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2cat_lady

2cat_lady

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2014
Messages
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Is it just me or is it because it's the end of a calendar year, or is everyone getting bombarded by TA these days? Honestly, I've been averaging at least two emails everyday trying to get me to move to the Dark Side and subscribe to their business listings. They even sent me projected earnings for the year if I subscribed. I would make $1266 in bookings if I shelled out about $500. Really? Who would jump on that one? Then I got a phone call from them this afternoon trying to sign me up. When I told him how much they projected I would make, he said they try not to inflate the numbers but I could potentially make close to $2000! When I told him that my province does an exceptional job at promoting tourism and they do it for free, all he could do was agree. I know we've beat this subject into the ground, but am I losing out here? Is TA really worth it? I'd rather join groups and associations close to home that I know work for me because they know that a good season for me is good for them too.
 
IMNVHO you are NOT losing out to stay away from TA and their business listing. They all tell us how much they will help us - something that is easy to say when they are not holding proof in hand. And so we are supposed to pay up and when the numbers do not bear out what they say it must be a bad web site which they will - for a fee - help us fix or some other reason other than they cannot produce more people than want to come to our area in the first place - who would have found us regardless.
 
HaHa! TA estimated that my revenue from them was $17781.00!! Ridiculous.
 
Yes, they say I'm missing out on a fortune, too. That fortune wouldn't last long if I bit at every treat e-mails offer me.
 
Last week I got a call from TA too. Of course pushing a business listing. For me it would cost $699yr.
They said my little town hotel pg got 14,000 individual view. (if you view it mult times, it only counts once)
If he mentioned an estimated revenue I tuned it out. B&B.com does that and I don't come close to reaching it either.
BUT he did get me to thinking about things as I do us OTA's and he pointed out several ways to get people to book direct instead of using them.
  • If you have a business listing use the SPECIAL OFFER feature to give a small discount if they go to your site to book direct... - saving yourself some commission
  • He mentioned a banner ad for your listing - don't know the cost, have not researched this option
  • TRIPCONNECT - **** no longer connected to a business listing ******
    • If you use a booking system that is compatible with their site (ResKey IS) you can offer booking directly to your site.
    • This is a PPC option so it is not free but you set the amount of money you are willing to spend which in my case I am sure I would spend far less than the $58+mthly bus. listing fee
 
Copperhead said:
Last week I got a call from TA too. Of course pushing a business listing. For me it would cost $699yr.
They said my little town hotel pg got 14,000 individual view. (if you view it mult times, it only counts once)
If he mentioned an estimated revenue I tuned it out. B&B.com does that and I don't come close to reaching it either.
BUT he did get me to thinking about things as I do us OTA's and he pointed out several ways to get people to book direct instead of using them.
  • If you have a business listing use the SPECIAL OFFER feature to give a small discount if they go to your site to book direct... - saving yourself some commission
  • He mentioned a banner ad for your listing - don't know the cost, have not researched this option
  • TRIPCONNECT - **** no longer connected to a business listing ******
    • If you use a booking system that is compatible with their site (ResKey IS) you can offer booking directly to your site.
    • This is a PPC option so it is not free but you set the amount of money you are willing to spend which in my case I am sure I would spend far less than the $58+mthly bus. listing fee
.
Click to expand...
You don't have to have a business listing to use trip connect?
 
Morticia said:
Copperhead said:
Last week I got a call from TA too. Of course pushing a business listing. For me it would cost $699yr.
They said my little town hotel pg got 14,000 individual view. (if you view it mult times, it only counts once)
If he mentioned an estimated revenue I tuned it out. B&B.com does that and I don't come close to reaching it either.
BUT he did get me to thinking about things as I do us OTA's and he pointed out several ways to get people to book direct instead of using them.
  • If you have a business listing use the SPECIAL OFFER feature to give a small discount if they go to your site to book direct... - saving yourself some commission
  • He mentioned a banner ad for your listing - don't know the cost, have not researched this option
  • TRIPCONNECT - **** no longer connected to a business listing ******
    • If you use a booking system that is compatible with their site (ResKey IS) you can offer booking directly to your site.
    • This is a PPC option so it is not free but you set the amount of money you are willing to spend which in my case I am sure I would spend far less than the $58+mthly bus. listing fee
.
Click to expand...
You don't have to have a business listing to use trip connect?
.
Click to expand...
You do have to have a business listing to use Trip Connect.
CH, since you do use OTAs I really think you should consider the business listing so you can use TC. It could take some booking away from the OTAs.
I tried it for a year and it wasn't effective for us because of our location. We just didn't get the traffic. I think you would fare better.
 
