If you’re a tour operator, partnering with online travel agencies (OTAs) is a great way to increase your business. We’ve written this to help you identify top OTAs that will enable you to grow and thrive.
First, what is an OTA? OTAs are online platforms that provide a single place where people can search for travel products and experiences. This allows them to compare prices and travel experiences and make informed decisions. For tour operators, they open up opportunities to connect to a global audience.
You’ll find many benefits to listing your business on OTAs. Listing will instantly increase your visibility and lead to more bookings.
These two benefits alone make OTAs a critical tool for tour operators and vacation rental managers. And when they’re used in combination with a channel manager like Rezgo, your operations become quick, streamlined and effective.
Discover how OTAs work and how to get started in our latest article.
How Do OTAs Work?
Let’s look behind the scenes and learn how OTAs can help you sell more tours.
To get started with an OTA, you’ll need to create listings of your tours or activities on the booking platform.
Travelers look for services using the OTA’s search engine, according to their criteria. If they choose to book one of your services, they can do so through the platform. For each booking made this way, you’ll pay the host a commission.
The simplest way for you to manage listings and bookings and keep track of commission and other data is through a channel manager like Rezgo.
It’s an excellent choice since it integrates with top OTAs, allowing users to make direct bookings with ease.
Customers get a positive experience thanks to the easy booking process. Meanwhile, tour operators can use the reporting tools to see bookings made through OTAs and calculate commissions easily.
Top OTAs for Tour and Activity Operators
There’s a whole world of online travel agencies out there. To help you decide which are the best OTAs for your offering, discover our top picks:
- Viator: This is considered the world’s biggest online platform for tours and activities. Since Viator shares listings with its partners, you’ll get exposure on other sites too. Another reason to choose Viator is that it works perfectly for curated tours. Its platform makes it easy for travellers to pick out what they want to do, according to type. For example, you can choose tours for foodies, adventurers or learners.
- GetYourGuide: This platform is the obvious choice for global travellers. It claims to offer the world’s largest selection of activities, so wherever users are travelling to, they’re guaranteed to find a tour at their destination.
- Klook: Klook is the go-to platform for the Asia-Pacific market. It specializes in tours and experiences in this region as well as other international destinations. This platform offers useful suggestions and inspiration to help customers make their decisions.
- Project Expedition: For niche experiences, Project Expedition has you covered. Travellers looking for unusual or immersive experiences, such as dog sledding or gold panning, head over here.
- DoIreland: As its name suggests, DoIreland offers tours and activities in Ireland. It gives suggestions by region, type of activity, top destinations and more, making it easy to plan a trip to the Emerald Isle.
- Musement: Musement is the ultimate platform for anyone who loves cultural attractions, including museums and art galleries. Customers can book attractions all over the world, and there’s a firm focus on educational experiences.
Many of these OTAs integrate smoothly with booking platforms, so it’s easy for tour operators to start growing their business without delay.
Choosing the Right OTA for Your Business
There are plenty of online travel agencies to choose from, so how do you decide which ones are right for your business? These are the factors to check out:
- Target audience: Identify who the OTA is aimed at, whether that’s adventure seekers, families or cultural tourists.
- Type of offerings: What kind of services does the OTA support? These could be tours, activities or vacation rentals, for instance.
- Geographic reach: Ensure that the OTA offers bookings in your geographic area.
- Commission fees and listing costs: These can vary platform to platform, and some can be quite high. Check for hidden costs and ensure that total fees match your budget.
Maximize Bookings on OTAs
To get the best out of your partnership with your chosen OTAs, here’s what you can do to maximize bookings:
- Optimize your listings with quality images and descriptions. Include keywords in your title and description to improve search engine results.
- Encourage customer reviews to build credibility. Manage your reviews by setting up alerts for new entries and responding promptly.
- Use dynamic pricing methods to stay competitive. Adjust your prices according to demand to max out on profits.
- Use tools to sync availability and prevent double bookings. A channel manager like Rezgo offers centralized availability tracking to avoid this from happening.
- Track analytics to refine your OTA strategy. Choose Rezgo for data and reporting features that allow you to understand and improve your business.
FAQs About Using OTAs for Your Business
How do I avoid double bookings on multiple OTAs?
Use a channel manager like Rezgo with a centralized availability tracking feature to avoid double bookings.
What are the typical commission rates?
Commission rates can vary between 15% and 30% (or more) for the biggest OTAs and can be as low as 4% for the more niche platforms. It’s best to check with each OTA individually as part of your research.
Can I list on multiple OTAs at once?
Yes, you can! To keep track of bookings and avoid overbooking and double bookings, manage your OTAs through Rezgo.
How can I optimize my listings for better rankings?
- Use high-quality descriptions and visuals.
- Optimize your titles and descriptions for search engines.
- Employ competitive and dynamic pricing techniques.
- Participate in OTA promotions and campaigns.
- Display recent customer reviews and ratings.
Written By | Rezgo
