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What do you think about this idea?

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Brooke
 
We are thinking about launching a new feature here in the Partner Forum, and we wanted to get your thoughts on it.   
 
From your encouraging words it seems you guys are really appreciating the advice you are getting from one another. We are thinking about introducing an initiative where we encourage some of you to become super members - ensuring that one another's questions are always answered.  
 
Is this a role you would be interested in? What would motivate you to do this?   
 
Let us know what your thoughts are! 

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21 comments

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  • 7
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    Tony Shold

    I believe anything that can assist other members, particularly those that are just coming on board or just sometimes struggling.
    Great initiative !!

  • 2
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    Brooke

    Thanks for your feedback Tony! 

  • 4
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    Anton Cloete

    Hi Brooke,

    I think this forum is a magnificent idea, and looking at the positive and helpful contributions form all over the world, it will enhance the hosts' experience with Booking.com.

    If I understand you correctly, a "super member" would become somewhat of a mentor and perhaps be expected to regularly post replies? For me personally, I would not volunteer to be expected to answer posts. As and when I have time, I will gladly contribute. At the moment I think the user level (contributor, collaborator, etc) is sufficient.

    Hope this helps.

  • 2
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    Brooke

    Thanks for your feedback Anton! Really appreciate your helpful contributions and advice. Looking forward to more wise words from you in the Partner Forum :-) 

  • 3
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    Jill Penny

    Hi Brooke

    I agree with Anton - I'm new to booking.com and to perfectly honest I am blow away by the emails and suggestions I get from you, they've been so helpful - I know I pay you commission and it's business but i do feel "looked after". I would really appreciate feed back by old hands and not re-invent the wheel per say.

    So yes - I look forward to a positive forum.

    Kind Regards

    Jill

     

     

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    Thatlittleplaceinbatalha

    I think that is a great idea. We can help each other. I am all for it

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    Manu

    I have an idea why can we change the format and gets our guest who are checking in to list how they are arriving :by car, plane, train, bike, or Public transportation. Sometime we are in the middle of having dinner or missing because we have no idea when the guess is arriving Its just two of us. Maybe they are arriving super early and our check in is at 3 pm not 7 am guests are still sleeping and they want to check in now. What can we do to remind our new guest that check in is 3pm.

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    Aussiebenefactor531

    Hey Many,
    It's a great question and a situation that affects most of us at one time or another.
    In your messages to your guest's, you can create a template.
    I have two.
    1st one is welcoming them and advising all details including check in/ out times.
    2nd one is reiterating the first msg and reminding them of the check in / out times and asking them to advise what times they are arriving etc.
    I send this 2 days prior to arrival.
    Hope this helps :)
    Tony

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    monet208
    • Edited

    Having  had a 5* rating for years we are happy to help others anytime
    As to the last comment we have been doing 1 and 2 above for year as well as adding extra important information
    Only problem with arrival time is that , unlike Laterooms.com booking.com does not clearly ask every guest for an arrival time ! So we can be sitting around from 3pm.

    So Booking,com needs to address this urgently
    Having said that too many guests  ignore our request for an approximate arrival time in our confirmation email- not much one can do about that!
    David

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    Manu

    Thank you David

    But if it's up and there some guest do have an idea when they are arriving or how the little can help

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    Manu

    Tony

    Thank you but we do and have all this in place sometimes even at time of booking guest even if they don't have an idea when and can have the choose of marking it down or call before they arrive

    Our notice is sent poo yt? The day they book, seven day before and three days be for we try many do get back but hoping for a 100% reply . And it will help to see it as they book
    Manu

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    Andi

    It's true that most guests have no idea what time they arrive at the time of booking. We also send out clear & personalised messages to the guest asking to reply for arrival time and more info (means of transportation, request for transfers, orders for breakfast). If the guest doesn't reply, we send reminders, 1st by e-mail, 2nd by text message to phone. We do have a 99% reply rate like this.