BD, I think CH is providing new information regarding the relationship between a Business Listing and TripConnect, based on her recent conversation with a TA rep. Whether it holds true, or applies to all properties everywhere, remains to be verified, but I wouldn't necessarily dismiss it on the basis of our previous understanding of the situation...
 
Harborfields said:
BD, I think CH is providing new information regarding the relationship between a Business Listing and TripConnect, based on her recent conversation with a TA rep. Whether it holds true, or applies to all properties everywhere, remains to be verified, but I wouldn't necessarily dismiss it on the basis of our previous understanding of the situation....
Click to expand...
Okay, so I just went to TA to check the current situation regarding TripConnect. There is no mention of needing to have a BL (even when I "check my eligibility").
 
Breakfast Diva said:
Morticia said:
Copperhead said:
Last week I got a call from TA too. Of course pushing a business listing. For me it would cost $699yr.
They said my little town hotel pg got 14,000 individual view. (if you view it mult times, it only counts once)
If he mentioned an estimated revenue I tuned it out. B&B.com does that and I don't come close to reaching it either.
BUT he did get me to thinking about things as I do us OTA's and he pointed out several ways to get people to book direct instead of using them.
  • If you have a business listing use the SPECIAL OFFER feature to give a small discount if they go to your site to book direct... - saving yourself some commission
  • He mentioned a banner ad for your listing - don't know the cost, have not researched this option
  • TRIPCONNECT - **** no longer connected to a business listing ******
    • If you use a booking system that is compatible with their site (ResKey IS) you can offer booking directly to your site.
    • This is a PPC option so it is not free but you set the amount of money you are willing to spend which in my case I am sure I would spend far less than the $58+mthly bus. listing fee
.
Click to expand...
You don't have to have a business listing to use trip connect?
.
Click to expand...
You do have to have a business listing to use Trip Connect.
CH, since you do use OTAs I really think you should consider the business listing so you can use TC. It could take some booking away from the OTAs.
I tried it for a year and it wasn't effective for us because of our location. We just didn't get the traffic. I think you would fare better.
.
Click to expand...
Breakfast Diva said:
You do have to have a business listing to use Trip Connect.
Click to expand...
This has apparently just changed from a business listing benefit to a cost-per-click situation.
Got this from the TA website "my business" page:
Check out our newest product:
TripConnect™ Cost-Per-Click Campaigns Share your direct rates and availability with travelers who are ready to book – and send them straight to your online booking engine!
 
I don't have a TA business listing. Right now TA offers a reservation for my place directly from my TA page, through both Booking and PriceLine. I don't have any affiliation with PriceLine but it's all coming from my affiliation with Booking.
If I could sign up for TripConnect without a business listing, and send people directly to my website for less than the commission I'd pay Booking, that would be great. But I'll bet they've done the math and it will cost the same either way.
I'll look into it though.
EDIT TO ADD: I'm setting it up but have NO idea what amount to put for my daily click budget. And it says you must set it at a minimum of $10/day. But I have no idea if it would really use the whole daily budget. As usual, TA is thinking it's dealing with a 100 room hotel here!
EDIT TWO: Signup completed.
Your bids will appear live on TripAdvisor within the next 24 hours. While you wait, visit your TripConnect cost-per-click Campaign Management page to discover how you can track the performance of your campaig
$10 daily maximum at 47 cents per click. I don't anticipate many clicks in my little town. It says you can cancel at any time, so if it gets expensive I'll cancel. But it does look like it will be using my ResKey page to take the reservation, which means it will take into account all my restrictions (extra charge for over 2 people, extra charge for a single night, etc.). Booking.com could handle the number of people calculation but I was having to lose the upcharge on single night bookings. So this has the potential to be good for me!
Thanks, Copperhead!!
 
Momma Smurf said:
HaHa! TA estimated that my revenue from them was $17781.00!! Ridiculous..
Click to expand...
Momma Smurf said:
HaHa! TA estimated that my revenue from them was $17781.00!! Ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Unless your place is huge and sitting empty a lot of the time "Ridiculous" is spot on.
Did they offer you a great deals on a bridge in Brooklyn or London too?
 
