There are two categories of hotel chains:
integrated chains: this is the case with the Accor group, whose establishments are integrated into brands (Novotel, Ibis, Mercure, etc.), whether they are managed as branches (i.e. by employees of the Accor group) or as franchises (i.e. by independent hoteliers). However, these hotels operate and exist solely under their own brand name, unlike hotels belonging to "voluntary" chains.
voluntary chains: these include hotels belonging to networks such as Logis de France, InterHotel and Best Western. In this case, the hotels are all independent of the network and only use the brand name (and the other associated benefits) but continue to operate under their own name as well. Ex: Hôtel du Bon Roi / Best Western.
A hotel belonging to a voluntary chain is freer to leave it than a hotel dependent on an integrated chain. This certainly explains the high turnover (40% per year) between chains. Example: a hotel leaves the Logis network to join the Châteaux et Hôtels network.
In general, voluntary chains 'lock in' their members by equipping them with an availpro-type IT solution . The hotel keeps its PMS(property management software) but equips itself with a channel manager (availpro, more rarely siteminder) to send its prices and availability to its integrated chain's network at the same time as to the OTAs.
This means that, in some cases, you will be faced with hoteliers who :
are already equipped with a solution and do not want to leave it: in this case, you will need to connect to their solution to "upload" their stocks and prices (see how in the knowledge base).
are already equipped with a solution but are considering leaving it because it does not suit them or is too expensive (see below)
The main challenges facing a network hotel
Overall, the same challenges as independent hoteliers, since these hotels are basically independent hotels
Added to these issues is the problem of knowing whether they should continue to join their network: in general, these memberships are quite expensive and, since the arrival of the OTAs, the networks have found it very difficult to justify their value (some networks charge up to €17,000 for annual membership). For example: if I pay €17,000 in commission to Booking, that means that Booking has sold €100,000 worth of nights for me. This leaves me with €83,000 in revenue. If I pay €17,000 for my voluntary chain membership, can the chain prove to me that it earns me the same amount?
The value of chains and hotel brands is tending to decline in the minds of travellers, which often raises questions for hoteliers about their membership of the network
The cost of their channel manager is fast becoming a major burden: even if the prices of the most common channel managers on the market are somewhat opaque, hoteliers are often concerned about their inflationary nature:
in general, a monthly subscription of around €90 to €120
plus a charge of between €1 and €2.50 per booking transmitted from an OTA (or other distributor) to the hotelier,
which can add up to several hundred euros a month!
for the record, the elloha channel manager only costs the hotelier €29 per month, with no variable costs...
Language elements
Our platform is designed to connect to your Novaresa or availpro reservation system
We even have direct connections with PMS systems such as Cudbe, Cubilis, Resthel and Chloë
We have an API (Application Program Interface) to connect your PMS to elloha
Special cases
When you are in contact with these hotels, it is possible that the hotelier does not know exactly under what conditions he will be able to connect his inventories to your marketplace:
Hotels equipped with their chain's channel manager may have to connect via their chain's central system (Logis de France, for example)
In most cases, they will also be able to connect directly from their novaresa or availpro solution
Note that your supplier (novaresa or availpro) may charge you a fee to connect to your marketplace:
considering that elloha or your channel is an additional distribution channel not provided for in the hotel's initial contract: in this case, it is possible that they will charge them a "connectivity" fee (a few dozen euros) and that they will also charge them variable fees for each reservation that comes from your marketplace
in these cases, don't hesitate to advise them to contact their sales advisor at reservit or availpro to negotiate new pricing conditions
In any case, when a chain hotel wants to connect to your marketplace, don't hesitate to explain how connectivity will be managed between elloha and its technology provider: see here