    However, this could be easily solved by a pop-up message on the booking.com app, where the guest receives this message on the check-in day, to confirm the arrival time and more. Like a simple and light pre-check-in on the mobile phone. Everybody carries around their smartphone all the time, so that would be very simple. 

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    Jill Penny

    I am astounded by guests who arrive at 11.00 am to check in and when you politely tell them check in is at 3.00 pm there standard reply is "oh I didn't know"!!! These are not first time travelers, they are aware for sure that check in is usually in the early afternoon. Anyway, I offer to store luggage or check to see if their room is ready. I think a pop up message for each guest is a brilliant idea.

  • 0
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    Chaya516169

    Hi Brooke,

     

    I am on this forum in hopes to get your attention. I am using Guesty as my PMS system and trying to set up 20 listings on bookings.com. My rep from Guesty is also trying to get assistance but people are unresponsive. I need the Legal entity ID number (LEID) therefore they can connect the API.

     

    Please please please help! We need a channel manager whom is experience with multiple listings. 

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    monet208

    So the big question is since many experience this problem over not knowing approximately when a guest will arrive is

    WILL BOOKING .COM TAKE ANY NOTICE AND MAKE IT CLEARER FOR A GUEST TO PUT APPROXIMATE ARRIVAL TIME ON WHEN THEY BOOK ???????????????????

  • 1
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    Jill Penny

    When you book an airline ticket, before completing the reservation a pop up asks "do you want to rent a car/ take insurance" Why can't booking.com have a pop up that asks the guests what time will they be arriving, surely this is simple enough? There could also be a pop asking if the guest would like to make a dinner reservation in the BnB/Guest House/Hotel. Guests want to be taken care of and we the owners want our guests to feel welcome and special.

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    Alasma

    I am loving this idea of sharing our magic tricks.
    We do send a welcome message and ask our guests to provide their ETA and then confirmation on arrival day to avoid any inconvenience on waiting for staff.
    Reminder 1 day pior and then same day txt or phone call.
    Booking.com is helpful too to find out international guest's arrival time over the phone although it's a time taking process.

  • 2
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    monet208

    I think this Forum is a wonderful way for hotels and booking.com to work together to improve ours and guests experiences

    I do note a lot of dissatisfaction by many hotels about all sorts of things especially the Review system,declined credit cards and guests ignoring requests for  clearer requests for approximate arrival times

    At the end of the day the Forum is nothing unless Booking.com takes on board suggestions from hotels and actually responds to hotels concerns

    So far I have not seen any response from Booking.com management about any of the areas of concern expressed by hotels

  • 0
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    Andi

    Fully agree. @Brooke, any response from you regarding david's statement?

  • 0
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    Brooke

    Thanks for your comments everyone :-) 

    The Partner Forum was launched as a space for partners like you to connect with one another. In just four months, we have seen incredible growth with so many amazing partners joining the Forum to share their valuable advice and connect with fellow partners. 

    At the same time, we are also seeing valuable product feedback from the community. As this happens, I have been working every day with our product teams to relay your ideas. As was the case with issues around Invalid Credit Cards, we were actually able to make some product changes as a result. My personal ambition is to continue to do this and I will keep everyone posted in the Partner Forum Announcements topic. 

    Thank you again for being such supportive members of the Forum, every day we see partners comments about how helpful this community has been for them and it's because of great contributions from people like you. 

    Thanks again,

    -Brooke 

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    monet208

    As I have said elsewhere is you called and insisted you could get a 24 hour limit to cancel a booking with an invalid card so that is nothing new

    Keeping the 3pm time is worse than nothing -it need to be 24 hours because trying to sell the room from 3pm on the day is very unlikely

    As I said elsewhere a senior member of management needs to look at what hotels are finding difficult ant take note of experienced hoteliers suggestions

    Until this happens apart from exchanging ideas the Forum is totally ineffective at initiating REAL change

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