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Bigbid

Bigbid

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I thought I would post how my first 4 months using Booking.com have gone. I have never used them before because the commission structure seemed to high but now it is reasonable (15%). I use Reservation Key and the Booking.com reservations go through MyAllocator so they sync automatically without me touching them. Since I am new to Booking.com, I have been listed last on our city page without any reviews so I was not expecting too much. We are also in our slow season. I have received 27 separate bookings for a total of 36 room nights. After commissions, I received about $3,600 myself. Not too bad for just starting out. I assume it should generate a minimum of over 20k in my first year.
 
[h2]
THANKS FOR THIS INFO![/h2]
I've been thinking about signing up. This helps a lot!
 
Interesting feedback. Thank you for sharing.
Could you give us some pointers, I know a few have had issue with this online agency, any helpful hints?
 
That is unbelievable! At least in my area. I got fewer than that in the year I've been with them. Good for you.
 
Hearing they are compatible with rezkey, another JOHN BENEFIT, seamless is the key for me to think about using them. Thanks again.
 
Thanks for posting the update! We've been considering listing with them, but have some reservations (pun intented!).
I've had a long conversation with them a couple days ago. I told them my main problem was that they use pay per click on my inn's name, so when someone is doing a google search for my inn (most repeat guests do it this way), their pay per click will be the first thing listed. As we all know, most of the public has no idea if or why it would make a difference for them to book the room on book.com. I would be paying a commission on guests that would have booked with me directly. Also, if I didn't feed it inventory, it would show we have no rooms available when we do.
Have they started doing the pay per click on your b&b's name?
How many other properties in your city are listed with them?
Have you gotten bookings from previous guests who booked on book.com instead of directly?
Camberly had stated in another thread that she had a contracted agreement with book.com that they will not do the pay per click on her name, but my rep checked with the 'powers that be' and he said they will no longer do that. He stated that in the beginning, a property will not have the pay per click, but if/when that property does a certain number of booking (he couldn't give me a #), they will turn on the pay per click. No way around it.
On a positive side, I was told that it's an agreement you sign and not a contract. If you want to stop their listing/pay per click, give them a 3 week notice and they will go away.
 
Breakfast Diva said:
Thanks for posting the update! We've been considering listing with them, but have some reservations (pun intented!).
I've had a long conversation with them a couple days ago. I told them my main problem was that they use pay per click on my inn's name, so when someone is doing a google search for my inn (most repeat guests do it this way), their pay per click will be the first thing listed. As we all know, most of the public has no idea if or why it would make a difference for them to book the room on book.com. I would be paying a commission on guests that would have booked with me directly. Also, if I didn't feed it inventory, it would show we have no rooms available when we do.
Have they started doing the pay per click on your b&b's name?
How many other properties in your city are listed with them?
Have you gotten bookings from previous guests who booked on book.com instead of directly?
Camberly had stated in another thread that she had a contracted agreement with book.com that they will not do the pay per click on her name, but my rep checked with the 'powers that be' and he said they will no longer do that. He stated that in the beginning, a property will not have the pay per click, but if/when that property does a certain number of booking (he couldn't give me a #), they will turn on the pay per click. No way around it.
On a positive side, I was told that it's an agreement you sign and not a contract. If you want to stop their listing/pay per click, give them a 3 week notice and they will go away..
Click to expand...
Hello, I have no idea what the pay per click has to do with Booking.com. If they use it with my Inn, I do not get charged for it. It is a flat 15%. There are 18 hotels and 2 B&B's listed in my city of 25,000 people. I have had 1 return guest that could not remember my name and found me on Booking.com. The rest are all new clients that will use my website for future bookings.
 
