Hotelbeds, the world´s leading bedbank, has today published an in-depth report into the bedbank sector.
Reach, Growth, and Occupancy: the real value of the bedbank distribution model has been commissioned by Hotebeds and explores the unique role that bedbanks play in the hotel industry, highlighting two areas in particular where bedbanks can add value to hoteliers:
- The ability of Bedbanks to provide easy access to opaque B2B channels globally including retail travel agents, tour operators, airlines and points redemption schemes is highly attractive to hoteliers, as such channels tend to provide incremental bookings from higher value international guests.
- The role Bedbanks can play in supporting hotels to tackle the challenge of maintaining rate integrity across multiple distribution channels; in particular by combatting rogue, non-contracted OTAs that sell discounted rates originally intended for other channels.
The report was produced following in-depth research of the sector – including interviews with both hoteliers and B2B travel buyers – and is authored by Robert Cole, Phocuswright’s Lodging and Leisure Travel Senior Research Analyst.
Additionally the 20 page report includes case study interviews and infographics, as well as covering the history of bedbanks, introducing the ecosystem of players involved, explaining the billing and settlements models involved, and updating readers on the technology and operations platforms used to connect hotels with B2B travel buyers.
Carlos Muñoz, Managing Director at Hotelbeds, said: “Due to the behind-the-scenes nature of what our sector does, we felt that bedbanks do not have the visibility and recognition that they deserve for the value they bring to the hotel distribution chain.
“To address this we commissioned this report and we feel that its results address many of the misconceptions held about bedbanks – for example by showing that bedbanks provide access to much more than just OTAs and instead offer access to higher-value, opaque booking channels such as tour operators and retail travel agents.
“We are really excited that this will produce some much needed debate and look forward to sharing its findings with our partners and prospects across the sector in person.”