An Old Tavernkeeper said:
Momma Smurf said:
HaHa! TA estimated that my revenue from them was $17781.00!! Ridiculous..
Click to expand...
Momma Smurf said:
HaHa! TA estimated that my revenue from them was $17781.00!! Ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Unless your place is huge and sitting empty a lot of the time "Ridiculous" is spot on.
Did they offer you a great deals on a bridge in Brooklyn or London too?
.
Click to expand...
We have 6 rooms in a seasonal area! Already, quite a few bridges here...
 
Arks said:
I don't have a TA business listing. Right now TA offers a reservation for my place directly from my TA page, through both Booking and PriceLine. I don't have any affiliation with PriceLine but it's all coming from my affiliation with Booking.
If I could sign up for TripConnect without a business listing, and send people directly to my website for less than the commission I'd pay Booking, that would be great. But I'll bet they've done the math and it will cost the same either way.
I'll look into it though.
EDIT TO ADD: I'm setting it up but have NO idea what amount to put for my daily click budget. And it says you must set it at a minimum of $10/day. But I have no idea if it would really use the whole daily budget. As usual, TA is thinking it's dealing with a 100 room hotel here!
EDIT TWO: Signup completed.
Your bids will appear live on TripAdvisor within the next 24 hours. While you wait, visit your TripConnect cost-per-click Campaign Management page to discover how you can track the performance of your campaig
$10 daily maximum at 47 cents per click. I don't anticipate many clicks in my little town. It says you can cancel at any time, so if it gets expensive I'll cancel. But it does look like it will be using my ResKey page to take the reservation, which means it will take into account all my restrictions (extra charge for over 2 people, extra charge for a single night, etc.). Booking.com could handle the number of people calculation but I was having to lose the upcharge on single night bookings. So this has the potential to be good for me!
Thanks, Copperhead!!.
Click to expand...
I used TC off and on this past year. My bid for the town is only 20 cents... I do have a business listing at the moment, but may drop it depending upon what they quote me. The $17.5K projection is ominous. The ability to run a Special Offer (and now you can offer more than one) and actually have it emailed to 2500+ people every week by TA has been quite successful. Also, when previously using TC, it bumps your results up and above everyone else, no matter your rank... above B>Com, etc results too. TC gets priority, so that's a sweet benefit. If you set up an additional page clone via RezKey and link it to TA, TA availability searches will show up in RezKey so noted, which obviously allows one to see just how well it works.
 
Momma Smurf said:
Arks said:
I don't have a TA business listing. Right now TA offers a reservation for my place directly from my TA page, through both Booking and PriceLine. I don't have any affiliation with PriceLine but it's all coming from my affiliation with Booking.
If I could sign up for TripConnect without a business listing, and send people directly to my website for less than the commission I'd pay Booking, that would be great. But I'll bet they've done the math and it will cost the same either way.
I'll look into it though.
EDIT TO ADD: I'm setting it up but have NO idea what amount to put for my daily click budget. And it says you must set it at a minimum of $10/day. But I have no idea if it would really use the whole daily budget. As usual, TA is thinking it's dealing with a 100 room hotel here!
EDIT TWO: Signup completed.
Your bids will appear live on TripAdvisor within the next 24 hours. While you wait, visit your TripConnect cost-per-click Campaign Management page to discover how you can track the performance of your campaig
$10 daily maximum at 47 cents per click. I don't anticipate many clicks in my little town. It says you can cancel at any time, so if it gets expensive I'll cancel. But it does look like it will be using my ResKey page to take the reservation, which means it will take into account all my restrictions (extra charge for over 2 people, extra charge for a single night, etc.). Booking.com could handle the number of people calculation but I was having to lose the upcharge on single night bookings. So this has the potential to be good for me!
Thanks, Copperhead!!.
Click to expand...
I used TC off and on this past year. My bid for the town is only 20 cents... I do have a business listing at the moment, but may drop it depending upon what they quote me. The $17.5K projection is ominous. The ability to run a Special Offer (and now you can offer more than one) and actually have it emailed to 2500+ people every week by TA has been quite successful. Also, when previously using TC, it bumps your results up and above everyone else, no matter your rank... above B>Com, etc results too. TC gets priority, so that's a sweet benefit. If you set up an additional page clone via RezKey and link it to TA, TA availability searches will show up in RezKey so noted, which obviously allows one to see just how well it works.
.
Click to expand...
Momma Smurf said:
If you set up an additional page clone via RezKey and link it to TA, TA availability searches will show up in RezKey so noted, which obviously allows one to see just how well it works.
Click to expand...
Interesting!!
 