Joey Bloggs said:
Interesting feedback. Thank you for sharing.
Could you give us some pointers, I know a few have had issue with this online agency, any helpful hints?.
Click to expand...
As you know, we show more hospitality to our guests than the average hotel does. I do see that my new reviews on Booking.com took me quickly to an "exceptional 9.5" rating very fast which has moved me up the page from #20 to #8 in 4 months. I think people using Booking.com are leaving more reviews than those who have found me elsewhere so it is important not to be having a "bad day" when they are here.....
 
Joey Bloggs said:
Hearing they are compatible with rezkey, another JOHN BENEFIT, seamless is the key for me to think about using them. Thanks again..
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
Hearing they are compatible with rezkey, another JOHN BENEFIT, seamless is the key for me to think about using them. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
It doesn't work the same as the TA system does. BigBird said they use MyAllocator.
 
Bigbid said:
Breakfast Diva said:
Thanks for posting the update! We've been considering listing with them, but have some reservations (pun intented!).
I've had a long conversation with them a couple days ago. I told them my main problem was that they use pay per click on my inn's name, so when someone is doing a google search for my inn (most repeat guests do it this way), their pay per click will be the first thing listed. As we all know, most of the public has no idea if or why it would make a difference for them to book the room on book.com. I would be paying a commission on guests that would have booked with me directly. Also, if I didn't feed it inventory, it would show we have no rooms available when we do.
Have they started doing the pay per click on your b&b's name?
How many other properties in your city are listed with them?
Have you gotten bookings from previous guests who booked on book.com instead of directly?
Camberly had stated in another thread that she had a contracted agreement with book.com that they will not do the pay per click on her name, but my rep checked with the 'powers that be' and he said they will no longer do that. He stated that in the beginning, a property will not have the pay per click, but if/when that property does a certain number of booking (he couldn't give me a #), they will turn on the pay per click. No way around it.
On a positive side, I was told that it's an agreement you sign and not a contract. If you want to stop their listing/pay per click, give them a 3 week notice and they will go away..
Click to expand...
Hello, I have no idea what the pay per click has to do with Booking.com. If they use it with my Inn, I do not get charged for it. It is a flat 15%. There are 18 hotels and 2 B&B's listed in my city of 25,000 people. I have had 1 return guest that could not remember my name and found me on Booking.com. The rest are all new clients that will use my website for future bookings.
.
Click to expand...
It can be an issue BB. If someone is looking for BigBird B&B in your city and does a G oo gle search, the booking.com PPC will be the first thing they will see with YOUR B&B appearing with it.
We all know people do not pay attention to what they are clicking and boom you have a reservation via booking.com that you would have had direct.

Your stats are GREAT news! I have been with them going on two years to get around that many bookings. Good for you!!!
 
Bigbid said:
Breakfast Diva said:
Thanks for posting the update! We've been considering listing with them, but have some reservations (pun intented!).
I've had a long conversation with them a couple days ago. I told them my main problem was that they use pay per click on my inn's name, so when someone is doing a google search for my inn (most repeat guests do it this way), their pay per click will be the first thing listed. As we all know, most of the public has no idea if or why it would make a difference for them to book the room on book.com. I would be paying a commission on guests that would have booked with me directly. Also, if I didn't feed it inventory, it would show we have no rooms available when we do.
Have they started doing the pay per click on your b&b's name?
How many other properties in your city are listed with them?
Have you gotten bookings from previous guests who booked on book.com instead of directly?
Camberly had stated in another thread that she had a contracted agreement with book.com that they will not do the pay per click on her name, but my rep checked with the 'powers that be' and he said they will no longer do that. He stated that in the beginning, a property will not have the pay per click, but if/when that property does a certain number of booking (he couldn't give me a #), they will turn on the pay per click. No way around it.
On a positive side, I was told that it's an agreement you sign and not a contract. If you want to stop their listing/pay per click, give them a 3 week notice and they will go away..
Click to expand...
Hello, I have no idea what the pay per click has to do with Booking.com. If they use it with my Inn, I do not get charged for it. It is a flat 15%. There are 18 hotels and 2 B&B's listed in my city of 25,000 people. I have had 1 return guest that could not remember my name and found me on Booking.com. The rest are all new clients that will use my website for future bookings.
.
Click to expand...
Bigbid said:
Hello, I have no idea what the pay per click has to do with Booking.com. If they use it with my Inn, I do not get charged for it. It is a flat 15%. There are 18 hotels and 2 B&B's listed in my city of 25,000 people. I have had 1 return guest that could not remember my name and found me on Booking.com. The rest are all new clients that will use my website for future bookings.
Click to expand...
No, you don't pay for the pay per click but I have had repeat guests click the ppc booking link because they thought it was how to make a reservation online.
Recent calls have shown similar disinclination to go to my website when the first thing in the list for my inn and my town is booking. And the ppc ad states 'lowest prices online!'
I'd prefer not to pay anyone 15% because the guest is clueless. (And I don't. I do call repeat guests to let them know what they have done. And to request they cancel and rebook directly.)
Yes, I have gotten new guests, too, but booking guests go back to booking to make their next reservation because they firmly believe it is less money.
So, be sure to let them know when they stay how to make the next reservation!
 
