tanto, esto significa que Facebook es una audiencia muy importante para usted, una que usted no puede ignorar. Usted debe considerar cómo aumentar su participación en esta plataforma.

Aquí es donde entra Instant World Booking. Le ofrecemos una manera creativa y efectiva de aumentar su participación en Facebook. No hay costo. Vea las instrucciones a continuación. Si está interesado en otras formas de publicidad en Facebook, o simplemente necesita ayuda para configurar o mantener una presencia activa de medios sociales, ahora estamos ofreciendo estos servicios a nuestros socios. Sólo póngase en contacto con nosotros para obtener ayuda.

Instrucciones: Cómo interactuar con Facebook en su página de perfil de IWB

  1. Copie la URL de su página de perfil.
  2. Publique la URL en su página de Facebook. Agregue un comentario como, “Queridos clientes, amigos y fans, nos estamos asociando con Instant World Booking para iniciar una conversación en Facebook. Por favor, vaya a esta página, y publique sus mejores fotos de nuestro hotel, comparta sus experiencias y disfrute de algún diálogo. Háganos saber lo que piensas.’
  3. Vaya directamente a la página de perfil de IWB. Publicar el mismo comentario allí, tal vez con una nueva foto que desea compartir.

Luego, siéntese y observe los comentarios. Cuando te involucras correctamente con tu público, una conversación animada, con fotos, es una de las mejores maneras de aumentar tu popularidad en Facebook.

El bono

Hay un bono. Los comentarios que se comparten de esta manera tienen la posibilidad de aparecer automáticamente en su página de Facebook, su página de perfil de IWB y la página de Facebook de IWB. Por lo tanto, su exposición se triplica.

No se olvide de su botón “Reservar ahora” en Facebook

La característica más valiosa que puedes usar en tu página de Facebook es el botón Reservar ahora. Esta es una característica de Facebook que permite a tus seguidores de redes sociales reservar al instante contigo. Si sabe cómo funciona esto, simplemente añada la URL incluida en nuestras instrucciones anteriores (# 1) como el objetivo de su botón. Si tiene un motor de reservas personalizado con IWB, utilice esa URL. Si necesita ayuda con esta importante función de Facebook, le podemos guiar o instalarla para usted. Por favor, busque nuestros futuros correos electrónicos y blogs, ya que estaremos compartiendo más formas e instrucciones para sacar el máximo provecho de sus redes sociales
Blog – Especialistas en Hostelería y Hostelería

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Is Your Passport Up To Date For Travel In 2017?

Since summer will be here in just a few days and travel is going to be at its summertime peak before we know it, here’s an very impt article we came across in regards to making sure your Passport is up to date. Your passport might not be valid enough for certain countries. Please read the below Article for some very important information.

#travelblog #IWBmob

 

https:www.instantworldbooking.com

 

 

 

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Hidden Nebraska

Nebraska is a Midwestern U.S. State encompassing the prairies of the Great Plains, the towering dunes of the Sandhills and the panhandle’s dramatic rock formations. Lincoln, the capital and a vibrant university town, is distinguished by its soaring state capitol. The city of Omaha is home to the Durham Museum, which honors the state’s pioneering past in a converted railroad depot. Its where the Midwest meets the West, literally. Geographers identify the 100th meridian, which nearly halves the state, as the boundary between the two regions. But travelers don’t need a sign to recognize the divide. As in frontier days, the majority of Cornhuskers live in the state’s eastern half, and out west, the sun still sets over vast grasslands and yucca-capped buttes. Nebraska has wonders in every direction: vast prairies in the east, majestic cliffs and peaks in the west and sand dunes in between, making for a trip as scenic as it is fun. The state is also rich in history, with many opportunities to explore its heritage. See one bold sunset set against the backdrop of the Sandhills, (as in our attached photo) and you’ll understand what drove settlers across the grassland plains and over the bracing rivers to stake their claim to history! Tour Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park, or explore a historic military fort. No matter where you go—or where you’re from—you’ll always be welcomed with a warm smile.

http://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/nebraska

http://instantworldbooking.com/countries-places/Nebraska.popular-hotels.php

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Ways To Save On The High Seas

Cruising the high seas has long been regarded by travelers as a romantic throwback to a bygone era of travel, where you wake up to the salt air, open ocean, and all you have to do each morning is get up, then step ashore and go exploring.

In searching for that “just right” first cruise, you’ve followed all the rules — researched cruise lines, examined possible itineraries You’ve booked your ship, selected a stateroom and picked an itinerary.

So what’s next?

You’d be surprised at how many factors — perhaps less earth-shattering but important nevertheless — remain to be considered, such as packing, getting to the ship and life onboard.

If you haven’t booked the cruise line’s flight-inclusive air/sea package, you’ll need to book your own air transportation to the port unless you intend to drive. When flying in, plan to arrive as early in the morning as possible on embarkation day. The day before is even better. The reason: You need to factor in possible flight delays and other transportation glitches that could keep you from getting to the pier on time. The same advice goes for the flight home — book flights in the afternoon, just in case your ship is delayed clearing customs and you debark late.

