Opaque Bidding: the lowest rates in the market you can find

Bid2Travel.com, provider of travel-related services in India has introduced ‘Opaque Bidding’ concept for travellers. Travellers can specify their own prices for booking hotels with this new concept. The new service will create a complementary distribution channel, which will allow hotels the ability to reach out to a more price sensitive audience and to be able to sell rooms that might otherwise have gone unsold.

In the ‘Opaque Bidding’ concept, the hotel’s name and its location are hidden from the customer until he makes the final decision to book the room. Rates offered are much lower than what is available in the market because the participating hotels have an exclusive deal with Bid2travel.com. Mostly branded three to five-star Indian hotels are sold.

Pritpal Singh Saini, CEO, Bid2travel’s CEO said, “We are pleased to introduce the Opaque bidding for Indian hotels. The ‘Opaque Bidding’ will add an important new distribution channel for price sensitive customers who are willing to be flexible. We have already signed some exclusive deals for hotels in New Delhi, besides Mumbai and Goa.”

Tripadvisor's 10 dirtiest hotels in Europe

• 1. Grosvenor Hotel, Blackpool, United Kingdom
• 2. Villaggio Club Porto Ainu, Budoni, Italy
• 3. Park Hotel, London, United Kingdom
• 4. Boston Court Hotel, London, United Kingdom
• 5. Cromwell Crown, London, United Kingdom
• 6. Dam Hotel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 7. Corbigoe Hotel, London, United Kingdom
• 8. Earls Court Gardens Hotel, London, United Kingdom
• 9. Blair Victoria & Tudor Inn Hotel, London, United Kingdom
• 10. Minster Hotel, York, United Kingdom

Italy 1 UK 9
fonte:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/DirtyHotels-g4

Increasing your web traffic; the missing link…

There is an essential element to increasing your hotel website traffic and it has nothing to do with what is on your website…

There are four essential elements in web development…

* Search Engine-friendly technical infrastructure
* Rich, engaging original content, text and high quality images
* Quality design
* Conversion tools that turn lookers into bookers

…but even if you get these four completely right, and you can, you still won’t appear on page one of Google, Yahoo or MSN for high traffic generating search terms.

The missing link (hint) has nothing to do with anything actually on you hotel web site; the missing link is…missing links!

You see, a Search Engine sees a link to your web site as being like a vote of confidence in your web site. Search Engines believe that if other websites are linking to your web pages, you must have something good to link to and they will rate the page being linked to, your page, very positively.

Search Engine robots or spiders continuously travel virally from web site to web site following links like an enormous daisy chain; in fact Search Engines initially discover your web site via a link from another web site.

Once your hotel web site has been found, each page of your site is then ranked by Search Engines based on a complex set of criteria known as an algorithm; a piece of computer code that takes into consideration on-site and off-site factors collected by the robots or spiders. Data is then assembled, collated and evaluated in order to come up with a Page Score or Rank. This is how a search engine determines which sites to present when someone types in “Hong Kong hotel with harbour view” or “New York five star lodging near Wall Street”.

Search Engines today take into consideration several additional factors when rating inbound links to your site :

* the Reputation, Authority or Trust value of sites linking to your hotel web site
* the Theme or Relevance of sites linking to you
* the “Anchor Text” (the words that the link is embedded within) in links to your site

Trust – for example, a link from a government tourism site is highly trusted by Search Engines, is “on theme” and will most likely have anchor text including your hotel name (and “destination + hotel” if you have been e-smart or have read ahead).

Theme or Relevance – a link from a destination guide web site that may also list other hotels in your region is “on theme”; a link from your local scout troop site is of little value; not “no value” but little value.

Anchor Text – this is now so critical in maximising your site’s appearance at the top of the Search Engines Results Pages (SERP’s) that we recommend that, for online purposes, that you include your destination in your official property name eg The Stafford “Paris Hotel”. The terms “destination + hotel” are usually among the major search terms that online searchers use for locating their accommodation options. The result of this is that links to your site embedded in your property name will also, almost always, have “destination + hotel” in the anchor text. Having your keywords in the anchor text in links to your web site will help you climb up to page one on the Search Engines.

