FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

About the GuestCentric Service

What is included in the GuestCentric platform?

GuestCentric provides an easy to use, affordable online marketing and distribution platform for independent hotels. The platform is offered as Software as a Service (SaaS) and includes a Hotel Website builder and management module, a next-generation booking engine, and a guests profiling and management module.

What do I get from the GuestCentric service?

We provide a turnkey platform to manage your online marketing and bookings. As part of this platform, GuestCentric provides a professional-looking website, a next-generation booking engine and a back-office system to manage your online and offline reservations and to engage your customers via targeted emails and promotions.

Is GuestCentric like Expedia, Orbitz, Booking or LastMinute?

No. Internet Distribution Systems like Expedia, Orbitz, etc. work like a multi-brand discount store, i.e. they distribute many hotels on their store, providing great visibility and significant volumes of reservations. However, on those stores you will be competing for the travelers’ attention with other hotels. GuestCentric provides your own branded specialty store on the Internet where you have full control over the content, inventory and pricing.

I have a very small marketing budget. Can I really compete for visitors attention?

Leading market analysts eMarketer and Phocuswright unequivocally identified a trend that travelers increasingly want to book directly with the suppliers as opposed to distribution sites. This is a significant opportunity for independent properties as you can benefit from improved business margins if you can increase your direct business by just few percentage points.

Isn’t a commission based system better than a flat fee?

While a commission based system seems attractive on the surface, it actually can be quite expensive if you are successful in your online marketing strategy. The GuestCentric service has been priced to be competitive with fixed costs like hosting costs, software maintenance costs, etc. that every hotel incurs in addition to commissions. So, you get to eliminate your fixed cost and don’t have to pay any additional commission.

Most of our reservations are made via phone and fax. Why would I want your system?

The GuestCentric platform manages online reservations, but it also stores and manages your offline reservations including guest contact details and preferences so that if a returning guest checks in, you can add an extra personal touch by remembering their previous requests.

We are a very small property. Can we benefit from online bookings?

Yes, no matter how small you are you can use the GuestCentric platform to improve your online presence and take management of your offline business to the next level.

I love my site and just want to have your booking engine on my current site. Is that possible?

Yes - we can import your website design into our system.

Requirements

What do I need in terms of infrastructure?

All you need is a computer with Internet access and Internet Explorer or Firefox.

I have a very old PC for the hotel. Can I install your services?

GuestCentric requires no installation. As long as you have Internet Explorer or Firefox and an Internet connection, you can use our services.

How could I benefit from your services if I do not have an internet connection?

You need a basic internet connection to benefit from our services.

Managing Room Inventory

What can I do in terms of room inventory?

The GuestCentric platform provides the ability to sell several offers online and offline based on the same physical inventory. This way you don’t have to worry about allotments for promotions or premium room types ras they all automatically refer back to the same physical room inventory in the hotel. It is a set-and-forget system where in less than 10 minutes you can set up your inventory and seasonal pricing.

All our rooms are unique - we do not have specific room types. Is that compatible with your booking system?

You can create as many room types as you want with our back-office system, each room can have an individual description and photograph so that your website visitors can view individual room description when requesting to book a room online.

I have some rooms where children are not allowed. How can I make sure no guests with children reserve those rooms with your booking system?

When you create a room you will have the option to set the number of adults and children per room. If you set the number of children to zero, that room automatically becomes unavailable for guests checking in with children.

Can your system filter rooms according to whether or not the guests are checking in with a pet?

All reservations have a place for additional notes. Guests can specify pets in those. If you do or don’t allow pets, you can specify the information in the terms and conditions on your website, guests need to confirm that they read the terms and conditions before being able to make an online reservation.

Credit cards, payments and invoicing

We do not accept credit cards as a payment method. Can I still use your booking engine?

You can certainly use it as we do not charge credit cards we only validate them for security reasons.

Does your system charge my guests’ credit cards?

No. It instantly validates them and stores the information for security reasons.

Does your backend system allow me to give my guests a bill or invoice ?

A receipt for the booking is provided with all the booking details including costs, taxes, etc.This is however, not an official invoice.

Does your system sync with QuickBooks?

Given that our system does not process actual invoices, integration with QuickBooks is not required.