Arks said:
Momma Smurf said:
Arks said:
I don't have a TA business listing. Right now TA offers a reservation for my place directly from my TA page, through both Booking and PriceLine. I don't have any affiliation with PriceLine but it's all coming from my affiliation with Booking.
If I could sign up for TripConnect without a business listing, and send people directly to my website for less than the commission I'd pay Booking, that would be great. But I'll bet they've done the math and it will cost the same either way.
I'll look into it though.
EDIT TO ADD: I'm setting it up but have NO idea what amount to put for my daily click budget. And it says you must set it at a minimum of $10/day. But I have no idea if it would really use the whole daily budget. As usual, TA is thinking it's dealing with a 100 room hotel here!
EDIT TWO: Signup completed.
Your bids will appear live on TripAdvisor within the next 24 hours. While you wait, visit your TripConnect cost-per-click Campaign Management page to discover how you can track the performance of your campaig
$10 daily maximum at 47 cents per click. I don't anticipate many clicks in my little town. It says you can cancel at any time, so if it gets expensive I'll cancel. But it does look like it will be using my ResKey page to take the reservation, which means it will take into account all my restrictions (extra charge for over 2 people, extra charge for a single night, etc.). Booking.com could handle the number of people calculation but I was having to lose the upcharge on single night bookings. So this has the potential to be good for me!
Thanks, Copperhead!!.
Click to expand...
I used TC off and on this past year. My bid for the town is only 20 cents... I do have a business listing at the moment, but may drop it depending upon what they quote me. The $17.5K projection is ominous. The ability to run a Special Offer (and now you can offer more than one) and actually have it emailed to 2500+ people every week by TA has been quite successful. Also, when previously using TC, it bumps your results up and above everyone else, no matter your rank... above B>Com, etc results too. TC gets priority, so that's a sweet benefit. If you set up an additional page clone via RezKey and link it to TA, TA availability searches will show up in RezKey so noted, which obviously allows one to see just how well it works.
.
Click to expand...
Momma Smurf said:
If you set up an additional page clone via RezKey and link it to TA, TA availability searches will show up in RezKey so noted, which obviously allows one to see just how well it works.
Click to expand...
Interesting!!
.
Click to expand...
Yes, and easy too. Just go to your Reservation Pages, Click Add Page, Select Type, and it will ask you if you'd like to duplicate an existing page. Do so, and rename it TA, then link that Page Version to and from. But betcha y'all already figured that out.
 
I was thinking that's how it would be done but hadn't actually looked at the nuts and bolts. Thanks for the How To!
 
Arks said:
I don't have a TA business listing. Right now TA offers a reservation for my place directly from my TA page, through both Booking and PriceLine. I don't have any affiliation with PriceLine but it's all coming from my affiliation with Booking.
If I could sign up for TripConnect without a business listing, and send people directly to my website for less than the commission I'd pay Booking, that would be great. But I'll bet they've done the math and it will cost the same either way.
I'll look into it though.
EDIT TO ADD: I'm setting it up but have NO idea what amount to put for my daily click budget. And it says you must set it at a minimum of $10/day. But I have no idea if it would really use the whole daily budget. As usual, TA is thinking it's dealing with a 100 room hotel here!
EDIT TWO: Signup completed.
Your bids will appear live on TripAdvisor within the next 24 hours. While you wait, visit your TripConnect cost-per-click Campaign Management page to discover how you can track the performance of your campaig
$10 daily maximum at 47 cents per click. I don't anticipate many clicks in my little town. It says you can cancel at any time, so if it gets expensive I'll cancel. But it does look like it will be using my ResKey page to take the reservation, which means it will take into account all my restrictions (extra charge for over 2 people, extra charge for a single night, etc.). Booking.com could handle the number of people calculation but I was having to lose the upcharge on single night bookings. So this has the potential to be good for me!
Thanks, Copperhead!!.
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing Arks. I'll have to look into this. No Business Listing but maybe increased revenue. Hmmmmm........
 
Late getting back to you, but yes it is something TA just recently changed. No Business listing needed!
Glad you figured it out Arks.
thumbs_up.gif

Mama Smurf, trying to grasp the benefit of having a separate page for TA. Please explain to this simple mind.
embaressed_smile.gif

Mama, the rep did not tell me that TC had the 1 up over the OTA's, he said I would have to compete with my bid. I did not speak with him long on this subject as I had a check in.
Arks, did the prices shown reflect the same rates as on your website? (In the sign up process when confirming your rates.) Mine were a little off when I keyed in more than 1 night. So I didn't finish the process and was going to wait to speak with my rep again after the holidays.
 

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