Next years prices...

[Arks]

I have been playing around with flexible prices for a few years now.
If you price higher in the last few weeks and manage to rent out all rooms, it may mean that you priced too low at the beginning. You may have sold several rooms too low & lost some extra income opportunity.
On my side, I first have a very detailed analysis of the occupation ratio and prices of the previous years (important to keep stats). Based on this, I have sliced up in different price sections for each of our 3 rooms, for 6 "seasons", week day/week-end, direct/indirect booking. For each section, based on history, I have set the ideal price that should allow to get the optimum profit. Then, every 2 weeks, I analyze how the coming month are filling up and decide to adjust these prices up or down if or as required. I often end up putting down prices for last minute booking of the remaining rooms (knowing that first ones went higher). Prices for a couple with breakfast range from 66 to 164€. The highest is the easiest to sell !
This method allows me to ensure I do not sell too low and helped me increase turnover.
I admit I do not fully understand why airlines/big hotels proceed differently. I suspect that the N° of seats/rooms may bring a different thinking. Starting with a lower price mean they can ensure their break-even line will be reached. Higher final prices are seen as a bonus.
What is your take ?
I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not..

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on. Some of course, fail to read and call about price even when it is there on the end of their nose, but then they are calling to ask price before they consider booking.
.

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on.

Yes, that describes me. When I visit any website, if I don't see the price of something right there, openly in black and ink (an old Lum and Abner expression), I move on. If a website says, "contact us for pricing," I think, the price must be so high they want to work on me, win me over, before they reveal it, and I don't like that.
.

see we don't have that problem - most people use OTA's so are used to putting in their dates and getting a list of properties and prices so its not an issue, they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.
.

...they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.

Yes, that's the norm here for hotels. When I want to see what a room costs at the local hotel, I have to tell it the date first.
But as long as listing the rates on the B&B room page is the norm here, people will expect it, and won't book unless they know up front. It will take years to change things.

 

[Joey Camb]

I have been playing around with flexible prices for a few years now.
If you price higher in the last few weeks and manage to rent out all rooms, it may mean that you priced too low at the beginning. You may have sold several rooms too low & lost some extra income opportunity.
On my side, I first have a very detailed analysis of the occupation ratio and prices of the previous years (important to keep stats). Based on this, I have sliced up in different price sections for each of our 3 rooms, for 6 "seasons", week day/week-end, direct/indirect booking. For each section, based on history, I have set the ideal price that should allow to get the optimum profit. Then, every 2 weeks, I analyze how the coming month are filling up and decide to adjust these prices up or down if or as required. I often end up putting down prices for last minute booking of the remaining rooms (knowing that first ones went higher). Prices for a couple with breakfast range from 66 to 164€. The highest is the easiest to sell !
This method allows me to ensure I do not sell too low and helped me increase turnover.
I admit I do not fully understand why airlines/big hotels proceed differently. I suspect that the N° of seats/rooms may bring a different thinking. Starting with a lower price mean they can ensure their break-even line will be reached. Higher final prices are seen as a bonus.
What is your take ?
I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not..

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on. Some of course, fail to read and call about price even when it is there on the end of their nose, but then they are calling to ask price before they consider booking.
.

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on.

Yes, that describes me. When I visit any website, if I don't see the price of something right there, openly in black and ink (an old Lum and Abner expression), I move on. If a website says, "contact us for pricing," I think, the price must be so high they want to work on me, win me over, before they reveal it, and I don't like that.
.

see we don't have that problem - most people use OTA's so are used to putting in their dates and getting a list of properties and prices so its not an issue, they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.
.

...they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.

Yes, that's the norm here for hotels. When I want to see what a room costs at the local hotel, I have to tell it the date first.
But as long as listing the rates on the B&B room page is the norm here, people will expect it, and won't book unless they know up front. It will take years to change things.
.

see this is one of the weird areas where most BB's in the Uk - urban ones not country as they are a bit behind are expected to be on the same ota sites and compete and price in exactly the same way - its what the customer is trained to do
Its making a huge problem with the tour de france next year for my town - no one is putting rooms online as they don't want to pay commission - however the general public have no idea how to find rooms now that this avenue has been cut off!

