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For who ?

Whilst I do really appreciate all the wonderful comments that people have made about many many issues - which have genuinely helped me improve my B'N'B - well will in the future - defineately. There is a bit of a but - is the only point of this forum -ie for us 'partners' to help and advise each other - which is wonderful and long may it continue. I think it genuinely helps people help each other - which the whole world needs more of for sure.  

I do however, after reading many of the comments, feel it also may be a place where 'partners'  vent their speans to some degree about the running or workings of Booking.com. Which again is wonderful that we can do this without any apparent recourse from the organisation. I personally love booking.com, it has helped me immensely with my B'n'B but I would in tern like to help it / them - as I am sure would others 'here' would.

My point would be - I get it is a great means to vent off on some subjects and helps those of little experience in this field like myself - but wouldn't it be great if these comments and very real concerns / issues about the running of booking.com - were answered by a member of the management from Booking .com.

The majority of the contributers I have read, have clearly spend alot of time composing and thinking about what and why they are writing - which has usually been informed by years and years experience in life both inside this industry. Surely this is gold dust - which if gathered correctly would make a nugget of immense value. If we knew we were being listened to and we had a say in things it would make 'us' feel valued, listened to and part of something - it would also - getting back to the subject title - massively grow the 'Partner Forum' - as it would have alot of meaning and we would start to feel like true partners.   


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Katerinka12 5 years ago

People are confused what kind of partners we have here. We have:
1) Booking, who refers to hosts as "partners" is our Partner, for all of us
2) Hosts who are partners

So, this forum is a dialog between us, the hosts, who are partners of one Big Partner. This forum was not created to talk to Booking.

It does not mean that we can't discuss improvements of Booking. But again, it's among us, hosts. And each of us has to use the proper venue of communication with Booking, which is messages in Extranet or calls, that work better in some countries.

So, why the Booking made this forum? So, we can learn from each other and they don't need to hire additional staff, because instead of staff it will be the host who will answer. On other hand, it's impossible to educate the staff to the level of property owner, so replies here could serve as education and solution of a problem.

And forum is a great way for partners to Forget about problems :) which is beneficial for Booking.

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Richardloram 5 years ago

Hi Katerinka - thanks thought that was he case but still maintain it is a insane loss to Booking.com not to evolve their system by having someone who could pull many ideas and suggestions together. This is after all how the Toyota model works - one mimiked by many many companies the world over. I guess going back to a previous point I made - a company run purely for profit by people frequently detached from the working environment they 'manage' - often have very little creativity or 'out of the box' thinking skills - or indeed little idea of how things are run in relaity on the 'shop floor' - so this would a great example of how they could use us to show they care and value us - but I guess this may be against the 'laws' of how a corporation is run. Disappointing I guess

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Katerinka12 5 years ago

Not really disappointing... Let Booking be that "corporation", hunters, and us - people with creativity and thinking skills...

As I could remember you said that greedy people have little room for love and understanding of arts... Though we are direct beneficiaries of that "corporate" system. Booking performance is good, that's the fact.

But what more important is that:
1) we know our secrets (and might not even share here). I guess it's the same anywhere in the world, where specialists make 70% and marketing agency 30%. Just an example
2) we can have spiritual growth... And that's the best journey..
What do you think?

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Richardloram 5 years ago

yeah would go along with that - we have alot to give in many many ways - yes we benefit from the system / corporation etc - my view is that the booking .com is great for me and I love it as I have said before - but they could be so much more if they took onboard alot of the collective ideas 'we' have 'here' - it is after all 'just' a very powerful and well organised web-site with alot of advertising - which could be seen as not a particuarly strong position by someone with alot o capital wanting to do the same. I do not in any way want to bring it down I want to make it go higher - spiritual growth yes with out doubt the best thing and best journey to take - peace and love

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pibomarco 5 years ago

Don't worry richard.. I'm on BDC since 2009, They evolved the system greatly since then and I bet they invest a lot in the future evolvement. Partner forum is a great creation, so that we the hosts reply to the same questions that were asked 100 times already in other threads.. and we do it for FREE. :)
I personally don't see a point bringing a BDC member here and throw him in a group of piranhas (but hurt "know it all" hosts).
"care for us, value us"... This is not a family picnic.. Yes, it's a corporation.. the game is different when you operate with milions of hosts and much more milions of guests. MILIONS.

All I care is that I receive as many bookings as possible and that the system is flexible enough for my needs.

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Richardloram 5 years ago

HI Pibomarco - point taken too much to ask - I am new to this game - and fair enough why would they give a monkeys - one day I will evolve to be as synical as you my friend all best cheers Richie

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Katerinka12 5 years ago

Richard, if you have any questions, problems, or opposite - share your experience (that will be great), feel free to write me at katerinka12 at yahoo

As for me I learnt some useful tips that helped me in business (but not in stress management :)) and it helped me to save money and avoid mistakes. That's in terms of business. I was also able to develop friendships and my days became more enjoyable.

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Richardloram 5 years ago

Katerinka - cheers - this is turning into the best job I had and best paid to boot - so no complaints. Still finding my feet to some degree, meeting some great people though and I am sure after few years will develop some good friendships.