NEW ORLEANS — Booking.com has launched new tools and product enhancements specifically designed to simplify day-to-day management and help professional short-term-rental partners welcome more guests.
The new features were directly informed by feedback from Booking.com partners and developed by a team of specialists solely dedicated to ensuring professional short-term-rental partners can deliver more great-stay experiences. These features leverage technology to help professional property managers market their particular offering on the Booking.com platform, streamline day-to-day operations and grow and maintain revenue.
Key additions include a group-opportunity centre offering relevant, actionable performance tips for partner portfolios and connectivity tools and features to highlight professionally managed properties, including a host score, an external-review score and unique facilities offered by properties. An objective quality-rating system — similar to traditional hotel star ratings — has also been introduced, representing a first-of-its-kind for the short-term-rental industry.
Booking.com has also created an advisory board, featuring property managers and connectivity providers, dedicated to advising the company on its role as a partner to the short-term-rental industry and shaping future products and services.
“We have engaged in active conversation with our short-term-rental partners to identify ways the short-term rental industry can continue to respond to increasing traveller expectations and an ever-growing appetite for exploration,” says Olivier Grémillon, vice-president of Global Segments, Booking.com. “This meaningful dialogue has not only strengthened our relationships and partnerships with the short-term-rental industry, but is actually helping to push the industry forward, as we see our partners’ input helping shape the future of travel. Particularly as homes, apartments and other unique places to stay continue to grow faster as a category than traditional segments, it’s exciting to look ahead to see what’s next in our partnership, as there’s so much potential to grow together.”
More travellers than ever are looking for unique places to stay, with 43 per cent of travellers planning to stay in a new type of accommodation this year. According to the company, on average, seven guests per second are checking into a home, apartment or unique place to stay.
