TA Business Listing with TripConnect

Are any of you out there with a TA business listing using this new TripConnect?
I've been considering doing a business listing which of course costs a lot. I was quoted $650 a year and would receive a 10% PAII discount which would take it down to $585. (This does not include the new mobile system. It will show your property in the mobile system, but no link). That's a lot of money for a 4 room b&b. I've let other directories lapse, so I have some marketing money in my budget and will probably do this for a 1 year trial.
Here's the 'new' part of TA that I'm wondering about. TripConnect (TC) is a 'pay per click' direct booking from your TA page to your booking program. No longer do you have to be associated with hotels.com, expedia, bb.com, etc. ResKey is now able to directly interfact with this TA program. My TA rep told me that you set it up like adwords ppc. You determine your budget per day, or month, etc. That date availability box at the top of your TA listing will now link to ResKey only. That is, if you're not affiliated with the other OTAs.
The guest puts in the dates they are looking for and if you have money for the ppc left in your budget for the day, it gives the information/link which when clicked on, you pay and it takes them to your ResKey online booking page. When there is no money left in your budget, the page says "Online prices from our partners not available for your dates". At first, this sounds bad, but right now, if people use that box on a regular listing, it takes them to hotel, expedia, priceline and if you don't participate, it shows all the other area lodging and you've lost them anyway.

Here is a listing that doesn't use expedia, etc. This is what it looks like if the ppc budget is off

This is what it looks like for those properties using expedia, book ing.com, etc. You see that the 2nd listing is the hotel property's booking site.
Soooo, anybody using this? Any thoughts?

Sounds like a very reasonable solution as I hate how it works now for the B&B as most of us aren't in those big booking engines.

I am also considering this and am curious what any users have to say. It burns my a$$ that they get so much money for that listing, and now how much more for the PPC. But I've also dropped a large directory and have some room to play.

Did your TA rep give you any idea of the minimum cost per click? I mean, can we set a budget of $1 per day if we wanted? How many clicks do we get for that?

BananaE29 said:

I am also considering this and am curious what any users have to say. It burns my a$$ that they get so much money for that listing, and now how much more for the PPC. But I've also dropped a large directory and have some room to play.

Did your TA rep give you any idea of the minimum cost per click? I mean, can we set a budget of $1 per day if we wanted? How many clicks do we get for that?.

Click to expand...

BananaE29 said:

I am also considering this and am curious what any users have to say. It burns my a$$ that they get so much money for that listing, and now how much more for the PPC. But I've also dropped a large directory and have some room to play.

Did your TA rep give you any idea of the minimum cost per click? I mean, can we set a budget of $1 per day if we wanted? How many clicks do we get for that?

Click to expand...

No, I didn't get any ppc amounts. I think it all depends on your area and how popular it is. I'm probably going to do this, so when I figure out what ours is, I'll let you know.

BananaE29 said:

I am also considering this and am curious what any users have to say. It burns my a$$ that they get so much money for that listing, and now how much more for the PPC. But I've also dropped a large directory and have some room to play.

Did your TA rep give you any idea of the minimum cost per click? I mean, can we set a budget of $1 per day if we wanted? How many clicks do we get for that?.

Click to expand...

Most ppc is determined by your market. Of you're in a high demand area and all the other inns are doing the same thing it will probably pricier than somewhere less in demand.

Can I just say THANK YOU RESERVATION KEY for making it possible for us to make this decision! This is one of John's newer additions to the program.

Ok I am a bit out there, but the places on TA featured as being near me are a looooong way away. So I guess my click through charge would be very low? What sort of range are we talking about.

Hello
American gal in France now also wondering about this Tripconnect. I am quite curious and feel I am about the only person on the planet that does not use Booking.com nor other otas at this point
What is kind of annoying is we pay for a business listing now and on that we have our website. I imagine that is going to change?
Tripadvisor business represents a lot to us most folks come thanks to the positive reviews (and good experience they have here) but I do not understand how this thing works and how we can budget money for it
I would love to speak to anyone who has a b&b with good comments via TA and who is not currently working with other 'directoiries' what is this going to do to/for us? btw how hard is it for you my fellow countrymen in the USofA for clients on Tripadvisor to find b&bs? here in France it is very very difficult; clients have to really be motivated to do a lot of click throughs to get to us despite us having a TA biz lisitng and very good reviews; almost triple of the highest rated hotel here in town) Fair? not Can I do something about it? Ditto Help/comments? Welcome !

happyone said:

Hello
American gal in France now also wondering about this Tripconnect. I am quite curious and feel I am about the only person on the planet that does not use Booking.com nor other otas at this point
What is kind of annoying is we pay for a business listing now and on that we have our website. I imagine that is going to change?
Tripadvisor business represents a lot to us most folks come thanks to the positive reviews (and good experience they have here) but I do not understand how this thing works and how we can budget money for it
I would love to speak to anyone who has a b&b with good comments via TA and who is not currently working with other 'directoiries' what is this going to do to/for us? btw how hard is it for you my fellow countrymen in the USofA for clients on Tripadvisor to find b&bs? here in France it is very very difficult; clients have to really be motivated to do a lot of click throughs to get to us despite us having a TA biz lisitng and very good reviews; almost triple of the highest rated hotel here in town) Fair? not Can I do something about it? Ditto Help/comments? Welcome !.

Click to expand...

(Je parle Francais aussi)
I went to France on vacation two years ago and we had a very difficult time booking B&Bs in France. Most didn't have online reservations, you filled a form and waited.... and waited... and waited. Most wanted to be prepaid via Paypal and wanted me to pay their Paypal fees. I didn't mind a deposit, but to prepay everything... not me. I wanted to pay most of my bill in Euro when I was there. And I certainly would NEVER pay someone else's Paypal fees (put it in as part of the price.) But even with a CC I would have felt more secure than Paypal.
In the end, we ended up staying in two B&Bs who would take our reservations with our CC as a guarantee and we paid in cash when we were there. Otherwise, we stayed in hotels... we gave up. In Paris itself we just didn't want the hassle of an apartment, we wanted a place where someone cleaned up after us so that we could enjoy the city and an concierge if we needed a little bit of directions, not an apartment where you saw the owner just once.
And as I said, we speak French fluently, so it isn't a matter of not understanding. It was a matter of the B&Bs in France not bothering with online reservation systems and having the insistence on paying up front.

Sugar Bear said:

happyone said:

Hello
American gal in France now also wondering about this Tripconnect. I am quite curious and feel I am about the only person on the planet that does not use Booking.com nor other otas at this point
What is kind of annoying is we pay for a business listing now and on that we have our website. I imagine that is going to change?
Tripadvisor business represents a lot to us most folks come thanks to the positive reviews (and good experience they have here) but I do not understand how this thing works and how we can budget money for it
I would love to speak to anyone who has a b&b with good comments via TA and who is not currently working with other 'directoiries' what is this going to do to/for us? btw how hard is it for you my fellow countrymen in the USofA for clients on Tripadvisor to find b&bs? here in France it is very very difficult; clients have to really be motivated to do a lot of click throughs to get to us despite us having a TA biz lisitng and very good reviews; almost triple of the highest rated hotel here in town) Fair? not Can I do something about it? Ditto Help/comments? Welcome !.

Click to expand...

(Je parle Francais aussi)
I went to France on vacation two years ago and we had a very difficult time booking B&Bs in France. Most didn't have online reservations, you filled a form and waited.... and waited... and waited. Most wanted to be prepaid via Paypal and wanted me to pay their Paypal fees. I didn't mind a deposit, but to prepay everything... not me. I wanted to pay most of my bill in Euro when I was there. And I certainly would NEVER pay someone else's Paypal fees (put it in as part of the price.) But even with a CC I would have felt more secure than Paypal.
In the end, we ended up staying in two B&Bs who would take our reservations with our CC as a guarantee and we paid in cash when we were there. Otherwise, we stayed in hotels... we gave up. In Paris itself we just didn't want the hassle of an apartment, we wanted a place where someone cleaned up after us so that we could enjoy the city and an concierge if we needed a little bit of directions, not an apartment where you saw the owner just once.
And as I said, we speak French fluently, so it isn't a matter of not understanding. It was a matter of the B&Bs in France not bothering with online reservation systems and having the insistence on paying up front.
.

Click to expand...

Hi there B&B's have come a long way (at least some of us) who do have online booking systems and we do take credit cards for the guarantee

happyone said:

Sugar Bear said:

happyone said:

Hello
American gal in France now also wondering about this Tripconnect. I am quite curious and feel I am about the only person on the planet that does not use Booking.com nor other otas at this point
What is kind of annoying is we pay for a business listing now and on that we have our website. I imagine that is going to change?
Tripadvisor business represents a lot to us most folks come thanks to the positive reviews (and good experience they have here) but I do not understand how this thing works and how we can budget money for it
I would love to speak to anyone who has a b&b with good comments via TA and who is not currently working with other 'directoiries' what is this going to do to/for us? btw how hard is it for you my fellow countrymen in the USofA for clients on Tripadvisor to find b&bs? here in France it is very very difficult; clients have to really be motivated to do a lot of click throughs to get to us despite us having a TA biz lisitng and very good reviews; almost triple of the highest rated hotel here in town) Fair? not Can I do something about it? Ditto Help/comments? Welcome !.