Bigbid said:
Joey Bloggs said:
Interesting feedback. Thank you for sharing.
Could you give us some pointers, I know a few have had issue with this online agency, any helpful hints?.
Click to expand...
As you know, we show more hospitality to our guests than the average hotel does. I do see that my new reviews on Booking.com took me quickly to an "exceptional 9.5" rating very fast which has moved me up the page from #20 to #8 in 4 months. I think people using Booking.com are leaving more reviews than those who have found me elsewhere so it is important not to be having a "bad day" when they are here.....
.
Click to expand...
Bigbid said:
As you know, we show more hospitality to our guests than the average hotel does. I do see that my new reviews on Booking.com took me quickly to an "exceptional 9.5" rating very fast which has moved me up the page from #20 to #8 in 4 months. I think people using Booking.com are leaving more reviews than those who have found me elsewhere so it is important not to be having a "bad day" when they are here.....
Click to expand...
Booking requests the guests leave a review. They do seem to be more inclined that way. We've had good and bad reviews on there. Bad reviews from guests we went out of our way for, too. Guests who we rearranged the rooms for, guests who we took in when another inn overbooked, etc.
 
Bigbid said:
Breakfast Diva said:
Thanks for posting the update! We've been considering listing with them, but have some reservations (pun intented!).
I've had a long conversation with them a couple days ago. I told them my main problem was that they use pay per click on my inn's name, so when someone is doing a google search for my inn (most repeat guests do it this way), their pay per click will be the first thing listed. As we all know, most of the public has no idea if or why it would make a difference for them to book the room on book.com. I would be paying a commission on guests that would have booked with me directly. Also, if I didn't feed it inventory, it would show we have no rooms available when we do.
Have they started doing the pay per click on your b&b's name?
How many other properties in your city are listed with them?
Have you gotten bookings from previous guests who booked on book.com instead of directly?
Camberly had stated in another thread that she had a contracted agreement with book.com that they will not do the pay per click on her name, but my rep checked with the 'powers that be' and he said they will no longer do that. He stated that in the beginning, a property will not have the pay per click, but if/when that property does a certain number of booking (he couldn't give me a #), they will turn on the pay per click. No way around it.
On a positive side, I was told that it's an agreement you sign and not a contract. If you want to stop their listing/pay per click, give them a 3 week notice and they will go away..
Click to expand...
Hello, I have no idea what the pay per click has to do with Booking.com. If they use it with my Inn, I do not get charged for it. It is a flat 15%. There are 18 hotels and 2 B&B's listed in my city of 25,000 people. I have had 1 return guest that could not remember my name and found me on Booking.com. The rest are all new clients that will use my website for future bookings.
.
Click to expand...
Bigbid said:
Hello, I have no idea what the pay per click has to do with Booking.com. If they use it with my Inn, I do not get charged for it. It is a flat 15%. There are 18 hotels and 2 B&B's listed in my city of 25,000 people. I have had 1 return guest that could not remember my name and found me on Booking.com. The rest are all new clients that will use my website for future bookings.
Click to expand...
The problem with the pay-per-click ad is that your new clients who will use your website for future bookings, well chances are they won't remember your website exactly so when they google search for the name of your inn, the Booking.com ad will show up in the results before your own website. Not knowing the difference, your returning guests will click on the Booking ad to make their reservation instead of your direct website, so you will end up paying the 15% commission on a returning guest....
It makes perfect sense from Booking's point of view -- try to capture as much of your web traffic as they can to maximize the amount of commission they can collect from you.
So you have to think of the cost not just in terms of the commission on bookings that you would not have gotten without them, but also need to include the commission on diverted bookings -- the bookings that you would have gotten without them, but that they have "captured" one way or another....
 
