Independent Hotels Share eMarketing Strategies That Earned $100,000

Independent operators earn healthy revenue and high return on Internet ad spend thanks to savvy web marketing strategies that send guests to a property’s website for direct reservation booking. Two operators, The Allison Inn, and the Inn at ONU, banked more than $100,000 in new online revenue in the first three months of 2011 through their Northwind Maestro ResWave booking engine. Northwind provides the Maestro Property Management and ResWave software solutions for independent hotel, resorts, and multi-property groups.

 

The Allison Inn and the Inn at ONU tapped leading industry experts Hospitality eBusiness Strategies (HeBS) to create online e-marketing programs to drive prospective visitors to their websites to book reservations on through their Maestro ResWave hotel software booking engine. ResWave reservation software is part of Maestro's integrated Web Connection suite that gives operators real-time direct website booking capability and customized control of rates and availability across online channels to maximize profitability. HeBS updated each property’s website and implemented paid search programs with Yahoo, Google Places, and Bing, and created eNewsletters that worked together to increase website visits, conversions, and revenue.

 

The Allison Inn, a luxury destination resort located in the Oregon wine country's Willamette Valley, realized more than $98,000 in direct booking web revenue through ResWave in 1Q’11. In March 2011 alone, HeBS’ online marketing programs earned The Allison Inn:

The Allison Inn also earned a 2,500% return on ad spend through HeBS’ promotions. All these campaigns directed visitors to book reservations and packages on The Allison’s Maestro ResWave booking engine. ResWave is fully integrated in the Inn’s Maestro Property Management System so its real-time availability is always accurate.

 

“HeBS understands the best strategies for each market and their work for The Allison Inn is clearly on target to attract the right guests,” says Linda Bruno, marketing consultant for The Allison Inn. “The excellent results they delivered were particularly valuable because they stayed within the Allison Inn’s budget.”

 

The Inn at Ohio Northern University is a full-service luxury hotel in Ada, Ohio. The Inn partnered with HeBS to launch a new website to accommodate their growth. “In 2010 we worked with Maestro and HeBS to expand our online presence,” says General Manager Tallene Eichelberger. “Our goal is to guide shoppers to experience our website and ultimately book reservations on ResWave. We’re proud that April 2011 has proven to be our property’s best month since we opened in 2008 - and this includes increases in occupancy, RevPAR, and revenue.”

 

HeBS’ work included an effective search engine marketing program, ad placements in Google, Yahoo, and other channels. They also created a monthly email marketing campaign to guide shoppers to The Inn’s ResWave booking page so that they may instantly reserve a room or package. The results of The Inn’s online marketing and direct web booking are impressive:

“We opened with the Maestro Front Office System and ResWave booking engine and worked with Northwind’s team to continually improve our marketing strategies and revenue,” says Eichelberger. “Northwind suggested HeBS and the companies have worked together very effectively to boost our revenue and drive much higher occupancy with their combined sales and marketing assistance. I think any independent operator would benefit from their companies.”