Comments for About The Inn http://www.abouttheinn.com Virtual technology consulting for inns, B&Bs, innkeeping, and related topics Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:22:16 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Reviewing TripAdvisor: Low Marks for Responsibility by Wing http://www.abouttheinn.com/2010/08/reviewing-tripadvisor-low-marks-for-responsibility/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Wing Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:22:16 +0000 http://www.abouttheinn.com/?p=215#comment-61 Great article. I run a small 3 bed place far from any holiday destination in the UK. When we started, 2 years ago this weekend, someone left a review on TA. I then registered as the owner and realised that anyone could have registered. To prove this was possible I registered again using my own personal email as well as the business email addresses. I now get emails to both addresses from TA when there is any ''deals'' going or they are pushing for the business listing. This is a bit of a worry and needs to be sorted out as it is ripe for exploitation. Great article. I run a small 3 bed place far from any holiday destination in the UK. When we started, 2 years ago this weekend, someone left a review on TA. I then registered as the owner and realised that anyone could have registered. To prove this was possible I registered again using my own personal email as well as the business email addresses. I now get emails to both addresses from TA when there is any ”deals” going or they are pushing for the business listing. This is a bit of a worry and needs to be sorted out as it is ripe for exploitation.

]]> Comment on Reviewing TripAdvisor: Low Marks for Responsibility by TripAdvisorWatcher http://www.abouttheinn.com/2010/08/reviewing-tripadvisor-low-marks-for-responsibility/comment-page-1/#comment-59 TripAdvisorWatcher Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:49:09 +0000 http://www.abouttheinn.com/?p=215#comment-59 Well, you are certainly bang on target with this article. I wish I had written it myself. It highlights the main faults that I find as an accommodation owner listed on TA. I’ve also expressed much the same thoughts on occasion (though not as neatly – I tend to get a little fired up!) both on my own blog and on the TA Owners Forum. Frankly, the latter is 99% a waste of space – rarely does an owner get anything other than a trite restatement of the usual TA “defences” that you describe. TripAdvisor takes the attitude that if they ignore your complaints for long enough then you’ll go away. Kind of ironic for a site that makes its bucks out of criticism. Phil Well, you are certainly bang on target with this article. I wish I had written it myself. It highlights the main faults that I find as an accommodation owner listed on TA.

I’ve also expressed much the same thoughts on occasion (though not as neatly – I tend to get a little fired up!) both on my own blog and on the TA Owners Forum. Frankly, the latter is 99% a waste of space – rarely does an owner get anything other than a trite restatement of the usual TA “defences” that you describe.

TripAdvisor takes the attitude that if they ignore your complaints for long enough then you’ll go away. Kind of ironic for a site that makes its bucks out of criticism.

Phil

]]> Comment on Reviewing TripAdvisor: Low Marks for Responsibility by Derek Pennycook http://www.abouttheinn.com/2010/08/reviewing-tripadvisor-low-marks-for-responsibility/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Derek Pennycook Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:02:02 +0000 http://www.abouttheinn.com/?p=215#comment-57 excellent post and very relevant. I spoke to a B&B owner asking his advice as to what he did when a guest does not show up nor call to cancel their booking but has given their credit card details as security (held securely via third party booking system) He said he had this happen last month and called the guest to say they (as per their booking terms) would be charged the first night's charge. The guest simply said "do that and I will put a scathing review on TripAdvisor". He said the the damage of that review would cost far more than the loss of income! excellent post and very relevant.

I spoke to a B&B owner asking his advice as to what he did when a guest does not show up nor call to cancel their booking but has given their credit card details as security (held securely via third party booking system)

He said he had this happen last month and called the guest to say they (as per their booking terms) would be charged the first night’s charge. The guest simply said “do that and I will put a scathing review on TripAdvisor”. He said the the damage of that review would cost far more than the loss of income!

