A hotel channel manager plays a key role in streamlining online distribution. It serves as a centralized control hub, enabling hoteliers to effortlessly manage and optimize their room inventory, rates, and availability across various online booking channels.
By providing real-time updates, it ensures that all connected channels reflect the most accurate and up-to-date information, preventing overbooking or underbooking while maintaining rate parity.
There are many channel managers on the market. Some are suited to small properties while others are robust enough to handle even large chains. There are certain qualities that all of them need, however, if you decide to research purchase options they should meet these specific requirements. It’s not as simple as choosing the first one you see.
Here are key features you must look for in your channel manager:
1. Advanced integrations
How many online channels does the channel manager connect with?
Are the ones you deem necessary for your property on this list?
Integration is invaluable for hotels given the prominence of Booking.com as an online channel, making updates to it seamless and instant. Such integrations are in addition to other key APIs such as product or property API to quickly change room categories, products etc., and content API, which is used to update images and descriptions on online channels from your channel manager.
2. PMS connection
Is there a full integration between the Channel Manager and your Property Management System? It should ideally connect seamlessly to a property management system making your distribution management as easy as possible.
3. Real-time technology
No matter how remote your property is, once you are connected to a channel manager, you can be assured that updates are made in real-time saying goodbye to booking errors!
How quickly and accurately the channelmanager can send and receive updates is extremely important.
4. Insights and reports
Can the Channel Manager provide detailed data on the performance of every connection – where are you getting the highest returns? An invaluable data source as your channel manager is connected to multiple guest acquisition points, as well as your property management system. This enables you to create guest profiles and understand your guests.
5. Easy to access
Features such as mobile apps and language support are important to bring maximum efficiency into channel management.
6. Service and support
Is the channel manager backed by a local support crew who don’t just troubleshoot when you have issues, but actively reach out to help you optimise the use of their platform?
7. Mobile app
The Mobile App helps manage inventory and rates on the move. The App is convenient and enables you to manage online distribution at your fingertips.
Why do you need a channel manager?
You need one to get a higher return on investment through the implementation of smart rates strategies via the channel management software.
Greater market reach. Channel Managers connect to hundreds of OTAs, allowing you to reach more people through one platform.
Reduction in errors. By updating information on the OTAs through an automated connection – no manual process here.
Ability to quickly reach an optimal distribution mix. By leveraging the channel insights available on bookings and conversions.
This broad distribution capability allows hotels to reach a diverse audience through platforms such as online travel agencies, global distribution systems, metasearch engines, and their own website. Overall, a hotel channel manager simplifies the complex task of distributing hotel inventory online, saving time, reducing errors, and enhancing revenue management, thus empowering hotels to thrive in the competitive hospitality landscape.
