I agree. I've seen airbnb testing the 'instant booking' checkbox checked as a default, before now.paolo wrote:I'm sure that is coming next. I also wonder how long it will be until we are complaining about being forced to go from online booking to instant booking. Maybe a year?Martha wrote:No doubt HA will try to prevent names on their listing soon enough. : /
Owners Direct ultimatum arrived today
Chalet la Foret, Chamonix
I dont wish to rehash lots of previous discussions we have had re HA and their changes. I would much prefer if we could build relationships with our guests as in the past and arrange payment outside their company. But Airbnb changed the rules and HA and TA decuded they had to follow or lose. To "Airbnb" is now almost a verb like to "Google". Its business unfortunately, we have the option of working with these sites or without them. Some people can generate enough business without these big sites and some of us like me can't. I really hope a traditional site will spring up and challange their dominance but I,m not holding my breath.
- bornintheuk
- Posts: 538
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:18 am
- Location: Southern Charente
+1 Sad but true, we are just a resource for these sites now.declanja wrote:I dont wish to rehash lots of previous discussions we have had re HA and their changes. I would much prefer if we could build relationships with our guests as in the past and arrange payment outside their company. But Airbnb changed the rules and HA and TA decuded they had to follow or lose. To "Airbnb" is now almost a verb like to "Google". Its business unfortunately, we have the option of working with these sites or without them. Some people can generate enough business without these big sites and some of us like me can't. I really hope a traditional site will spring up and challange their dominance but I,m not holding my breath.
What would Plato do ?
Very true declanja.declanja wrote:I dont wish to rehash lots of previous discussions we have had re HA and their changes. I would much prefer if we could build relationships with our guests as in the past and arrange payment outside their company. But Airbnb changed the rules and HA and TA decuded they had to follow or lose. To "Airbnb" is now almost a verb like to "Google". Its business unfortunately, we have the option of working with these sites or without them. Some people can generate enough business without these big sites and some of us like me can't. I really hope a traditional site will spring up and challange their dominance but I,m not holding my breath.
Mrs C & me are most definitely in the ‘without’ camp & will operate part time if necessary but we are almost resigned to our last year of renting. I think the OTA squeeze on ownership is also changing the holidaymaker demographic & I’m not sure we want a part of the new generation.
This time next year Rodney, we'll be millionaires.
I think that makes my point nicely. We are not being forced. We are electing to do so. It’s a business decision, for perceived want of an alternative. That we are paying our captors to torment us, and are also implicated in increasing the cost of holiday accommodation for all, doesn’t seem to matter to most of us. So, bring on the pain?? I can assure you, there is more heading our way.paolo wrote:
Assuming you want to use one of the big sites
Given my other, embryonic venture, I have done a lot of thinking about the market and listen to it daily – supply side and demand side. There is a clear requirement for an alternative channel to the OTA.
Nobody is suggesting a knock-out blow. These channels are not mutually exclusive. They could co-exist, each with a nuanced proposition – and it is slowly happening. Let the consumer then make the choice.
It is the victimhood of the supply side, the hopelessness, the inaction and the use of phrases like ‘forced to’ that don’t ring true now. Yes, things are different. The market has moved. So, ride both horses and see what happens. Be neither ostrich nor rabbit. We independents are in a much stronger position than we realise.
Web: https://yofftoo.com/property/esmes-cottage
Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @esmescottage
Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @esmescottage
Interesting - perhaps it stays unchecked for me as I have unchecked it already. It would make sense that it's remembered as a preference.paolo wrote: When I look on airbnb, the instant booking box is always checked as a default. If you are aware of it you can uncheck it but it is not that obvious.
I am all for trying all approaches, yours looks good too, russelt and when I have some time I will add us to it
However, from my own experience, I have been listed with many smaller specialist independent agencies - and still am - but they have never been able to provide the level of bookings that we would need to survive. Even a very well established local booking site, with excellent Google visibility and good traffic, doesn't get us more than one booking every year.
Ditto for our own site which does get us a reasonable level of bookings but again it is just not enough.
I block all the peak weeks on HA as I can fill them myself, but for the other weeks, the big sites provide over half the income. Returning guests are a huge help of course.
So yes - it's a choice, but if you want to keep your head above water you are effectively forced to go along with them to some degree, in my view, no matter how hard you are paddling in every other possible channel.
Chalet la Foret, Chamonix
- bornintheuk
- Posts: 538
- Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:18 am
- Location: Southern Charente
Although not being "forced" to use on of the big sites the position of them on a Google search really makes the decision for you in respect of the customer searching who do not seem to want to spend the time or effort drilling down in the results.
In the main, but not all cases especially with niche market properties, most properties who are not on one of the big sites will be lost in the "also rans".
In the main, but not all cases especially with niche market properties, most properties who are not on one of the big sites will be lost in the "also rans".
What would Plato do ?
Do it with your cuppa this afternoon. I look forward to welcoming you.Martha wrote: when I have some time
Web: https://yofftoo.com/property/esmes-cottage
Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @esmescottage
Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @esmescottage
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I am still on subscription. Commission would have cost me much more this year.Mouse wrote:Can someone explain to me; in this scenario what is the benefit of staying on subscription?
Would it be better to go on commission?
What are the differences now?
Mousie (awaiting the email as renewal is due January)
x
I’d agree in part but in my experience it is those that can be bothered making an effort that are likely to be the better guests, repeats visiors etc. The instant gratification brigade who want it right now, without a little research or effort are the ones that give me by far the most headaches.bornintheuk wrote:Although not being "forced" to use on of the big sites the position of them on a Google search really makes the decision for you in respect of the customer searching who do not seem to want to spend the time or effort drilling down in the results.
In the main, but not all cases especially with niche market properties, most properties who are not on one of the big sites will be lost in the "also rans".
I suppose it also depends on how many weeks is adequate for each individual as to how far we are willing to bend for the OTAs but I have friends locally who are completely bucking the trend & selling out repeatedly at premium rates without so much as a single third party listing. Admittedly they are very pro-active with targeted marketing, social media & so on but they are doing well enough to market other properties on the side as well so not bad for ‘also rans’. We don’t all have the skill set, time or drive for it but for some it can be done. Horses for courses & all that.
This time next year Rodney, we'll be millionaires.