Click to expand...

(Je parle Francais aussi)
I went to France on vacation two years ago and we had a very difficult time booking B&Bs in France. Most didn't have online reservations, you filled a form and waited.... and waited... and waited. Most wanted to be prepaid via Paypal and wanted me to pay their Paypal fees. I didn't mind a deposit, but to prepay everything... not me. I wanted to pay most of my bill in Euro when I was there. And I certainly would NEVER pay someone else's Paypal fees (put it in as part of the price.) But even with a CC I would have felt more secure than Paypal.
In the end, we ended up staying in two B&Bs who would take our reservations with our CC as a guarantee and we paid in cash when we were there. Otherwise, we stayed in hotels... we gave up. In Paris itself we just didn't want the hassle of an apartment, we wanted a place where someone cleaned up after us so that we could enjoy the city and an concierge if we needed a little bit of directions, not an apartment where you saw the owner just once.
And as I said, we speak French fluently, so it isn't a matter of not understanding. It was a matter of the B&Bs in France not bothering with online reservation systems and having the insistence on paying up front.
.

Click to expand...

Hi there B&B's have come a long way (at least some of us) who do have online booking systems and we do take credit cards for the guarantee
.

Click to expand...

Some have. We went through Normandy, Brittany and Loire and of all our stays, only two were in B&Bs. It's just doesn't appear professional enough to request payment and not have online booking, just forms.
Same thing happened for our next vacation in Venice and again, we are in a hotel.

happyone said:

Hello
American gal in France now also wondering about this Tripconnect. I am quite curious and feel I am about the only person on the planet that does not use Booking.com nor other otas at this point
What is kind of annoying is we pay for a business listing now and on that we have our website. I imagine that is going to change?
Tripadvisor business represents a lot to us most folks come thanks to the positive reviews (and good experience they have here) but I do not understand how this thing works and how we can budget money for it
I would love to speak to anyone who has a b&b with good comments via TA and who is not currently working with other 'directoiries' what is this going to do to/for us? btw how hard is it for you my fellow countrymen in the USofA for clients on Tripadvisor to find b&bs? here in France it is very very difficult; clients have to really be motivated to do a lot of click throughs to get to us despite us having a TA biz lisitng and very good reviews; almost triple of the highest rated hotel here in town) Fair? not Can I do something about it? Ditto Help/comments? Welcome !.

Click to expand...

happyone said:

Hello
American gal in France now also wondering about this Tripconnect. I am quite curious and feel I am about the only person on the planet that does not use Booking.com nor other otas at this point
What is kind of annoying is we pay for a business listing now and on that we have our website. I imagine that is going to change?
Tripadvisor business represents a lot to us most folks come thanks to the positive reviews (and good experience they have here) but I do not understand how this thing works and how we can budget money for it
I would love to speak to anyone who has a b&b with good comments via TA and who is not currently working with other 'directoiries' what is this going to do to/for us? btw how hard is it for you my fellow countrymen in the USofA for clients on Tripadvisor to find b&bs? here in France it is very very difficult; clients have to really be motivated to do a lot of click throughs to get to us despite us having a TA biz lisitng and very good reviews; almost triple of the highest rated hotel here in town) Fair? not Can I do something about it? Ditto Help/comments? Welcome !

Click to expand...

I am in the States - off the beaten path - and I do not use OTAs nor a TA Biz listing. It is difficult to find a B & B on TA no matter where you are. I am listed on 1 of the Directories (NOT B and B dot) mainly for the "shotgun" effect of just being out there on a directory. I get more from GPS than I get (or got) from any directory. I do not "get" the TA Connect either - but to have to pay for a Biz listing plus is enough for me to say NO. I have 3-rooms. I do not want to be working for other entities (meaning working only to be paying them and not paying me).

I used to use the Logis guide when travelling through France.

happyone said:

Sugar Bear said:

happyone said:

Hello
American gal in France now also wondering about this Tripconnect. I am quite curious and feel I am about the only person on the planet that does not use Booking.com nor other otas at this point
What is kind of annoying is we pay for a business listing now and on that we have our website. I imagine that is going to change?
Tripadvisor business represents a lot to us most folks come thanks to the positive reviews (and good experience they have here) but I do not understand how this thing works and how we can budget money for it
I would love to speak to anyone who has a b&b with good comments via TA and who is not currently working with other 'directoiries' what is this going to do to/for us? btw how hard is it for you my fellow countrymen in the USofA for clients on Tripadvisor to find b&bs? here in France it is very very difficult; clients have to really be motivated to do a lot of click throughs to get to us despite us having a TA biz lisitng and very good reviews; almost triple of the highest rated hotel here in town) Fair? not Can I do something about it? Ditto Help/comments? Welcome !.