While on the subject: for those using these systems ALWAYS follow up by sending your own email confirmation!
This just happened: I sent a confirmation for a reservation through Ex ped ia. The guest emails back 'this is WRONG, my reservation is for 3/3 not 3/2'.
After double checking my data, I wrote back to tell her to contact Ex ped ia, as her reservation was not for the correct date. She canceled and sent me an email 'they messed up my reservation, sorry'
We all know who messed it up, user error!!! BUT thankfully she read MY email even though she obviously did not read the one from them! Had I not sent the email, she would have arrived a day late, would have been a no show and lost her $ and have no place to stay during a major event period. Of course in her eyes I then would be to blame.

It is not fool proof and there will be those who will not read your email either, but it sure shifts the problem back on to the person responsible, whether they want to admit it or not!
 
Breakfast Diva said:
Thanks for posting the update! We've been considering listing with them, but have some reservations (pun intented!).
I've had a long conversation with them a couple days ago. I told them my main problem was that they use pay per click on my inn's name, so when someone is doing a google search for my inn (most repeat guests do it this way), their pay per click will be the first thing listed. As we all know, most of the public has no idea if or why it would make a difference for them to book the room on book.com. I would be paying a commission on guests that would have booked with me directly. Also, if I didn't feed it inventory, it would show we have no rooms available when we do.
Have they started doing the pay per click on your b&b's name?
How many other properties in your city are listed with them?
Have you gotten bookings from previous guests who booked on book.com instead of directly?
Camberly had stated in another thread that she had a contracted agreement with book.com that they will not do the pay per click on her name, but my rep checked with the 'powers that be' and he said they will no longer do that. He stated that in the beginning, a property will not have the pay per click, but if/when that property does a certain number of booking (he couldn't give me a #), they will turn on the pay per click. No way around it.
On a positive side, I was told that it's an agreement you sign and not a contract. If you want to stop their listing/pay per click, give them a 3 week notice and they will go away..
Click to expand...
wasn't me but one of the other European B&B's can't remember which one = however we do very well out of booking.com but I should make sure I email them directly (the customer) but then on the other side had a couple arrive today who had booked for Monday night and been a no show - had booked completely the wrong dates. but that aint boo kin g .com#s fault its user error.
Mind you I marked them as a no show first thing on Tuesday so I wouldn't have to pay commission so the booking today is commission free - bonus!
 