There are already some links to your site from other web sites, you just don’t know who and how many. Helpfully, the Search Engines know exactly how many links and the source of the links, currently linking to your site . Go to Yahoo and type in linkdomain:www.yourwebsiteurl.com (replacing yourwebsiteurl.com with your own URL) and hit the Search button…and you will see who already links to you.

How many trusted, on theme, relevant links with the right keywords in the anchor text, do you need to march your web pages up the rankings?

Whilst it does depend on how competitive your keywords are, about 30 links recognised by Google, and 600 on Yahoo and MSN will suffice…and adding about 100 a month means six months work and a lot of patience, although you will start to see results within a few weeks. And please don’t try to add 600 links in a week (or sign up for those “1000 links for $19.95 in a week” services); the Search Engines are smart enough to know the difference between reasonable, “natural” link growth (some acceleration is acceptable) and web sites that are trying to fudge the results and compensate for that.
So, how do you go about building more inbound links?

Here are three simple, easy methods to start with :

* talk to you suppliers and ask them to link to your web site…your suppliers web sites are likely to be on theme (they supply your industry), somewhat “trusted” (don’t we all trust our suppliers) and will more than likely be happy to phrase the link text exactly the way you want (and if you add this request into your final negotiations it is difficult for them to say no)
* encourage your Conference and Events team to ask their clients to link to your hotel web site, that is, the venue for their upcoming conference, event or meeting…not so strong on theme but usually they are trusted corporate or association sites and again, if you supply them with the link and anchor text, there’s a pretty good chance that they will simply add the link verbatim
* talk to your local partners, attractions and neighbours and ask them to link to you…they will be on theme (destination), relevant etc.
* do the “linkdomain” search on Yahoo above for your competitor web sites and approach those websites linking to them to link to you
* create rich original content about your destination, upcoming events and local highlights that will make your website a resource that others will like to link to

You may be asked to provide a link back, and that is fine, but the preferred result is a “one way link” to your pages.

Naturally, there is a lot more to building more Inbound Links…we haven’t touched on submitting to web directories, outbound links to trusted sites, reciprocal links, link exchanges, buying links, renting links…in highly competitive online markets you may need to use all of these tools and more.

Start today…now…put into practice the simple methods we have outlined above to build relevant, theme-based links with the right anchor text … and watch as your web site starts heading North over the following few weeks and months.

Sage Hospitality To Donate US$10 Per Room Night To Haiti Relief

PRESS RELEASE -- Hotels, 1/19/2010 7:52:28 AM
In response to the disaster in Haiti, Sage Hospitality has joined worldwide humanitarian efforts to support earthquake victims and is encouraging hotel guests to participate. Through January 31, all 54 Sage properties are donating US$10 per room night to the Red Cross for guests who book the Sage Relief Rate.

"Sage has always been dedicated to community issues and outreach. The earthquake in Haiti has affected many of our employees personally, some of whom have family witnessing the devastation firsthand," said Sage President and CEO Walter Isenberg. "We want to do our part to help and we hope our donation will not only assist the people of Haiti, but also inspire others to give."

In addition to the donations from room stays, Sage is encouraging participation and donation with other initiatives:

• Through the end of the month, guests will be encouraged to make individual donations to the Red Cross upon checking in to all Sage properties.
• Sage-owned Coco Key Water Resorts are also participating in relief efforts, with 1 percent of all food and beverage purchases donated to the Red Cross through the end of January.
• On January 26, Sage will hold "Sage Helps Haiti Day," a one-day event to generate community participation at all hotel locations. All Coco Key locations will also participate, offering $5 day passes if purchased before 5 p.m., with all proceeds going to the Red Cross.

For more information on all of these initiatives, please visit http://www.sagehospitality.com/specials/sagehelpshaiti.html. To support the Red Cross in its Haiti relief effort, visit www.redcross.org.

Have you heard about Tuscan Riviera???

Holidays to the Tuscan Riviera have been pretty much kept off the tourist trail. When you think of Tuscany, it's probably images of sunflower-filled meadows and undulating vineyards that spring to mind. But we're about to let you in on one big secret. How do you fancy heading to one of Italy's most impressive coastlines?

Summer holidays to the Tuscan Riviera bag the best of both worlds. On the one hand you've got the chilled out duvet-soft sands where you can kick back and shake off the stresses of every day life. And on the other, you've got some of Italy's most gorgeous sights on your doorstep. So something for everyone – whether you want to take it easy or get snap happy with the camera.