Click to expand...

(Je parle Francais aussi)
I went to France on vacation two years ago and we had a very difficult time booking B&Bs in France. Most didn't have online reservations, you filled a form and waited.... and waited... and waited. Most wanted to be prepaid via Paypal and wanted me to pay their Paypal fees. I didn't mind a deposit, but to prepay everything... not me. I wanted to pay most of my bill in Euro when I was there. And I certainly would NEVER pay someone else's Paypal fees (put it in as part of the price.) But even with a CC I would have felt more secure than Paypal.
In the end, we ended up staying in two B&Bs who would take our reservations with our CC as a guarantee and we paid in cash when we were there. Otherwise, we stayed in hotels... we gave up. In Paris itself we just didn't want the hassle of an apartment, we wanted a place where someone cleaned up after us so that we could enjoy the city and an concierge if we needed a little bit of directions, not an apartment where you saw the owner just once.
And as I said, we speak French fluently, so it isn't a matter of not understanding. It was a matter of the B&Bs in France not bothering with online reservation systems and having the insistence on paying up front.
.

Click to expand...

Hi there B&B's have come a long way (at least some of us) who do have online booking systems and we do take credit cards for the guarantee
.

Click to expand...

trouble is the ones that don't seem to be in the majority - in my town B&B's are expected to compete for business on an equal footing with hotels - online booking, facilities, credit card processing - I would loose a lot of business custom if I didn't as lots of companies pay for their people in advance with a card.

Gulp...I signed up. I've been away from the b&b for a couple of days and will work on the setup of TripConnect.
To Happyone: I will be like you, I do not participate in any other online booking except for our own system. This will be a good test. One I have it up and running with the 'special' (they suggest that you post something, even if it's just free wifi, and you get more exposure).
I'll keep you updated.

Breakfast Nemo said:

Gulp...I signed up. I've been away from the b&b for a couple of days and will work on the setup of TripConnect.
To Happyone: I will be like you, I do not participate in any other online booking except for our own system. This will be a good test. One I have it up and running with the 'special' (they suggest that you post something, even if it's just free wifi, and you get more exposure).
I'll keep you updated..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Nemo said:

Gulp...I signed up. I've been away from the b&b for a couple of days and will work on the setup of TripConnect.
To Happyone: I will be like you, I do not participate in any other online booking except for our own system. This will be a good test. One I have it up and running with the 'special' (they suggest that you post something, even if it's just free wifi, and you get more exposure).
I'll keep you updated.

Click to expand...

Thanks for letting us know. I will keep my eyes peeled on your review.

I've started the process, and RezKey is listed as an accepted booking engine, but according to my point of contact at TA, they have not yet completed the information necessary for me to proceed. Meaning John still has something to do. Does anyone know anything before I bother him about it?

I've started the process, and RezKey is listed as an accepted booking engine, but according to my point of contact at TA, they have not yet completed the information necessary for me to proceed. Meaning John still has something to do. Does anyone know anything before I bother him about it?

Breakfast Nemo said:

Gulp...I signed up. I've been away from the b&b for a couple of days and will work on the setup of TripConnect.
To Happyone: I will be like you, I do not participate in any other online booking except for our own system. This will be a good test. One I have it up and running with the 'special' (they suggest that you post something, even if it's just free wifi, and you get more exposure).
I'll keep you updated..

Click to expand...

I got 2 emails. One telling me about this and the next saying, 'sorry, your online rez system doesn't support this.'

Breakfast Nemo said:

Gulp...I signed up. I've been away from the b&b for a couple of days and will work on the setup of TripConnect.
To Happyone: I will be like you, I do not participate in any other online booking except for our own system. This will be a good test. One I have it up and running with the 'special' (they suggest that you post something, even if it's just free wifi, and you get more exposure).
I'll keep you updated..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Nemo said:

Gulp...I signed up. I've been away from the b&b for a couple of days and will work on the setup of TripConnect.
To Happyone: I will be like you, I do not participate in any other online booking except for our own system. This will be a good test. One I have it up and running with the 'special' (they suggest that you post something, even if it's just free wifi, and you get more exposure).
I'll keep you updated.

Click to expand...

This is something else no one gets anywhere else - Innmates who try something and then tell the others whther it is good, bad, or indifferent. We test the waters and tell each other about it rather than making each one find out for themselves. Thanks Nemo.