I confirm, Booking is great. Great at bringing bookings, but also very efficient marketing. Join Booking, next day, they use your name in Google adword to try to divert your guests to your website, few days/weeks later, thousands of websites affiliated with Booking will promote your property, several of them using again your property name with the same adwords. "Check the prices" will pop up in TripAdvisor, Google, GoogleMaps, all linked to Booking, etc, etc. They'll be everywhere trying to take your oxygen. Commissions shared between them. Big party ...
Booking have a much better reputation than Expedia (Expedia is at a very low 1.8 on trustpilot.com while Booking is at 8,5/10).
Join them at your own risk. Limit the risk by understanding them in depth. This is a tool. Do not let the tool use you!
Here my advices:
- as about 30% of Booking's visitors will also visit the property's own website, ensure your website is optimised for conversion. If more difficult to book than on Booking.com, guests will return to Booking for confirming.
- for the same reason, the name of your the property in Booking should, when searched in Google, reach a Google page where your website is very visible at the top. Adjust your name if necessary. Visitors will copy your name in Booking and search in in Google.
- for the same reason, your website proposal must be better than Booking's: better look, better prices, better cancellation terms, more information, more and bigger pictures, better prices, special offers, efficient booking engine, ...
- for the same reason your offer on Booking should be worse: no full rooms pictures, just details,
- they DO accept to stop pay per clic. They have such special negociations/agreements with big chains (check it in Google), they have it with me and other colleagues. Force your way through. This is disrespectful behaviour and an appaling way to start a partnership with you. It is like placing a Booking Salesperson in front of your property. No! If Booking wins on this, you are unlikely to convince others not to do it. If you win, "Bravo!" but keep checking, they are likely to "forget" about it.
- fight for this pay per clic only if you are well positionned in seach engine results with the name of your property (see above). Otherwise, it is useless. Like if your B&B name is "The Cellar", your site will unlikely be on 1st page. Visitors will not find you with that in Google. So, you either buy "The Cellar" adwords yourself and stop Booking from doing it. But better choose as name in Booking something like "The Summerbell Cellar" where you are sure to be found in search engines.
- do not trust their advice. Always think they are looking at their own interest. Your interest may be opposite (very likely).
- close dates when you are sure to be full on your own or ensure more expensive on Booking.
- contrat may bind you with a price parity term. Read it carefully and find ways around it (different room names, different cancellation terms, offer without breakfast, ...)
- find solutions to reduce the commission: do not include breakfast on Booking, Family room for 4 but sometimes booked for 1 (keep 4 persons price)
- educate guests (and ensure) that direct is better and explain why. Here, some hotels are cheaper on Booking: best way to tell guests to book on booking next time. Disastrous.
- add a line on your bill "including xx$ commission to booking"
- place a stamp on the bill with "Next time, book direct with us!"
- do not use the booking button (not sure you have it there). 3% commission if small but you offer your priceless guests to Booking who will flood them with emails.
- do not place links toward Booking on your website.
- show clearly on your website the advantages of booking directly
- care for their guests to avoir bad reviews: you cannot answer back
- answer to reviews in TripA with subtle mention of better direct "…, …, and thank you for having booked direct" or "next time, prefer booking direct on our website as we propose this and that".
- enjoy no shows: do withdraw on their credit card as agreed. Room ready, charged without commission. They might think that Booking withdrawn from them, not you. Also charge when guest booked the wrong date but show more flexibility with direct guests.
- create human link when they stay
Lastly, you are a fresh market, things might be a little different, but not much. Look at what hotels in France end-up doing to get back their place: http://www.fairbooking.com/en/
This is a big business, now, not for dreamers anymore. Do not loose your share.
Booking will definitively use you as much as possible. Do the same!
 