 

[souslechene]

I have been playing around with flexible prices for a few years now.
If you price higher in the last few weeks and manage to rent out all rooms, it may mean that you priced too low at the beginning. You may have sold several rooms too low & lost some extra income opportunity.
On my side, I first have a very detailed analysis of the occupation ratio and prices of the previous years (important to keep stats). Based on this, I have sliced up in different price sections for each of our 3 rooms, for 6 "seasons", week day/week-end, direct/indirect booking. For each section, based on history, I have set the ideal price that should allow to get the optimum profit. Then, every 2 weeks, I analyze how the coming month are filling up and decide to adjust these prices up or down if or as required. I often end up putting down prices for last minute booking of the remaining rooms (knowing that first ones went higher). Prices for a couple with breakfast range from 66 to 164€. The highest is the easiest to sell !
This method allows me to ensure I do not sell too low and helped me increase turnover.
I admit I do not fully understand why airlines/big hotels proceed differently. I suspect that the N° of seats/rooms may bring a different thinking. Starting with a lower price mean they can ensure their break-even line will be reached. Higher final prices are seen as a bonus.
What is your take ?
I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not..

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on. Some of course, fail to read and call about price even when it is there on the end of their nose, but then they are calling to ask price before they consider booking.
.

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on.

Yes, that describes me. When I visit any website, if I don't see the price of something right there, openly in black and ink (an old Lum and Abner expression), I move on. If a website says, "contact us for pricing," I think, the price must be so high they want to work on me, win me over, before they reveal it, and I don't like that.
.

see we don't have that problem - most people use OTA's so are used to putting in their dates and getting a list of properties and prices so its not an issue, they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.
.

...they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.

Yes, that's the norm here for hotels. When I want to see what a room costs at the local hotel, I have to tell it the date first.
But as long as listing the rates on the B&B room page is the norm here, people will expect it, and won't book unless they know up front. It will take years to change things.
.

Everything change so fast nowadays...
Here, no one ever said anything about not showing prices on our website.

 

[Madeleine]

I have been playing around with flexible prices for a few years now.
If you price higher in the last few weeks and manage to rent out all rooms, it may mean that you priced too low at the beginning. You may have sold several rooms too low & lost some extra income opportunity.
On my side, I first have a very detailed analysis of the occupation ratio and prices of the previous years (important to keep stats). Based on this, I have sliced up in different price sections for each of our 3 rooms, for 6 "seasons", week day/week-end, direct/indirect booking. For each section, based on history, I have set the ideal price that should allow to get the optimum profit. Then, every 2 weeks, I analyze how the coming month are filling up and decide to adjust these prices up or down if or as required. I often end up putting down prices for last minute booking of the remaining rooms (knowing that first ones went higher). Prices for a couple with breakfast range from 66 to 164€. The highest is the easiest to sell !
This method allows me to ensure I do not sell too low and helped me increase turnover.
I admit I do not fully understand why airlines/big hotels proceed differently. I suspect that the N° of seats/rooms may bring a different thinking. Starting with a lower price mean they can ensure their break-even line will be reached. Higher final prices are seen as a bonus.
What is your take ?
I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not..

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on. Some of course, fail to read and call about price even when it is there on the end of their nose, but then they are calling to ask price before they consider booking.
.

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on.

Yes, that describes me. When I visit any website, if I don't see the price of something right there, openly in black and ink (an old Lum and Abner expression), I move on. If a website says, "contact us for pricing," I think, the price must be so high they want to work on me, win me over, before they reveal it, and I don't like that.
.

see we don't have that problem - most people use OTA's so are used to putting in their dates and getting a list of properties and prices so its not an issue, they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.
.

...they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.

Yes, that's the norm here for hotels. When I want to see what a room costs at the local hotel, I have to tell it the date first.
But as long as listing the rates on the B&B room page is the norm here, people will expect it, and won't book unless they know up front. It will take years to change things.
.

see this is one of the weird areas where most BB's in the Uk - urban ones not country as they are a bit behind are expected to be on the same ota sites and compete and price in exactly the same way - its what the customer is trained to do
Its making a huge problem with the tour de france next year for my town - no one is putting rooms online as they don't want to pay commission - however the general public have no idea how to find rooms now that this avenue has been cut off!
.

see this is one of the weird areas where most BB's in the Uk - urban ones not country as they are a bit behind are expected to be on the same ota sites and compete and price in exactly the same way - its what the customer is trained to do
Its making a huge problem with the tour de france next year for my town - no one is putting rooms online as they don't want to pay commission - however the general public have no idea how to find rooms now that this avenue has been cut off!

