What Is Hotel Distribution?

Hotel distribution is about listing hotel rooms on a variety of booking channels to bring in a steady stream of reservations and revenue into your property. It involves deciding which channels to be listed on, making your listings appealing, and managing pricing and availability. 

Where to List Your Property

Distribution channels vary widely, each serving distinct market needs and offering different benefits. The five main types of channels are direct, online travel agencies (OTAs), global distribution systems (GDS), wholesalers, and metasearch. 

Distribution Strategies for Independent Hotels

By listing on several channels, you can reach a variety of traveler types in different regions of the world. 

Make direct bookings a priority because they don’t require a commission. In addition to Expedia and Booking.com, consider specialty and regional OTAs, as well as wholesalers for leisure business and the GDS for travel agency business. 

How to Make Your Listings Stand Out

To distinguish your property from competitors, complete your listings thoroughly, with detailed information about your property, location, amenities, and other distinctive features. Include lots of high-quality photos and respond to reviews promptly.

Managing Hotel Pricing and Availability 

Getting your pricing right is vital to attracting bookings. We highly recommend dynamically pricing your rooms based on fluctuations in demand and keeping a close eye on competitor pricing.

Offer special rates and value-adds during slower periods to attract more guests, always reserving the best deals for direct bookings. 

Tools to Make Pricing and Distribution Easy

The last piece of the puzzle is leveraging technology to manage distribution and pricing efficiently and effectively. 

A channel manager will allow you to easily connect to a broad range of distribution channels and manage rates and availability from a centralized platform. 

And automated revenue management software will manage day-to-day pricing for you, adjusting rates based on booking patterns and market conditions to maximize revenue across channels.

Let the Bookings Roll In

As you hone your approach, you’ll gain the assurance that you’re engaging the right channels at the ideal prices. Stay proactive, and watch your property thrive.

To learn more about distribution, check out our free guide today!