souslechene said:
I confirm, Booking is great. Great at bringing bookings, but also very efficient marketing. Join Booking, next day, they use your name in Google adword to try to divert your guests to your website, few days/weeks later, thousands of websites affiliated with Booking will promote your property, several of them using again your property name with the same adwords. "Check the prices" will pop up in TripAdvisor, Google, GoogleMaps, all linked to Booking, etc, etc. They'll be everywhere trying to take your oxygen. Commissions shared between them. Big party ...
Booking have a much better reputation than Expedia (Expedia is at a very low 1.8 on trustpilot.com while Booking is at 8,5/10).
Join them at your own risk. Limit the risk by understanding them in depth. This is a tool. Do not let the tool use you!
Here my advices:
- as about 30% of Booking's visitors will also visit the property's own website, ensure your website is optimised for conversion. If more difficult to book than on Booking.com, guests will return to Booking for confirming.
- for the same reason, the name of your the property in Booking should, when searched in Google, reach a Google page where your website is very visible at the top. Adjust your name if necessary. Visitors will copy your name in Booking and search in in Google.
- for the same reason, your website proposal must be better than Booking's: better look, better prices, better cancellation terms, more information, more and bigger pictures, better prices, special offers, efficient booking engine, ...
- for the same reason your offer on Booking should be worse: no full rooms pictures, just details,
- they DO accept to stop pay per clic. They have such special negociations/agreements with big chains (check it in Google), they have it with me and other colleagues. Force your way through. This is disrespectful behaviour and an appaling way to start a partnership with you. It is like placing a Booking Salesperson in front of your property. No! If Booking wins on this, you are unlikely to convince others not to do it. If you win, "Bravo!" but keep checking, they are likely to "forget" about it.
- fight for this pay per clic only if you are well positionned in seach engine results with the name of your property (see above). Otherwise, it is useless. Like if your B&B name is "The Cellar", your site will unlikely be on 1st page. Visitors will not find you with that in Google. So, you either buy "The Cellar" adwords yourself and stop Booking from doing it. But better choose as name in Booking something like "The Summerbell Cellar" where you are sure to be found in search engines.
- do not trust their advice. Always think they are looking at their own interest. Your interest may be opposite (very likely).
- close dates when you are sure to be full on your own or ensure more expensive on Booking.
- contrat may bind you with a price parity term. Read it carefully and find ways around it (different room names, different cancellation terms, offer without breakfast, ...)
- find solutions to reduce the commission: do not include breakfast on Booking, Family room for 4 but sometimes booked for 1 (keep 4 persons price)
- educate guests (and ensure) that direct is better and explain why. Here, some hotels are cheaper on Booking: best way to tell guests to book on booking next time. Disastrous.
- add a line on your bill "including xx$ commission to booking"
- place a stamp on the bill with "Next time, book direct with us!"
- do not use the booking button (not sure you have it there). 3% commission if small but you offer your priceless guests to Booking who will flood them with emails.
- do not place links toward Booking on your website.
- show clearly on your website the advantages of booking directly
- care for their guests to avoir bad reviews: you cannot answer back
- answer to reviews in TripA with subtle mention of better direct "…, …, and thank you for having booked direct" or "next time, prefer booking direct on our website as we propose this and that".
- enjoy no shows: do withdraw on their credit card as agreed. Room ready, charged without commission. They might think that Booking withdrawn from them, not you. Also charge when guest booked the wrong date but show more flexibility with direct guests.
- create human link when they stay
Lastly, you are a fresh market, things might be a little different, but not much. Look at what hotels in France end-up doing to get back their place: http://www.fairbooking.com/en/
This is a big business, now, not for dreamers anymore. Do not loose your share.
Booking will definitively use you as much as possible. Do the same!.
Click to expand...
I agree with most of your points. What I strongly disagree with is changing your name on any listing. NAP+W (name, address, phone & website) on all listings is a MUST. Google is getting more and more strict and will lower your organic listings if your NAP+W are not all the same.
 
