"It counts to acknowledge your own potential and to be able to achieve it", Rüffert explained. The aim of the so called e-Commerce should be to appeal to as many potential customers as possible, minimizing costs and to encourage making direct bookings. This will only be achieved if the individual hotel has been positioned properly within the Internet. Rüffert pointed out how important the success of a hotel can be, according to statistics kindly provided by Phocuswright, who are a consultancy and research institute within the travel and hospitality industry. According to these statistics, the European online travel market achieved revenue in access of 7,6 Milliard Euro last year. Forecasts for the year 2006 range from 15 to 28 milliard Euro. Germany is in second place as being one of the most important markets (behind Great Britain).
"For the foundation of successful e-Commerce, hotels must optimise and present their own website with online bookability. ", says the 38 year old. Also interactive sales platforms via a reputable distribution partner, as well as additional external systems/distribution partners are needed. These must have the facility to connect to other distribution platforms. The expert gave further advise: "Who wants to be successful with their Internet bookings should register with big hotel portals such as HRS and hotel.de. "
So that the usage of electronic distribution channels can be utilized to an optimum, a clear pricing strategy has to be achieved. "Dumping-prices has only two winners, the client and the distribution partner. "
The Dinslaken hotel professional Hans Jürgen Rüffert aims with his company "revway" to show the hotel industry new ways of consultancy for revenue maximization. "revway" is specialized in the areas of electronic distribution, revenue maximization (Revenue Management), Hotel (Interims-) Management and Channel Marketing Consulting.
Revway in the Internet:
www.revway.com