They should just calculate the % and add enough to cover it. I would guess that rates are thru the roof anyway. And, it's a pretty dim bulb that can't figure out how to find a room without some sort of hotel listing!

 

[Madeleine]

I have been playing around with flexible prices for a few years now.
If you price higher in the last few weeks and manage to rent out all rooms, it may mean that you priced too low at the beginning. You may have sold several rooms too low & lost some extra income opportunity.
On my side, I first have a very detailed analysis of the occupation ratio and prices of the previous years (important to keep stats). Based on this, I have sliced up in different price sections for each of our 3 rooms, for 6 "seasons", week day/week-end, direct/indirect booking. For each section, based on history, I have set the ideal price that should allow to get the optimum profit. Then, every 2 weeks, I analyze how the coming month are filling up and decide to adjust these prices up or down if or as required. I often end up putting down prices for last minute booking of the remaining rooms (knowing that first ones went higher). Prices for a couple with breakfast range from 66 to 164€. The highest is the easiest to sell !
This method allows me to ensure I do not sell too low and helped me increase turnover.
I admit I do not fully understand why airlines/big hotels proceed differently. I suspect that the N° of seats/rooms may bring a different thinking. Starting with a lower price mean they can ensure their break-even line will be reached. Higher final prices are seen as a bonus.
What is your take ?
I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not..

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on. Some of course, fail to read and call about price even when it is there on the end of their nose, but then they are calling to ask price before they consider booking.
.

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on.

Yes, that describes me. When I visit any website, if I don't see the price of something right there, openly in black and ink (an old Lum and Abner expression), I move on. If a website says, "contact us for pricing," I think, the price must be so high they want to work on me, win me over, before they reveal it, and I don't like that.
.

see we don't have that problem - most people use OTA's so are used to putting in their dates and getting a list of properties and prices so its not an issue, they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.
.

...they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.

Yes, that's the norm here for hotels. When I want to see what a room costs at the local hotel, I have to tell it the date first.
But as long as listing the rates on the B&B room page is the norm here, people will expect it, and won't book unless they know up front. It will take years to change things.
.

Everything change so fast nowadays...
Here, no one ever said anything about not showing prices on our website.
.

Everything change so fast nowadays...
Here, no one ever said anything about not showing prices on our website.

It will put you ahead of the game to show the prices!

 

[Hillbilly]

I have been playing around with flexible prices for a few years now.
If you price higher in the last few weeks and manage to rent out all rooms, it may mean that you priced too low at the beginning. You may have sold several rooms too low & lost some extra income opportunity.
On my side, I first have a very detailed analysis of the occupation ratio and prices of the previous years (important to keep stats). Based on this, I have sliced up in different price sections for each of our 3 rooms, for 6 "seasons", week day/week-end, direct/indirect booking. For each section, based on history, I have set the ideal price that should allow to get the optimum profit. Then, every 2 weeks, I analyze how the coming month are filling up and decide to adjust these prices up or down if or as required. I often end up putting down prices for last minute booking of the remaining rooms (knowing that first ones went higher). Prices for a couple with breakfast range from 66 to 164€. The highest is the easiest to sell !
This method allows me to ensure I do not sell too low and helped me increase turnover.
I admit I do not fully understand why airlines/big hotels proceed differently. I suspect that the N° of seats/rooms may bring a different thinking. Starting with a lower price mean they can ensure their break-even line will be reached. Higher final prices are seen as a bonus.
What is your take ?
I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not..

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on. Some of course, fail to read and call about price even when it is there on the end of their nose, but then they are calling to ask price before they consider booking.
.

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on.

Yes, that describes me. When I visit any website, if I don't see the price of something right there, openly in black and ink (an old Lum and Abner expression), I move on. If a website says, "contact us for pricing," I think, the price must be so high they want to work on me, win me over, before they reveal it, and I don't like that.
.

see we don't have that problem - most people use OTA's so are used to putting in their dates and getting a list of properties and prices so its not an issue, they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.
.