Breakfast Diva said:
souslechene said:
I confirm, Booking is great. Great at bringing bookings, but also very efficient marketing. Join Booking, next day, they use your name in Google adword to try to divert your guests to your website, few days/weeks later, thousands of websites affiliated with Booking will promote your property, several of them using again your property name with the same adwords. "Check the prices" will pop up in TripAdvisor, Google, GoogleMaps, all linked to Booking, etc, etc. They'll be everywhere trying to take your oxygen. Commissions shared between them. Big party ...
Booking have a much better reputation than Expedia (Expedia is at a very low 1.8 on trustpilot.com while Booking is at 8,5/10).
Join them at your own risk. Limit the risk by understanding them in depth. This is a tool. Do not let the tool use you!
Here my advices:
- as about 30% of Booking's visitors will also visit the property's own website, ensure your website is optimised for conversion. If more difficult to book than on Booking.com, guests will return to Booking for confirming.
- for the same reason, the name of your the property in Booking should, when searched in Google, reach a Google page where your website is very visible at the top. Adjust your name if necessary. Visitors will copy your name in Booking and search in in Google.
- for the same reason, your website proposal must be better than Booking's: better look, better prices, better cancellation terms, more information, more and bigger pictures, better prices, special offers, efficient booking engine, ...
- for the same reason your offer on Booking should be worse: no full rooms pictures, just details,
- they DO accept to stop pay per clic. They have such special negociations/agreements with big chains (check it in Google), they have it with me and other colleagues. Force your way through. This is disrespectful behaviour and an appaling way to start a partnership with you. It is like placing a Booking Salesperson in front of your property. No! If Booking wins on this, you are unlikely to convince others not to do it. If you win, "Bravo!" but keep checking, they are likely to "forget" about it.
- fight for this pay per clic only if you are well positionned in seach engine results with the name of your property (see above). Otherwise, it is useless. Like if your B&B name is "The Cellar", your site will unlikely be on 1st page. Visitors will not find you with that in Google. So, you either buy "The Cellar" adwords yourself and stop Booking from doing it. But better choose as name in Booking something like "The Summerbell Cellar" where you are sure to be found in search engines.
- do not trust their advice. Always think they are looking at their own interest. Your interest may be opposite (very likely).
- close dates when you are sure to be full on your own or ensure more expensive on Booking.
- contrat may bind you with a price parity term. Read it carefully and find ways around it (different room names, different cancellation terms, offer without breakfast, ...)
- find solutions to reduce the commission: do not include breakfast on Booking, Family room for 4 but sometimes booked for 1 (keep 4 persons price)
- educate guests (and ensure) that direct is better and explain why. Here, some hotels are cheaper on Booking: best way to tell guests to book on booking next time. Disastrous.
- add a line on your bill "including xx$ commission to booking"
- place a stamp on the bill with "Next time, book direct with us!"
- do not use the booking button (not sure you have it there). 3% commission if small but you offer your priceless guests to Booking who will flood them with emails.
- do not place links toward Booking on your website.
- show clearly on your website the advantages of booking directly
- care for their guests to avoir bad reviews: you cannot answer back
- answer to reviews in TripA with subtle mention of better direct "…, …, and thank you for having booked direct" or "next time, prefer booking direct on our website as we propose this and that".
- enjoy no shows: do withdraw on their credit card as agreed. Room ready, charged without commission. They might think that Booking withdrawn from them, not you. Also charge when guest booked the wrong date but show more flexibility with direct guests.
- create human link when they stay
Lastly, you are a fresh market, things might be a little different, but not much. Look at what hotels in France end-up doing to get back their place: http://www.fairbooking.com/en/
This is a big business, now, not for dreamers anymore. Do not loose your share.
Booking will definitively use you as much as possible. Do the same!.
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I agree with most of your points. What I strongly disagree with is changing your name on any listing. NAP+W (name, address, phone & website) on all listings is a MUST. Google is getting more and more strict and will lower your organic listings if your NAP+W are not all the same.
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Booking will not show yourphone & website. I did not mean changing totally the property name, just adding an extra word to differenciate it.
Properties will sometimes add "B&B" to their name on Booking. You might just add a distinctive word.
If 2 B&B have same same "The Barn", it might be wise to call it "The Barn Fermont" on Booking, for example. Google might actually like it as the address includes Fermont. Your website already mention "Fermont", then you should be already well placed in Google on "The Barn Fermont" and will find your website easily.
I agree that you should not try to trick Google. Does not last.
 

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