| | Click each topic to read more: FOR HOTELIERS
Ready to Join?
Fill the ENTRY FORM
How to Add my Hotel?
Can any hotel be added?
Do you charge commission?
How does Money Back Guarantee work?
Why don`t you have thousands of hotels on your site?
Do we need to update our availability?
Can we change our details after sign up?
Where do you advertise?
How many hits do you have?
How much are hotels getting from RoomAuction?
Is there any minimum contract?
Can I see your T&C?
Do we need to guarantee you availability?
Do I have to show my email address?
Do we have to accept all bookings if we do not want them to stay at the rate that they are offering.
I don't want to waste my time with replying on bookings offers which are far to low.
Are we able to set a reserve?
What do we do about NO SHOWS?
What about Overbookings?
What about room allocation?
Do I have to enter low rates to the system?
Do your subscribers really want to book my hotel, or just a cheap hotel?
How will you support our Best Rate Guarantee?
I don't want any discount rates published on the Internet.
I only need to fill my Midweek Rooms.
Can I offer Packages?
What rooms can I offer with my listing?
Can I accept Last Minute Bookings?
Can I promote my Rewards Card?
How do your customers contact my hotel?
What do you offer that other online services don't.
Where are your subscribers located?
What about my ROI ?
How to Add my Hotel?(back)
To add your hotel, you must fill in a simple entry form (click here). Once you do this it will be sent to us for initial approval. You will then get a confirmation email with login details to upload pictures, rates and facilities. Should you wish so, we can do it all for you at no extra charge.
Can any hotel be added?(back)
Yes, however we abide by a golden rule: We will not take more hotels on board then we can satisfactory serve.
Do you charge commission?(back)
No. There is no commission, but just an annual fee that will pay back with first 2 or 3 bookings received through the system. We guarantee that each hotel will receive AT LEAST TWICE as much in value of booking enquiries then the membership fee paid.
How does Money Back Guarantee work?(back)
Because we are certain that hotels we take on board will benefit from our system, we guarantee that each hotel will get at least twice in booking offers than the annual fee paid. If we would not keep to our promise we give you all your money back.
Why don`t you have thousands of hotels on your site?(back)
We abide by a rule, that we never add more hotels to our directory than we can satisfactory serve. This is why we only take as many hotels, as we have high value targeted traffic on our website. At RoomAuction we base on long term relationships with hotels, so we need to make sure that all of them benefit in an equal and honest way.
Do we need to update our availability?(back)
No. Our system is based on individual enquiries, so you reply to each potential directly. That is why we are so flexible, there is no availability updates, need for close-outs, room allocation?
Can we change our details after sign up?(back)
Yes. At all times you have full access to Hotel?s Control Panel, where you can change all details to include: photos, description, room rates, hotel equipment, contact details. This service is provided free of charge and is available to all members.
Where do you advertise?(back)
We advertise in many ways. Most of our traffic comes from Google and it?s partners (MSN, AOL, Ask Jeeves, Multimap and many others). We also widely advertise on eBay by selling rooms for some of our hotels. Apart from online advertisement we also promote RoomAuction in national and local newspapers (i.e. The Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, .net Magazine, Webuser) as well as by printed materials delivered directly to homes of our repeat and potential guests and customers. See more about where to we advertise in the Add your Hotel Section
How many hits do you have?(back)
Currently it's over 1 mln hits per month (Data from October 2006). This number is continuously growing due to new marketing campaigns launched regularly. The source of this traffic are among the others recent editorials in Sunday Times (29th May 2005, May 2006, Aug 2006 and others), Webuser, .net Magazine, Elle as well as an extended Affiliate Programme and 'Free Mug', 'Free Break' and other promotions.
How much are hotels getting from RoomAuction?(back)
Currently on average each hotel is getting just over £7200 worth of booking offers each year. Considering that about 65% of enquiries are converted to confirmed bookings, that gives an annual estimate of £4680 in accommodation revenue. This equals to 5.3% commission from each booking. We obviously do not charge this commission, but this is simple calculation of how much your annual fee is worth with us. (Figures updated: August 2006)
Is there any minimum contract?(back)
No. After the initial period that you have paid for, the hotel is free to decide if they would like to continue selling their rooms with us. No hassle, but we are sure you would like to stay for anouther year. We put a lot of the annual fee in direct advertising of your hotel, to bring you good value for money and maintain a long term relationship. To maintain the listing visible at all times we do renew automatically unless cancelled.
Can I see your T&C?(back)
Yes, you can download a PDF version of our Terms and Conditions of trading here
Do we need to guarantee you availability?(back)
You never have to guarantee availability with Room Auction. That said, we have ways to direct traffic to the Dates and Days of the week you want to fill.
Do I have to show my email address?(back)
Your email address is not shown. We do show your Website, Telephone and Fax number, but never your email address. We also include detailed information about your hotel including 5 pictures
Do we have to accept all bookings if we do not want them to stay at the rate that they are offering.(back)
You never have to accept any bids But don't just refuse.