...they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.

Yes, that's the norm here for hotels. When I want to see what a room costs at the local hotel, I have to tell it the date first.
But as long as listing the rates on the B&B room page is the norm here, people will expect it, and won't book unless they know up front. It will take years to change things.
.

see this is one of the weird areas where most BB's in the Uk - urban ones not country as they are a bit behind are expected to be on the same ota sites and compete and price in exactly the same way - its what the customer is trained to do
Its making a huge problem with the tour de france next year for my town - no one is putting rooms online as they don't want to pay commission - however the general public have no idea how to find rooms now that this avenue has been cut off!
.

see this is one of the weird areas where most BB's in the Uk - urban ones not country as they are a bit behind are expected to be on the same ota sites and compete and price in exactly the same way - its what the customer is trained to do
Its making a huge problem with the tour de france next year for my town - no one is putting rooms online as they don't want to pay commission - however the general public have no idea how to find rooms now that this avenue has been cut off!

You should hold an Auction for your rooms.

 

[Joey Camb]

I have been playing around with flexible prices for a few years now.
If you price higher in the last few weeks and manage to rent out all rooms, it may mean that you priced too low at the beginning. You may have sold several rooms too low & lost some extra income opportunity.
On my side, I first have a very detailed analysis of the occupation ratio and prices of the previous years (important to keep stats). Based on this, I have sliced up in different price sections for each of our 3 rooms, for 6 "seasons", week day/week-end, direct/indirect booking. For each section, based on history, I have set the ideal price that should allow to get the optimum profit. Then, every 2 weeks, I analyze how the coming month are filling up and decide to adjust these prices up or down if or as required. I often end up putting down prices for last minute booking of the remaining rooms (knowing that first ones went higher). Prices for a couple with breakfast range from 66 to 164€. The highest is the easiest to sell !
This method allows me to ensure I do not sell too low and helped me increase turnover.
I admit I do not fully understand why airlines/big hotels proceed differently. I suspect that the N° of seats/rooms may bring a different thinking. Starting with a lower price mean they can ensure their break-even line will be reached. Higher final prices are seen as a bonus.
What is your take ?
I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not..

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on. Some of course, fail to read and call about price even when it is there on the end of their nose, but then they are calling to ask price before they consider booking.
.

I do not show prices ranges on the website. Visitors need to enter the date to view the prices. This way, they do not know wether they paid a high price or not.
Here in the States that would not work. People want to know price before they even consider looking at dates. If price is not in front of them, they move on.

Yes, that describes me. When I visit any website, if I don't see the price of something right there, openly in black and ink (an old Lum and Abner expression), I move on. If a website says, "contact us for pricing," I think, the price must be so high they want to work on me, win me over, before they reveal it, and I don't like that.
.

see we don't have that problem - most people use OTA's so are used to putting in their dates and getting a list of properties and prices so its not an issue, they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.
.

...they also understand prices can change by the day and even by the hour.

Yes, that's the norm here for hotels. When I want to see what a room costs at the local hotel, I have to tell it the date first.
But as long as listing the rates on the B&B room page is the norm here, people will expect it, and won't book unless they know up front. It will take years to change things.
.

see this is one of the weird areas where most BB's in the Uk - urban ones not country as they are a bit behind are expected to be on the same ota sites and compete and price in exactly the same way - its what the customer is trained to do
Its making a huge problem with the tour de france next year for my town - no one is putting rooms online as they don't want to pay commission - however the general public have no idea how to find rooms now that this avenue has been cut off!
.

see this is one of the weird areas where most BB's in the Uk - urban ones not country as they are a bit behind are expected to be on the same ota sites and compete and price in exactly the same way - its what the customer is trained to do
Its making a huge problem with the tour de france next year for my town - no one is putting rooms online as they don't want to pay commission - however the general public have no idea how to find rooms now that this avenue has been cut off!

You should hold an Auction for your rooms.
.

Im in a good location right in the town centre about 5 minutes walk from the route so we are already full - its the places off the main drag that have rooms left but to be fair there aren't even many of them left now either - 1 bedroom serviced apartments up the street from us are going for $1600 for 3 nights.

 

[egoodell]

When you get that busy I'm told it's time to raise your rates. Then you will make the same money for less work.
Riki