Do You Ever Listen to Your Competitors?

On paper, we’re on opposite sides

My business is built around helping operators get more direct bookings. A booking platform is a different model, so on paper we’re on opposite sides.

At The Port, I sat in on a session from one of the biggest booking platforms in the world about how operators win bookings on their platform. I came away with a page of interesting notes.

Why a booking platform’s data is worth hearing

They’ve booked over 1.2 million trips since 2014. They see what guests click, what they trust and what they skip, across about 10,000 listings.

No single operator and no single agency sees that much guest behavior. Say what you want about their model, but learn from their data.

Three reasons more owners should do this

1. They already paid for the lesson

Years of searches and bookings went into it, and you get the takeaway for the price of a seat.

2. You learn what guests actually do

Not what you assume they do. What they click, what they trust and what they skip.

3. You get clearer on what you do differently

A platform can sell a listing. It can’t give a guest a relationship with you. You can.

Learn from your competitors without agreeing with them

The best ideas I’ve picked up this year came from rooms where I wasn’t supposed to agree with everyone.

That’s also why direct bookings and repeat customers matter so much. A relationship with your guests is something no platform can hand you. Here’s how to keep repeat customers coming back.

I shared what I took from that session in Seen, Believed, Booked: 5 takeaways for getting more charter and tour bookings.

Want help getting more direct bookings?

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See you on the water.