As event accommodations experts – we spend our days focused on capturing the attention of event participants and filling contracted room blocks on behalf of our clients. But what happens when event hotel room blocks are filled or contracted hotel cut-off dates have passed? Typically, this means event participants must go elsewhere to find a hotel. At onPeak, however, we believe that event participants should always have options.
Earlier this summer, we integrated our award-winning Compass Direct feature with Expedia Partner Solutions (EPS) to offer competitive rates and availability via Expedia Group’s vast network of accommodations. Providing event participants with options post-cut-off or offering supplemental inventory options during the event cycle, produces additional revenue and keeps last-minute attendees happy. Since the update, Compass Direct bookings have increased 60% year over year.
More options, more bookings
By collaborating with Expedia Partner Solutions, onPeak users now have access to special rate types and more flexible payment options, including the option to pay at the time of booking or at the hotel. The flexibility of the Compass Reservation System allows these hotel options to be added either as additional inventory options alongside event hotels or allow for event hotels to be sold via Compass Direct once sold out or cut off.
The Compass Direct user experience was also updated as part of this project and now reflects a more simplified process. Users are presented with all of the relevant information necessary to select a room and easily complete their booking. Our approach to product design continues to focus on driving conversions and simplifying the user experience.
Case Study: Event A
In the case of this event, the city and contracted hotel set remain the same year over year. Compass Direct was utilized to sell all contracted hotels at their best available rates from cut-off through the start of the event. Utilizing our upgraded Compass Direct product, in 2019 reservations booked in the final two weeks post-cut-off doubled from what we sold in 2018.
Case Study: Event B
For many events, Compass Direct isn’t just a post-cut-off solution. Additional availability and rates can be sold via Compass Direct at any time – including when contracted accommodations become limited. In this example, the location and hotel options remain the same each year and Compass Direct was used in both years to capture bookings post-cut off. In 2019, the enhanced Compass Direct functionality was used to provide hotel options once contracted blocks had limited availability – as early as ten weeks before the event. Twice as many rooms were sold using Compass Direct in 2019 than were sold in 2018. Overall more than five times as many rooms were sold for this event via Compass Direct in 2019.
What’s next?
As part of our collaboration with Expedia Group – we’re excited to introduce the option to sell alternate accommodations/vacation rentals through Vrbo. Reach out to your onPeak sales contact if you’re interested in learning more about this option for your events.
Keep an eye on the onPeak Blog for more updates and insights from the onPeak Product & Technology teams!