The following first-time cruise tips and cruise 101 will help you find the answers to any remaining questions you might have, so that you can get off to a stress-free and fun-filled start to your first ever vacation at sea. There are a few ways to make your seagoing escape even more affordable. Below are five tips for cutting costs, from looking for short-notice savings to finding freebies like complimentary dinners in a specialty restaurant or shipboard credits — the equivalent of cash that you can spend on board.

  1. Book within 90 days of departure.
  2. Seek specialty discounts
  3. Take advantage of age-related discounts
  4. Find the free perks.
  5. If you’ve traveled before, Flaunt your past-passenger status

Whether you’re heading on a mini cruise or venturing off, out to sea for 16 days, preparation is key, after all, our aim is to make sure you sail away happy.

Enjoy the Article below & happy sails!

http://vacationsmagazine.com/Vacations/Cruises/5_Ways_to_Save_on_Your_Next_Cruise

www.instantworldbooking.com

 

 

 

 

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Paradise Nestled In Just Beyond San Francisco

Marin County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of #California. Its just one famous bridge away from San Francisco. And right next door to the vineyards of #Napa and #Sonoma. Closer than you could ever imagine to everything that’s unique in this amazing corner of California. Marin County is nestled between #SanFrancisco and the Napa Valley, Marin County includes the cities of #Tiburon, San Anselmo, San Rafael and Corte Madera. At the Marin County Fairgrounds in May, events include a wine-tasting, fine food and “The Drive,” a parade of classic cars winding their way through the scenic back roads of Marin and neighboring #Sonoma Counties ending with a delicious lunch in San Rafael. In July, be sure to head to the Marin County Fair and in August hit the San Rafael Food and Wine Festival. Treat yourself to some of the world-renowned local wine and watch the sun go down over the hills. Of course, there’s no shortage of natural beauty in Marin County. Beach lovers will enjoy Stinson Beach, one of my personal places, or Point Reyes National Seashore where you will experience wildlife at every step. Also, if youre lucky enough that is, you just might spot some Elephant Seals or Tule Elk along the rugged terrain or, from Point Reyes #Lighthouse, catch a glimpse of a pod of whales. Go butterfly or bird watching and enjoy the many natural wonders of California’s Northern Coast.

Did we catch your attention yet? To continue on exploring this beautiful part of the world, just read the full article by opening the link below & start planning your next vacation! Summer is right around the corner! And I guarantee that Marin County will not disappoint you!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g155988-Marin_County_California-Vacations.html

http://www.instantworldbooking.com

Photo Credit: Trevor Illiano

 

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Dynamite Things To Do In NYC In March

NYC was made for walking and has plenty of options for any visitor to take in. For instance Central Park is the city’s “Nature Playground” and during the spring and summer months, street fairs pop up all around New York’s neighborhoods though they’re hard-pressed to match the pop-up holiday markets that spread good cheer in Columbus Circle, Bryant Park, and Union Square. But since we’re focusing on the Month of March, I dont want to get too carried away, which is easily done when I think of this beautiful city. Between late night comedy shows, the world famous St. Patricks Day Parade, major movie premiers and food and wine events which are just a few that come to mind, you certainly can have a multitude of exciting and adventurous areas to explore. The below article specifically brings to your attention actually “48 marvelous things to do in March in NYC!”  Also, log onto our website below to find your perfect Hotel in New York! Enjoy the read.

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/48-marvelous-things-to-do-in-march-in-nyc-021717

http://instantworldbooking.com/countries-places/New-York.best-hotels.php

#BookNow #Travel #IWB #Holiday

 

 

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Deadliest Beaches

That’s right, DEADLIEST Beaches. I know that writing posts about “the most beautiful beaches to visit” is probably more of what is expected, but read along, even the deadliest beaches can be a thing of beauty. All depends on how its perceived. When you hear the word beach, you automatically see images of fine white sand, crystal clear blue waters, and the sun shining on a cloudless day. After all, a trip to the beach is meant for relaxing, rejuvenating, and chasing your cares away, right? For instance, there’s a sign at Wright’s Beach, at the southern terminus of the Kortum Trail, warning that this is one of California’s deadliest beaches. All of Sonoma County’s beaches are dangerous, but to first set eyes on, they can be very deceiving. Since the 1930s, 126 drownings have occurred at Wright’s Beach alone. On the upside, beaches can and are meant to be beautiful. But for some, just don’t go into the water.

Here are a few of the most dangerous beaches that could lead you into a false sense of security.

  • Kilauea – Hawaii. …
  • Playa Zipolite – Mexico. …
  • Fraser Island – Australia. …
  • Gansbaai – South Africa. …
  • Volusia County – Florida. …
  • Chowpatty Beach – India. …
  • Bikini Atoll – US Marshall Islands. …
  • Schitovaya Bukhta – Russia

 

But let this article shed a bit of light upon Beaches and the fear that everyone who seeks out the Ocean for fun should have a bit of. These are the beaches you shouldn’t go to if the water is what you seek on your vacations. Take heed!

http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/10-of-the-worlds-deadliest-beaches/

http://www.instantworldbooking.com

 

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