February 5th, 2020 was National Book Direct Guest Education Day. #BookDirect is a movement encouraging guests to book directly with the lodging establishment instead of through a large online travel site. Did you know that 5%, 10% or even as much as 18% can be taken from innkeepers by the Online Travel Agencies (OTA)? Companies like Travelocity, Hotels.com, TripAdvisor, and even Google, take a slice of the pie when guests book through them instead of booking directly through the inn or B&B.
You may be wondering how this affects you as the guest. When you book through an OTA, the prices are usually higher to account for the large percentage they take, or they might have restrictions that the bed and breakfast doesn’t normally have. When you book directly through the bed and breakfast, you’ll be getting the best prices available. Bed & breakfasts are usually small and privately owned, and when you book direct you are cutting out the high OTA fees, so they can pass those savings on to you.
Booking directly with the bed and breakfast of your choice will also allow for more personalized service. You will likely be dealing with the owner or trusted innkeeper who is on-site, so if any issues arise, making changes or extending your stay will be easier than dealing with a third-party OTA. Generally, OTAs don’t provide details for any specials or packages, whereas booking directly (by phone or on the actual B&B site) you can quickly add those extras to your reservation. Save yourself time and money by allowing the innkeeper to take care of those special details for you. Considering an early check-in or late check-out? Checking with your book direct innkeeper is much easier than trying through the OTA, who has no direct contact with the establishment.
Here are a few ways booking direct with a bed and breakfast can be a win for you:
- Best available price – cutting out large OTA fees so the savings gets passed to the guest
- Add-ons and changes – add something special to your stay or make a change with ease
- Personalized experience – you’re dealing with someone on-site who can help along the way
Whatever might bring you to our great state of Missouri, go for the real deal when you book direct with an “inspected and approved” Missouri bed & breakfast – exceptional service, best value, and the warm-hearted hospitality you simply won’t get anywhere else. Find the perfect Missouri bed and breakfast for your getaway today!