]]> Comment on Software reviews: Online booking and property management software by Scott Thomas http://www.abouttheinn.com/2010/07/online-booking-and-prop/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Scott Thomas Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:15:57 +0000 http://www.abouttheinn.com/?p=203#comment-44 Thank you Bjoern, I had seen bookatonce mentioned, but had not looked closely at it. That is a good suggestion to include. Thank you! Thank you Bjoern, I had seen bookatonce mentioned, but had not looked closely at it. That is a good suggestion to include. Thank you!

]]> Comment on Software reviews: Online booking and property management software by Bjoern Grunert http://www.abouttheinn.com/2010/07/online-booking-and-prop/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Bjoern Grunert Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:21:53 +0000 http://www.abouttheinn.com/?p=203#comment-42 A very interesting alternative may be www.bookatonce.com - As newcomer on the US market they are searching for "test" Innkeepers that would like to have full access to the guest management and online booking tool completely free of charge. Have a look at http://tinyurl.com/32lffem for more details. Scott, it would be great to complete your review by bookatonce! A very interesting alternative may be http://www.bookatonce.com – As newcomer on the US market they are searching for “test” Innkeepers that would like to have full access to the guest management and online booking tool completely free of charge. Have a look at http://tinyurl.com/32lffem for more details. Scott, it would be great to complete your review by bookatonce!

]]> Comment on Software reviews: Online booking and property management software by Scott Thomas http://www.abouttheinn.com/2010/07/online-booking-and-prop/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Scott Thomas Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:19:13 +0000 http://www.abouttheinn.com/?p=203#comment-41 Hi Jason, thank you! Checkfront is on my radar - I would love to have a look at it. Hi Jason, thank you! Checkfront is on my radar – I would love to have a look at it.

]]> Comment on Software reviews: Online booking and property management software by Jason Morehouse http://www.abouttheinn.com/2010/07/online-booking-and-prop/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Jason Morehouse Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:55:04 +0000 http://www.abouttheinn.com/?p=203#comment-40 Great read Scott, appreciate the detailed reviews as well. I run an cloud based booking system called Checkfront. If you get a chance stop by and have a look http://www.checkfront.com. Interested in your feedback. Best, -Jason Great read Scott, appreciate the detailed reviews as well.

I run an cloud based booking system called Checkfront. If you get a chance stop by and have a look http://www.checkfront.com.

Interested in your feedback.

Best,
-Jason

]]> Comment on Software reviews: Online booking and property management software by Scott Thomas http://www.abouttheinn.com/2010/07/online-booking-and-prop/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Scott Thomas Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:21:57 +0000 http://www.abouttheinn.com/?p=203#comment-39 Thanks for the comment - we do plan future reviews, so that is a good recommendation of a system to be included! Thanks for the comment – we do plan future reviews, so that is a good recommendation of a system to be included!

]]> Comment on Software reviews: Online booking and property management software by Shellie Anne http://www.abouttheinn.com/2010/07/online-booking-and-prop/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Shellie Anne Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:02:41 +0000 http://www.abouttheinn.com/?p=203#comment-38 Our pgrm is http://www.reservationkey.com/ and works well, and the price in unbeatable as is the support. No online system can do everything, that is why there are innkeepers. :) Thanks for the review, it is very useful innfo. Our pgrm is http://www.reservationkey.com/ and works well, and the price in unbeatable as is the support. No online system can do everything, that is why there are innkeepers. :)

Thanks for the review, it is very useful innfo.

]]> Comment on Software reviews: Online booking and property management software by Scott Thomas http://www.abouttheinn.com/2010/07/online-booking-and-prop/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Scott Thomas Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:59:18 +0000 http://www.abouttheinn.com/?p=203#comment-37 I'm afraid you're right - you have some specific requirements, several of which require you to be able to use human discretion in accepting a booking. In theory you could use a system that allows for a reservation request, then make your decision before responding, but that is about the only scenario that will marry the freedom you need in dealing with the reservation to the online process. I’m afraid you’re right – you have some specific requirements, several of which require you to be able to use human discretion in accepting a booking. In theory you could use a system that allows for a reservation request, then make your decision before responding, but that is about the only scenario that will marry the freedom you need in dealing with the reservation to the online process.

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