Is This Your Property?
This destination resort is not alone. The reservation paradox is a common theme I hear and not only from destination resorts but also from vacation management properties and full-service hotels. This discussion normally ranges from abandoning the Internet as a booking channel to expanding the Internet’s reservations capability. And this is where dynamic packaging comes into play.
Dynamic Packaging Gets Redefined
The term dynamic packaging is nothing new. The travel industry has long used this to define the ability to combine hotel, air and car. What is new (and evolving) is the use of this terminology within the hospitality industry.
The ability to build and sell packages has always been there and for many packages have been the bane of our existence. If hoteliers had their perfect world, packages would disappear completely. So there is tremendous irony that potentially combining these two “evils” (the Internet and packaging) could be the future.
Almost every reservation software or services provider is currently building first or second generation solutions to third party call center and Internet-based packaging. How they define dynamic packaging varies widely but in almost all cases it’s defined with two dimensions. First, it’s the ability to select not only a reservation rate but a room type, the room’s attributes (location, bedding, smoking/non-smoking, for instance) and stay specifics such as early checkin or late checkout. Secondly, it’s the ability to combine that room with activities, food and beverage and third party ticketing and other things.
Sound ominous? Your property reservationists and guest services staff have been doing this for years.
Dynamic Versus Property Level Packaging —
So What’s Different?
In this first generation of dynamic packaging, the only true difference is the source of the reservation. The term “dynamic packaging” has been adopted to refer to package reservations booked via a third party source. So for this first generation, the fundamentals of building a package remain, for the most part, the same as you’ve known for years when you’ve built packages within your property management system.
Is Dynamic Packaging Right for You?
Going directly to the source, we asked the reservation software and services providers their perspectives on dynamic packaging. They believe this is the next significant change in reservations processing. This is their most widely requested “next generation” functionality. The input they are receiving from their clients is that this approach will increase stay revenue, increase reservations loyalty and provides the “wow” factor sought after by the Internet consumer. They also anticipate that dynamic packaging will, in time, be adopted not only by the destination resorts but by all full-service properties.
Approaches to Dynamic Packaging and Pricing
To date, there are three basic variations: bundled, the “Chinese Family Dinner” and a la carte.
Most widely adopted, and the easiest to immediately offer, is the bundled package. With this approach a single total package price is offered that includes pre-set amenities which can’t be varied. Not very dynamic but this mirrors the functionality contained within most property management systems. This approach allows the hotel to hide component pricing.
People laugh when I refer to the “Chinese Family Dinner” approach but they also immediately understand the concept. Again, the package price is preset and fixed; component pricing is hidden. With the approach, the guest has the ability to select options from a limited predetermined set of choices. For instance, the honeymoon package includes your room, and you can choose any two of the following options: flowers, a massage, room service dinner for two or a golf lesson. While I’ve searched for a more professional term for “Chinese Family Dinner” approach, I’ve yet to hear one that is intuitive and immediately understood.
The a la carte approach is emerging. This approach basically displays a categorized price list from which you can select any item to be included with your stay. With this approach you may need to inventory components and have component availability start and stop dates. The package price is not predetermined; component pricing is visible and a package discount is normally offered on the final custom-built package.
So Which Approach Is Right for You?
Start simple. Almost all hotels begin with the traditional bundled package approach and limit what they bundle to hotel controlled activities and amenities. Each level of choice that you add into your packaging strategy will increase the level of complexity involved when it’s time to deliver on the package.
Stay synchronized. If at all possible, offer all packages through all channels. If you’re offering an Internet-only package, make sure your property reservationists are fully educated on the package. A high percentage of Internet dynamic packaging reservations result in informational calls to the property to clarify terms and answer questions.
Avoiding DPD (Dynamic Packaging Disasters)
This all sounds too good to be true – so what’s the down side? Delivery!
Whether you’re selling traditional hotel packaging (through your property reservations department) or dynamic packaging (via the Internet or a third party) the eternal rule holds true, don’t package what you can’t deliver. The best built package in the world will be a disaster if you don’t deliver on what you’ve sold.
If third party activities are included in your packaging (Broadway show tickets, theme park tickets, et cetera) it’s imperative that you closely monitor price and availability and adjust your packages as needed to ensure both your ability to deliver and your profitability. It may also be appropriate to institute package reservation cut-off lead times.
Avoid non-guaranteed package components. If you can’t guarantee a package component, then don’t bundle it. Having any portion of the package “non-guaranteed” will lower the guest’s confidence in the total package. No one in their right mind is going to book a Broadway show package without the guarantee that the show tickets will be available.
Package Creatively – Fulfill Flawlessly
Remember you’re looking for the “wow” factor. Package with inspiration. Go beyond the tired on-arrival fruit basket. If you’re building an anniversary package; think like a romantic. Offer the champagne and strawberries, a massage, bath robes, a whirlpool tub and bath oils.
Over communicate with both the guest about what to expect and the hotel departments on how and when to deliver. Solicit feedback from your guest on how well you packaged and delivered. Regularly, talk with your departments on how difficult the packages are to fulfill.
In some hotels this may imply incremental staffing to coordinate package fulfillment. Don’t avoid the reality that you’re now responsible for more than a room.
Looking Toward the Future
While the reservation software and services providers have begun to address the ability to build and sell dynamic packages, there remains a technology gap in the ability to inventory package components (other than room) and to electronically deliver a multifaceted reservation. Many vendors deliver the dynamic package reservations through fax or e-mail thus requiring the hotels to manually enter the required component reservations into each of their independent systems. All acknowledge this process as cumbersome, time-consuming and prone to errors. Interfaces are a high priority but the problem will not be quickly resolved.
Third-party provider reservations are also on the horizon. This will give the hotel the ability to specify the provider of each package component and to have the component reservation routed directly to the third party. While delivery of the reservation will normally remain e-mail or fax, this will expedite the third-party reservation component fulfillment.
The variability inherent in dynamic packaging is placing tremendous pressure on the property management systems to evolve their packaging designs to keep pace. Within a short period of time, PMS vendors will be offering complimentary functionality.
The Internet based reservation is here to stay. Dynamic packaging is one way to reverse the “lowest price” Internet mentality and reverse the negative impact it has had on overall profitability. If you’ve not already begun research into dynamic packaging and how it can work for your property, now is the time that you should begin your education. And, above all, don’t begin without a plan that is well-focused on delivery.
Debra Kristopson is president of New Directions Technology Corp. (www.ndtc.com), and specializes in technology consulting for the hospitality industry. She can be reached at (800)228-9518 x112 or dkristopson@ndtc.com.