UK / Canada: Boostly, an online training platform for hospitality owners, has partnered with vacation rental management software Hostaway to mark Hospitality Day [18 September].
The partnership smartly connects Hostaway’s vacation rental management software and PMS with Boostly’s WordPress websites due to the power of API [application programming interface] technology. The end benefit is designed to be a smooth booking process for guests and more revenue for hosts / property owners.
Ultimately, the websites have been set up to serve as a competitive replacement for OTAs [online travel agencies] – “at a fraction of the cost” for an undisturbed booking experience on a WordPress website.
The collaboration between Hostaway and Boostly aims to drive long-term change for the short-term rental industry and place the ‘book direct movement’ at the heart of booking processes. More direct bookings on Hospitality Day would be a welcome boost for an industry heavily impacted by the consequences of Covid-19.
In line with Boostly’s mantra of turning ‘more lookers into bookers’, Hostaway will offer members Boostly’s intelligent solution through its marketplace. It is claimed that this will be “the first time that the full functionality of WordPress, as well as Boostly’s marketing expertise, is being offered in partnership with Hostaway”.
Earlier this month, Hostaway became a preferred partner of Airbnb, and its software is designed to equip property managers across the world with tools, integrations and customer support to grow their business. The software provides users with all-in-one management of marketing, sales, accounting, reporting, payment and guest communication.
Boostly offers a WordPress solution [powering 61 per cent of websites in the short-term rental industry] alongside Hostaway’s software and channel manager – it will sync live booking rates, live booking availability, as well as live property information onto one direct platform.
Marcus Rader, CEO and co-founder of Hostaway, said: “Boostly offers our customers solid converting websites to ensure our property managers are successful. They are well aligned with our core mantra – our customers’ success is our success!
“Until now, hosts had only been able to list properties on third-party platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo and the Booking Holdings group, or use a software add-on. These solutions are neither smooth nor efficient for website hosts, and generally provide a laboured booking experience for guests.
“But with credit to Boostly, WordPress websites can now be powered-by live booking engines – marking this partnership as revolutionary for the short-term rental industry,” he added.
Boostly founder Mark Simpson said that innovation was key to the ‘book direct’ movement: “The goal is always to turn more lookers into bookers – and this is exactly what we’re doing by partnering with Hostaway. The company already boasts seamless software; by integrating with Boostly’s WordPress websites, Hostaway will provide a bonafide solution for all their members.
“Not only will these websites guarantee more direct bookings, it’ll make the booking process much simpler – which is exactly what we collectively want for the industry, as well as visibility for smaller short-term rental business owners, in a noisy world, dominated by OTAs.
“Here’s to more efficiently, profitability, and ethical business – what could be more exciting?” he added.
To date, Boostly has built over 600 WordPress websites and helped more than 1000 property owners generate more direct bookings, as the only accredited training company in the short-term rental industry.
Already this month, Boostly has partnered with channel management solution Rentals United and integrated with property management platform Guesty.
