This is a workshop that teaches you how to get the most productive return from your e-commerce. We will focus, first, on the importance of always maintaining complete and timely information in your own GDS database. Then we will get into the heart of effective Internet marketing. You'll complete an action plan for your hotel and receive valuable sales tips.

1) Outside of the Internet channels—the importance of your GDS. For most hotels GDS is still giving you your biggest room numbers. It all starts with and comes back to your GDS information. In most hotels it is still your main distribution channel. To make it work for you, you need to keep your GDS straight at all times.

1. What your system and database should have in it.
2. Your last audit and what should you check.
3. Analyzing denials and regrets—the secret weapon.
4. Updating schedule—what’s acceptable.
5. Current data and inventory.
6. Fallback rates, rate tiers, and SRP.
7. Brand support

2) Build the Right Foundation

1. The Centerpiece: Direct- to-Customer
2. Search Engine Savvy-can you be found?

3) The Internet--are you using the Internet as a distribution channel? We will do an overview of Internet marketing and discuss some effective strategies to better understand this powerful revenue opportunity.

1. Corporate brand web site
2. Travel web sites
3. Independent hotel web site

4) Direction online distribution

1. Hotel Web Site
2. Brand web site
3. Destination web sites

5) Indirect online distribution

1. Agency—example: Orbitz.com
2. Opaque rate models—example: Priceline.com
3. Merchant Models—example: Hotels.com

6)Trends: What’s happening today and what will tomorrow be on the Internet

7) E-Commerce action plan

8) Tips.

When you finish this workshop you should be able to:
Develop a functional action plan for electronic distribution
Understand the various distribution opportunities
Identify e-commerce business opportunities

Length of workshop:
Webinar-Three one hour sessions

Live on-site half day

For more details and pricing of this workshop and others please feel free to contact us.