Yes, get online booking. No, I don't spend all day checking for incoming reservations. Generally, if someone wants tonight or tomorrow they call. You can have your rez system only accept reservations for next day on and not same day.
We have a 2-room suite that we do not allow to be booked online. We simply state for that room to 'call to make the rez' and that keeps the issues to a minimum.
Do guests that we speak to act better than guests who book online? No. Do people who call and reserve show up with dogs and kids they never mentioned? Yes. Stop using that 'filter' thing as a reason not to have what is an essential marketing tool on your website. Because you have never had online reservations you cannot say that you have successfully stopped a guest from doing something they would have done 'wrong' if you allowed online bookings just because you got to talk to them. Make sure your policies are clear on the website..
I now totally agree with everything you said. It took me a VERY long time to give up control and the feeling that I needed to speak and feel out every guest. My first summer with ResKey is coming up and I must say, I don't need to speak to everyone. I am FREEEEEEE.
Also, I "installed" this program in one day. Yes, it is that easy. I had a few questions, unnessesary questions for John, he really has made it very easy to do this yourself. When I asked him if he would do it for me, he told me that I had already done it all by myself and needed to just personalize it. He was right.
Do not be afraid to make the switch
check it out www.wayfarerlodgings.com if you want
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