Browse our archive of tips and ideas to improve your accommodation business. These ideas should apply to all accommodation businesses whether or not you are listed with TakeABreak. If you have any ideas for tips you'd like us to publish here and in our monthly newsletter please send them to support @takeabreak.com.au.
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posted Mar 18, 2010, 7:24 PM by Nicole Corson
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updated Mar 18, 2010, 7:29 PM
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Guests love being able to narrow down their searches to properties that specifically cater for their needs - but they want more information. Showcase your theme information by adding extra descriptions.
All you have to do is log in to your account, check all of the themes you have selected for your property under the Listings section of your account and answer the questions. This is a great opportunity for you to check that all the themes that you list under still apply and see if there are any new ones that you can add.
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posted Mar 18, 2010, 7:21 PM by Nicole Corson
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updated Mar 18, 2010, 7:25 PM
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Visitors to TakeABreak are increasingly looking at our guest reviews to help them decide whether a property is right for them or not, based on what others have said.
In order to provide more information for visitors, and for operators, we are in the process of making changes to this system to obtain even more information from visitors about their stay.
Guest reviews are also the way in which we shortlist operators for our Awards program, so make sure all your guests take the time to provide feedback, as we know this will help you in more ways than one.
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posted Mar 18, 2010, 7:19 PM by Nicole Corson
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updated Mar 18, 2010, 7:22 PM
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Our guest comments are one of our many strengths, as they are independent and unbiased, and we don't remove them unless they are malicious or fraudulent. This gives them a great deal of integrity in comparison to other sites and is a good reason for you to encourage your guests to leave their comments online. They can also help you to fix any issues that you may have been unaware of and you can then advise the relevant guest/s that the issue has been resolved. Good customer service - and it helps make guests return.
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posted Mar 18, 2010, 7:18 PM by Nicole Corson
 A guest says they want to pay by TakeABreak Gift Voucher... what do you do now? TakeABreak Gift Vouchers are a payment method just like cheques, except that they are honoured by TakeABreak. You simply need to get the voucher number and expiry date, complete the online form and follow your normal procedures for deposit collection, bond, cancellations etc. TakeABreak will remit the funds directly to your bank account. Click here for more information and Terms & Conditions.
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posted Mar 18, 2010, 7:16 PM by Nicole Corson
This is a feature that is often commented on by guests in our surveys, which is why we have made it even easier for you to make this information clear. Sleeping configuration is not just an extra space filler on your listing, but an essential piece of information that is often one of the key factors for guests when it comes to making a decision on where to stay. Simply saying your property sleeps 6 or has 3 bedrooms is not enough. You need to be clear and precise in your descriptions e.g. main bedroom has 1 king, second room has 1 queen and third room has 1 bunk bed. You can easily update this information on the Rental Options page under the Listings section in your account.
Read more about Rental options... |
posted Mar 18, 2010, 7:13 PM by Nicole Corson
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updated Mar 18, 2010, 7:16 PM
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Another feature that comes up regularly is TakeABreak's theme searches, like accessible and family-friendly. Guests love that they can narrow down their searches to properties that specifically cater for their needs, especially those that offer the extra services and facilities that make them stand - but they want more information. To help you showcase your theme information, TakeABreak has recently upgraded the display of themes and made it even easier for you to do this. We have provided questions on all of the relevant themes as well as space for you to add extra descriptions that will be displayed on your listing as well as in the search results e.g. Pet-friendly. All you have to do is log in to your account, check all of the themes you have selected for your property under the Listings section of your account and answer the questions. This is a great opportunity for you to check that all the themes that you list under still apply and see if there are any new ones that you can add. Read more about adding extra theme information...
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posted Jan 24, 2010, 4:18 PM by Nicole Corson
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updated Jan 24, 2010, 4:22 PM
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If your rates change according to season, or at the end of the year, don't forget to keep them updated by logging in to your TakeABreak listing and clicking on the 'Rates' link. Our research shows that one of the things that really annoys visitors to the site is rates that are inaccurate or out-of-date.
Read more about setting up your rates... |
posted Jan 24, 2010, 4:16 PM by Nicole Corson
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updated Jan 24, 2010, 4:17 PM
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January is one of our busiest enquiry periods, and if you are on holidays yourself, it is easy to miss out on bookings. With the TakeABreak Online Payment System you can easily respond to and take deposits for any booking requests that come through, using any computer you like, even at an internet cafe. Not signed up? Get more information on the Online Payment System. |
posted Jan 24, 2010, 4:14 PM by Nicole Corson
 We all know that insurance is vital when running an accommodation business - but have you asked your insurer if your guests' belongings are also covered under your policy? Don't find out too late that the expensive laptop belonging to a guest staying in your B&B, apartment, homestay, farmstay, cabin - or any other type of accommodation! - is not covered by your policy in the event of theft. Sometimes the language used in policies makes it difficult to decipher what is covered and what isn't... so don't take a chance, call your insurance company or broker and ensure that you - and your guests - are covered. |
posted Jan 24, 2010, 4:12 PM by Nicole Corson
Do you have great guest comments? Then let people know! If you have your own website, linking to your guest comments on TakeABreak is an excellent way to boost your credibility - and it just might be the thing that makes a guest decide to book your property. Linking to your guest reviews page also has the benefit of cross-promotion, increasing the visibility of your property in search results. Your guest comments page shows your property name, picture, short description and location, as well as a full list of your property reviews - including the year and month the guest stayed, their name and the rating they gave your property. Linking is easy to do. Simply find your listing on TakeABreak, click on the link to 'more Guest Reviews' and copy and paste that link into your website. Make sure you use some descriptive text like Independent guest reviews of Yondah Beach House.
Find more tips and instructions on the linking to your listing help page. |
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