18th October 2019 Paul Stevens

Worldwide: Booking.com has launched a number of features, including tools and product enhancements, after feedback from its professional short-term rental partners to help them welcome more guests.

The new features have been developed by a team of specialists who aim to ensure that rental partners deliver exceptional experiences to their guests.

Speaking at the Vacation Rental Management Association [VRMA] Conference this week, Booking.com revealed increasing numbers of travelers are seeking out unique places to stay, with 43 percent of travelers planning to stay in alternative accommodation this year. The company says it is committed to working with its partners to drive new business opportunities for them and promote the benefits of staying in alternative short-term rental accommodation.

The new features leverage technology to help property managers market their particular offering on the Booking.com platform, streamline day-to-day operations and grow and maintain revenue. The products and features, which can be explored on the website here, include:

• Group opportunity center: The new tool aims to offer relevant and actionable performance tips for property managers’ portfolios.
• New connectivity tools: Connectivity features make it easier for managers to manage their business, from key collection to damage deposits, through software providers.
• Features to highlight professionally managed properties: These include a host score, based on the reviews from the rest of managers’ portfolios, and an external review score, based on guest reviews from reputable sites. Such scores are designed to give guests peace of mind when booking rentals. More features of professionally managed properties comprise of 24/7 contact, keyless check-in and much more.
• Quality rating system: Attract travelers and match guest expectations for your property with The objective quality rating system for the short-term rental industry is set to attract travelers and match guest expectations for properties, based on location, size, and facilities.
• Advisory Board: Booking.com is setting up an Advisory Board of industry thought leaders [property managers and connectivity providers] who will advise the company on how to tailor products and services to its partners’ specific needs. The board includes BookingSync founder and CEO, Sébastien Grosjean, and Rentals United CEO James Burrows.

Vice president of global segments, Olivier Grémillon, who oversees Booking.com’s homes and apartments division as well as hotel chain partnerships and strategic segments, spoke with Simon Lehmann in a fireside chat at the VRMA Conference. 

Grémillon said: “Since last year’s VRMA International Conference, 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 traveler expectations and an ever-growing appetite for exploration.

“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 to 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 is exciting to look ahead to see what is next in our partnership, as there is so much potential to grow together,” he added.

for more info go to booking.com

Source: Shorttermrentalz.com