The era of Booking.com

We like to start this article by telling you that Booking.com is not God… but rather our best business partner. Every day, we receive calls and emails from guests asking for additional information about their stay, starting with: “I have made a reservation through Booking.com…” or “I saw on Booking.com that you have a price of…”

We are writing this article to try to clarify the relationships between the hotel structure and our commercial partners such as Booking.com.

When we say that Booking is not God, we simply mean that it is a business partner, the best business partner for every tourist facility on the market today. Booking establishes specific commercial relationships with each facility, which we endorse and regulate.

Why is Booking the best distribution channel for the tourist offer worldwide? Simply because they have the best marketing in the world. The various promotion programs they offer, to which we all adhere, such as the Genius program or non-refundable rates or weekly rates, etc., are simply well-executed marketing that we, as “facilities,” have the opportunity to endorse or not during the management of our relationships with the business partner. What we want to make you understand is that, in the face of a very advantageous offer published by one of our partners, there is always full control and awareness on the part of the facility. It is the facility that authorizes the business partner to offer more or less aggressive commercial deals.

The most frequent questions we receive are:

I have booked or I have seen that you have availability for a room on Booking at X euros. Is it possible to have a discount if I book with you?
Booking.com offers me free cancellation up to two days.
Booking.com guarantees payment on-site.
Upon arrival at the facility, the assigned room does not match the one chosen on Booking.com.

The Hotel della Fortezza today can be defined as a small boutique hotel, and these are all questions that require a precise answer.

The issue of discounts compared to the rates published on Booking.com

The Hotel della Fortezza follows a pricing strategy called Parity Rate, meaning the same rates are transmitted to all our sales channels, including our direct booking system. For example, for today, the Superior room is priced at 99 Euros with breakfast for all channels.
Each sales channel decides how to manage its sales (applies its own marketing) to offer the best rate on the market to sell before or better than others. For example: a) Booking.com offers us the Genius program, b) The Hotel della Fortezza offers a discount program based on activities to be done once you arrive at the property (Aperitivo in the square, night trekking, etc.).
The rooms at the Hotel della Fortezza are each different from the others, and commercial channels do not promote individual rooms but rather the two available types, Suite and Superior. By calling us directly and communicating your needs (space, panoramic view, romantic room, etc.), you will have the guarantee of being able to choose or at least know precisely what you are purchasing.

We give this as advice, not just regarding us – having direct relationships with the facility will always be more advantageous than an intermediated relationship, and we are not only referring to the price! A personal, direct, always available relationship will give you access to many more pieces of information and possibilities.

Cancellation Policy for Room Reservations

We would like to clarify that it is precisely for this reason that we can offer very flexible cancellation policies to all our guests. The cancellation policy we practice across all our sales channels and, of course, for all our direct bookings gives you the option to cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before your arrival. Are we perhaps crazy? No, we are almost certain that the room will be immediately requested, and therefore, we can resell it, hence offering you free cancellation until shortly before your presumed arrival at the property. We assure you that, just like with the rates, when booking at the Hotel della Fortezza, you will find everywhere the option of cancellation up to 48 hours before your arrival.

If this is not enough, for all reservations with cancellation penalties, we always offer our guests a voucher of the same amount as the penalty to return within the next 12 months to one of the fortezzacollection.com properties. Please note that for reservations through commercial channels like Booking.com, the commissions paid to the partner are deducted. Cancel a reservation worth €100, and you will receive a voucher worth €80.

Payment at the Property

As with the two previous points, the sales policies of the Hotel della Fortezza are standardized to create as little confusion as possible. All our guests, whether booking directly or through a different website, have the option to pay at the property. The only case where you will be asked to pay in advance is if you are booking a special offer from us or in the case of a direct request, for example, if you want to give a gift or prepay for someone’s stay.

However, please note that this does not mean your reservation, regardless of the sales channel you choose, either us or our commercial partners, should not be guaranteed by a credit card (no debit, no prepaid) which, in the event of a penalty for cancellation, allows us to collect the amount due and then proceed with the issuance of your voucher as mentioned above.

We trust that this information has outlined some fundamental dynamics for a hotelier. Booking directly at a property should always be advantageous, and we hope you are aware of this fact. Our Hotel della Fortezza, in particular, is a place worth booking and personally experiencing. Before your arrival, we encourage you to establish direct contact with our reception for a more personalized experience.

The era of Booking.com