Of course, most people who visit do come for the shimmering slices of sugar-soft sand that snake their way along the shores. Shake out your towel, don your shades Italian-style and then cool off in the turquoise waters. Bliss. If sitting still drives you to distraction though, there's plenty to keep you on your toes. You can melt some serious plastic on Tuscan Riviera holidays in the designer boutiques and oh so chic handbag stores. Or why not get cultured up to the max in jaw dropping jewels like Pisa and Siena?

Holidays in the Tuscan Riviera are also all about eating, eating and more eating. Being beside the seaside, you'll find succulent seafood and the fresh catches of the day on most menus – cooked simply yet bursting with flavour like only mamma could make! Make sure you tuck into all those aromatic pasta dishes too, as well as regional specialities such as the melt-in-the-mouth steak bistecca alla Fiorentina. Washed down with a glass of the famous Sassicaia wine, of course. Salute!

Whether you're seeking cheap holidays to the Tuscan Riviera on a budget, or want to plan your dream all inclusive getaway – you'll be longing to come back here long after you've shaken the sand from your suitcase. Just keep it under your sunhat, eh?

Find the cheapest late deals to Tuscan Riviera: contact us to know more and more satisfaction is guaranteed!

Tuscany Etruscan coast: a Gentle Cycling along the Etruscan Riviera

Tuscany's Etruscan coast is unjustly neglected by the majority of tourists, as most follow the masses to the cities inland. Italians visit in numbers in the middle of summer but leave the quiet roads and cycle paths serenely empty for gentle exploration for the rest of the year. Encounter marvellous sandy beaches, historic towns and mediaeval villages, all of which are worth a stop, whilst pedalling at a relaxed pace through the region. Cycling is generally on quiet roads and designated cycleways; all are paved except on Day 6 when there is a stretch of gravel road. Most of the route is gently undulating with just a few easy hills. The trip starts in the busy port of Livorno, Tuscany's second largest city. The bustling harbour with its many canals is sometimes referred to as 'Little Venice' and is dominated by a fine old fortress. Heading south, the route keeps close to the waters of the Mediterranean for four days, then it's inland to Grosseto, with the opportunity to visit the largest Etruscan excavations in Italy at nearby Roselle. The well-preserved city walls and amphitheatre, combined with the excellent views down to the plains and out to sea, make this a memorable spot. The last two days of cycling are through the Maremma National Park, an area claimed to be the last virgin coastal landscape in Italy and home to extraordinarily diverse wildlife. There is time to visit the huge nature reserve set up by the World Wildlife Fund on the Orbetello lagoon, which offers exceptional bird watching. The trip ends with time in Pisa to look around the city, home to some fine mediaeval architecture and sculpture and, of course, the famous Leaning Tower.

Further Information
Special equipment required:
cycle gloves and shorts, shoes suitable for cycling and walking, small daypack and waterproofs. Helmets are highly recommended.

Extra Expenses:
for entry fees to sites & monuments allow €25. Lunches and dinners are not included, allow €30 per day for a three course evening meal and a snack for lunch. You will need to budget extra for drinks.
Children:
are accepted but must be able to cover the daily cycling distances. We suggest aged 10 or over.

Preview 2010: Retail travel

The Great Recession is only one factor in driving change in this past year and for the future. Two other factors will be more important in the long run: continued rapid changes in technology and the changing nature of travelers themselves, writes Travel Weekly.

There is a fourth factor, too, though in the long run, it will fade: the huge dust-up in the news media about corporate meetings and incentive trips. The prospects for a faster recovery in this segment are good. The exception is the corporate sponsorship of high-end vacations for execs disguised as business meetings. Those events won’t resume at the former pace, and that means pain for a select segment of suppliers.

Nevertheless, the recession has been the central feature of the past year. It has produced some changes that will stick, in the view of close observers.

Brian Hace, vice president of client services for Carlson Wagonlit Travel North America, said there is a different tone today in the way travel managers and travelers consider travel purchasing. Corporate executives have shifted focus from merely negotiating the best hotel or air prices to understanding when and how travel provides a sensible payoff.

Get the full story at Travel Weekly
http://www.travelweekly.com/article3_ektid208192.aspx