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Morticia

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2008
Messages
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Guest is telling me they are staying here because a friend referred them. It's free advertising for you!
Yes, they booked thru an OTA.
 
Are they expecting a fruit basket to say thanks.
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I recently had a guest who said she was a travel agent book with me through Hotels-dot-com. She cancelled by calling me directly & said, "I thought if I cancelled with you it would save you money." Um, no. You would have saved me money if you booked directly with me. You seem to be confused as to how that works. I told her that reservations through Expedia have a cancellation fee. "I booked through Hotels-dc." As a travel agent, you should know that Expedia owns Hotels-dc.
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I recently had a guest who said she was a travel agent book with me through Hotels-dot-com. She cancelled by calling me directly & said, "I thought if I cancelled with you it would save you money." Um, no. You would have saved me money if you booked directly with me. You seem to be confused as to how that works. I told her that reservations through Expedia have a cancellation fee. "I booked through Hotels-dc." As a travel agent, you should know that Expedia owns Hotels-dc.
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Ever get an Egencia reservation? Those are actually X's own travel agency. They act as the travel department for a few companies. You get their London number as the contact
And then there are the reservations that come in from BoiseOps. You don't get the guests direct information and boiseops as the email address. Usually someone booking on points of some sort.
 
I recently had a guest who said she was a travel agent book with me through Hotels-dot-com. She cancelled by calling me directly & said, "I thought if I cancelled with you it would save you money." Um, no. You would have saved me money if you booked directly with me. You seem to be confused as to how that works. I told her that reservations through Expedia have a cancellation fee. "I booked through Hotels-dc." As a travel agent, you should know that Expedia owns Hotels-dc.
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Today's Travel Agents know nothing more than how to search info like the rest of the world.
 
Just booked a getaway for us - going with a friend - who in the booking process went first to an OTA. I said whoa! No booking dot con, Exp or any of the rest of them. Check them first if you must, but then always go the the lodging website for the best deal. This is an international traveler who has lived abroad for years. Ack!
<shakes head and wanders off, muttering.....>
 
Just booked a getaway for us - going with a friend - who in the booking process went first to an OTA. I said whoa! No booking dot con, Exp or any of the rest of them. Check them first if you must, but then always go the the lodging website for the best deal. This is an international traveler who has lived abroad for years. Ack!
<shakes head and wanders off, muttering.....>.
Anon Inn said:
This is an international traveler who has lived abroad for years. Ack!
That explains it. I recently booked our lodging for an upcoming trip to Europe, and in every case it was cheaper on Booking than at the hotel websites.
But since we're needing 3 rooms, I ended up booking all but one through V- R- B- O so we got 3-bedroom apartments, with multiple bathrooms and a kitchen and living room for less than we would have paid for 3 small hotel rooms!
And at the one I booked direct with a hotel, they had a 3-bedroom cottage that I booked. Don't you just love the feel of the word "cottage". Can't wait to get there and settle in!
 
Just booked a getaway for us - going with a friend - who in the booking process went first to an OTA. I said whoa! No booking dot con, Exp or any of the rest of them. Check them first if you must, but then always go the the lodging website for the best deal. This is an international traveler who has lived abroad for years. Ack!
<shakes head and wanders off, muttering.....>.
Anon Inn said:
This is an international traveler who has lived abroad for years. Ack!
That explains it. I recently booked our lodging for an upcoming trip to Europe, and in every case it was cheaper on Booking than at the hotel websites.
But since we're needing 3 rooms, I ended up booking all but one through V- R- B- O so we got 3-bedroom apartments, with multiple bathrooms and a kitchen and living room for less than we would have paid for 3 small hotel rooms!
And at the one I booked direct with a hotel, they had a 3-bedroom cottage that I booked. Don't you just love the feel of the word "cottage". Can't wait to get there and settle in!
.
If I find that the OTA has a lower price than booking direct, I ask the hotel to match the price. All of them have. It's still saving them the commission.
 
Just booked a getaway for us - going with a friend - who in the booking process went first to an OTA. I said whoa! No booking dot con, Exp or any of the rest of them. Check them first if you must, but then always go the the lodging website for the best deal. This is an international traveler who has lived abroad for years. Ack!
<shakes head and wanders off, muttering.....>.
Anon Inn said:
This is an international traveler who has lived abroad for years. Ack!
That explains it. I recently booked our lodging for an upcoming trip to Europe, and in every case it was cheaper on Booking than at the hotel websites.
But since we're needing 3 rooms, I ended up booking all but one through V- R- B- O so we got 3-bedroom apartments, with multiple bathrooms and a kitchen and living room for less than we would have paid for 3 small hotel rooms!
And at the one I booked direct with a hotel, they had a 3-bedroom cottage that I booked. Don't you just love the feel of the word "cottage". Can't wait to get there and settle in!
.
If I find that the OTA has a lower price than booking direct, I ask the hotel to match the price. All of them have. It's still saving them the commission.
.
Morticia said:
If I find that the OTA has a lower price than booking direct, I ask the hotel to match the price. All of them have. It's still saving them the commission.
Excellent!
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