1.If it's because you are full, If you have a sister property you can offer that hotel.
2.If you don't like the rate, PLEASE don't just refuse. Always (if you have room) offer what you want for the room.
For example. If a customers offer is for a Standard Room at £109. You could reply that the Standard rooms available are £129 or your Premium Rooms are £149
I don't want to waste my time with replying on bookings offers which are far to low.(back)
Controls are in place to stop any unacceptable bids.
Are we able to set a reserve?(back)
Yes, You choose the discount rate, that way no bids under that rate will be sent to you. We can also use our "Bidding Tips" section to tell subscribers what kind of discounts are accepted.
What do we do about NO SHOWS?(back)
Since you control the booking, the contact details and if any deposit is required. You don't need to worry about No-Shows
What about Overbookings?(back)
You control the bookings, so no over bookings and no angry customers.
What about room allocation?(back)
Not required with Room Auction, no need to hold rooms that could be left unsold.
Do I have to enter low rates to the system?(back)
No low rates. Only your Rack Rates are shown and you never have to accept any bids at rates that are too low. And with Room Auction you can up-sell to a better room or suite.
Do your subscribers really want to book my hotel, or just a cheap hotel?(back)
We don't hide any details about your hotel. Are subscribers are not just looking for a Post Code. You receive requests from customers that have learned all about your property from your detailed listing, before choosing your hotel.
How will you support our Best Rate Guarantee? (back)
Because we send the customers directly to you, they get the best rate from you and you get ownership of the customer.
I don't want any discount rates published on the Internet.(back)
Bidding is off your Rack Rate. You can fill your excess inventory at rates you wouldn't want your regulars to know about. No Brand or Rate erosion.Â
I only need to fill my Midweek Rooms.(back)
You can direct customers to the days you want to fill. Just Midweek or Weekend. No limits or restrictions with Room Auction.
Can I offer Packages?(back)
You can and should offer packages. Good value for the customer and stops direct price comparison with your competition. I have noticed that our subscribers have requested something special for their Spouse's Birthday or their Anniversary. With Room Auction you can test different offers at no extra cost. A simple package could include Dinner, or a Welcome Drink or a 2 night stay.
What rooms can I offer with my listing?(back)
Each Hotel has room for 3 room types, so you can offer a Standard Double/Twin, a Premier or Deluxe Double/Twin. A Suite or any Package. Only Room Auction offers you these options.
Can I accept Last Minute Bookings?(back)
Yes, since you are in direct contact with your customer you can even accept bookings for the same day. We can also show your customers that the best discounts are offered to bookings within 30, 14 or 7 days, your choice.
Can I promote my Rewards Card?(back)
Yes, You can suggest a better discount for Card holders. We can even put a link on your listing for our subscribers to go and sign up before they bid. Increasing your database is priceless. Only with Room Auction.
How do your customers contact my hotel?(back)
The choice is yours:
1.) form is sent to individual hotels via email, where any staff member can respond to the room requests. You can have the emails sent to where ever you want and can change your email address anytime. Room Auction emails are easy to spot via the subject box. We can also note on your listing that you prefer telephone calls for last minute room requests.
2.) We have companies that send all their hotels room requests to one central reservations office. Your reservations staff can accept or up-sell your requests. This works very well when you have are part of a chain.
What do you offer that other online services don't.(back)
We don't charge your customers any fees.
We don't demand your customers credit card details.* This alone opens the door to all those people that are interested in your hotel, but do not feel SAFE giving their credit cards details online to a third party, but will give that information directly to the hotel.
Room Auction lets your customers request any room type you offer. Your customers can request a deluxe room or a triple room. You get higher room requests and no angry customers that wanted a deluxe room, but a computer could only offer a standard room.
Other online sites are severely restricted to 1 or 2 guests and then tell the guests to call the hotel toll free for any other requests, wasting your staffs time.
We reinforce that message that your customers will get the best rate directly from you.
One email does it all, no repeated calls on your toll free phone line asking questions that other online companies can't or won't answer.
Check some 3rd party FAQ's and you'll see that every response to a question about a hotel booking, tells their customer to contact the hotel directly. This method can't save you time. You may be surprised how many calls you get from just one customer because the third party company can't help them.
They can take the money, charge your guests fees, but can't help. They all promote the best rate guarantee so they own the customers, not you.
Room Auction is your Virtual Sales Rep. Which means, like any good sale rep we find customers and send them to your hotel.
Risk Free with our 365 day 100% money back guarantee.
Internet with a Human touch = Higher Room Rates.
Where are your subscribers located?(back)
Room Auction has a database with thousands of UK, European and North American double opt-in subscribers.- Which means you get access to individual customers locally and overseas at no extra cost through regular newsletters about our member hotels sent from RoomAuction.
What about my ROI ?(back)
Your Return on Investment is completely tractable and guaranteed. You can login anytime to view in detail all the room requests you've received.
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