O'Rourke Hospitality Marketing, LLC’s Post

Improving User Experience in Independent Hotel Websites  Our team has recently conducted a GX design test, a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to enhance user experience on the accommodations landing page. Here are the key takeaways:  Room Selection: While all room cards are conveniently listed, the lack of detailed visuals and carousel format makes it challenging for users to decide if a particular room is the right one for them. Availability: Checking room availability requires navigating to a separate booking engine, which interrupts the user journey and adds complexity. Budget Clarity: Real-time rate information is missing, hindering users' ability to filter options based on budget. Improving these aspects can enhance user satisfaction and booking efficiency.  #UXDesign #HospitalityIndustry #UserExperience #DigitalTransformation #HotelMarketing

How did we get to such high booking engine abandonment for hotels in the first place? Why has booking engine abandonment always been so high in the hotel industry? The root of the problem lies in a disjointed approach: marketing teams handle website design, while revenue management teams select the booking engines. This segregation creates a disconnect between what guests see on the website and what they experience when they reach the booking engine. We must bridge this gap by focusing on the user’s journey from start to finish, ensuring that their needs and questions are addressed seamlessly across both platforms. #HotelMarketing #UserExperience #DigitalTransformation

Empowering Guests with GX Design At our core, we believe in the power of Guest Experience (GX) design. One of the key takeaways is that users can check availability right on the front-end website. There is no need to navigate to a booking engine to see if their desired room is available. With GX design, they can enter their dates and instantly see real-time rates and availability on the front-end website. Imagine the sense of control and satisfaction this brings! Guests are immediately informed if the room they desire is available when they need it. No more uncertainty. This seamless experience significantly reduces booking friction, empowering guests with the information they need at their fingertips. Let's continue to innovate and create unforgettable experiences for independent hotel guests. #HotelMarketing #GuestExperience #GXDesign

Integrating Marketing and Revenue Management for Better Booking Experiences Why does booking engine abandonment remain a challenge in the hotel industry? Often, the siloed approaches between marketing teams and revenue management can create gaps in the guest booking journey. Marketing focuses on attracting guests with a compelling website, while revenue management selects the tools for transaction completion. It's crucial for these elements to be interconnected, ensuring a seamless transition and understanding across platforms, ultimately increasing direct conversions and reducing abandonment. #HotelMarketing #RevenueManagement #GuestExperience #HospitalityIndustry #DigitalMarketing

Transforming the Booking Experiences with GX +Skipper working together to accomplish a 5X growth in direct booking by doing 2 things. Great to work with Skipper and @jasonshames to bring this case study to life Check out the video to see how we did it.

Reduce booking engine abandonment using your front-end hotel website as a guest qualification tool. 🔍 As future guests scan through the different room cards on your accommodations landing page, it is crucial that all room cards are equipped with everything a website visitor needs to answer the question, "Is this the room that I want? "Utilize floor plans, photography, and video to put them in a position to make a sound decision. There should be no surprises when they check-in. #GX Design. #Hotel web design. #Boooking engine abandonment. #Increased direct conversions.

Rethinking Hotel Website Strategy  Many hotels have stuck to the traditional pathway of dividing the booking engine from their front-end website. But why disrupt the guest journey with a separate booking URL? It’s time for a change! We're exploring innovative unified platforms that integrate the entire booking process into one cohesive experience. This approach not only simplifies the booking flow but also drives more qualified prospects into the booking engine to complete the transaction.  #HotelStrategy #OnlinePresence #DirectBookings #UnifiedPlatforms

Simplify the hotel booking process: Interactive Pricing Filters at Your Fingertips We know that budget is a top priority for travelers when booking a stay. Our GX design methodology includes an intuitive feature that allows potential guests to toggle prices up and down, finding the perfect room within their budget at a glance. This feature ensures that users don't just see what's available; they see what's affordable for them, all in real-time and directly connected to the booking engine.