7 Key Tools and Resources all Travel Providers Need

We have compiled a preliminary list of 7 essential tools and resources that are vital for the success of travel providers, from travel management tools to resources such as the right travel partner. It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive and there is no universal solution, as the travel industry is vast and diverse.

However, when considering ways to enhance your efficiency and competitive advantage in the field, it is crucial to differentiate between travel management tools that are of the utmost benefit to you as a travel provider.

So, make sure to bookmark this page and explore our Resources Page regularly for more useful guidance and advice as you start, or refresh, your journey.

Powerful API Integration

The way in which travellers are searching for, booking and paying for hotels is ever-changing. Today’s (and tomorrow’s) traveller expects a simple, fast and user-friendly experience regardless of the nature of their trip, or destination they have in mind.

Our integration experts have developed our Application Programming Interface (API) suite of powerful travel software solutions, designed to enhance the developer experience and cater to the needs of the modern traveller.

Bookings are faster, easier, more intuitive, and more than 5000 developers are currently benefiting from our API solutions.

Whether you need:

• Seamless access to real-time pricing and availability in one place with our Cache API.
• Enhanced, end-to-end booking management with our Booking API.
• Faster, enriched product content with our Content API.

Our API Suite offers a tailored solution to your needs, so when it comes to enhancing your travel management and elevating your business’s success – whether that’s global distribution or sales - our powerful API solutions help you elevate your business’s success.

Discover more about our API suite today and supercharge your efficiency, or sign up to access this valuable suite of tailored solutions.

An Effective Travel Booking Platform

For travel providers working more directly with bookings rather than utilising our API suite, you can’t work effectively without a reliable, powerful travel booking platform!

Of course, this essential piece of travel booking software does more than just process your clients’ payments and store their booking information for later reference. It is an essential and impactful part of your clients’ journey with you as a provider – if the booking process is not simple, then the client may be discouraged from returning their custom.

This is where the Hotelbeds Booking Engine comes in.

This powerful and intuitive travel booking platform for travel providers will afford you the flexibility to curate the travel experiences that your clients want.

• Filters to help you refine your searches quickly.
• Flexible payment options to suit travellers of all budgets.
• Comparison tools for bespoke recommendations.
• Integrated cross-selling features so you can enrich their stay with in-destination experiences, transfers and car hire.
• In-built flyer creation tools so you can easily share your proposals.
• Administration supplements built into the booking journey.
• A suite of self-service tools to help you manage your bookings.

This travel management and booking tool allows travel providers to integrate and connect with a vast portfolio of travel products from vendors around the world. 

Not only this, but our Help Desk is the fastest way to find answers to pre-arrival queries, and any tickets raised here will receive greater priority over emails or calls to our customer service centre.

Sign up today to empower your business with a streamlined booking management tool.

An Expansive Portfolio

Of course, travel products and the right methods of booking those products go hand in hand, which is where our global portfolio comes into play.

Did you know that over 80% of travellers want to book their entire trip online?

Benefit from more bookings as demand for comprehensive booking journeys increases, with Hotelbeds' global portfolio:

• Over 250,000 accommodation options to suit every preference and availability.
• 170+ countries for travellers to choose from.
• 23,000+ experiences to enrich time spent in destination.
• 500 car rental suppliers and global transfer routes.
• Longstanding relationships – for trusted, reliable experiences for travellers.

Whether you're looking to gain increased visibility to valuable markets, or curate more satisfied client relationships, we're here to help.

A wealth of trusted travel products at your fingertips helps you better meet the ever-evolving needs of travellers and sell more effectively, while also increasing your appeal to a wider range of customers in your market.

Efficient Distribution Channels for Comprehensive Trips

For travel providers working to supply incredible and memorable experiences to end travellers in the ever-evolving industry, it’s of course key that you have access to a vast portfolio of products to cater to all traveller needs.

However, it’s also key that you can benefit from a travel partner which actively works to reduce the fragmentation of the travel and tourism industry, by connecting travel suppliers and buyers worldwide – such as Hotelbeds.

This becomes even more imperative when you consider more than 75% of global travellers experience frustration when booking travel online.

Travellers are increasingly seeking a booking experience where they can secure comprehensive trips in one place, therefore reducing disjointed booking processes, which demand multiple bookings on different platforms or websites.

At Hotelbeds, our effective distribution methods contribute to:

• Increased visibility in valuable markets - our global products reach 60,000 travel distributors in 190+ markets.
• Non-competing distribution for travel suppliers.
• Tailored growth opportunities to increase revenue for travel providers at every stage of the booking journey.
• Visibility to the right customer with the right product - and maximised revenue opportunities.

As specialists in the B2B space, our distribution channels do not compete with direct distribution for the end customer. Instead, they serve to optimise your positioning in your market, helping you strategies for success.

The result is a more streamlined experience for travellers and providers alike. Travellers can find the experiences they want in one place, and providers benefit from increased satisfaction and retention as a result.

Essential Travel Management Tools: A Good CRM

Travel management comes in many different stages but investing in a good customer relationship management system (CRM) will save you time, help you work more efficiently, and therefore earn more revenue.

On a CRM, all your clients’ information, including bookings, will be stored in one place, allowing for easier management of these important details.

By collating this crucial data, you’ll be able to keep track of your payments for each client, current and upcoming trips at a glance, set up automatic reminders, and quickly access an overview of your earnings which are left to be paid.

Having this data at your fingertips gives you useful insights into each of your customers’ travel habits, interests and trip preferences, which in turn allows you to deliver more bespoke customer experience and boost customer loyalty.

A Dedicated Travel Partner

Going it alone in the travel industry can be overwhelming at times – even for long-standing businesses when it comes to ensuring that the services provided are in line with changing needs and demands.

Consider Hotelbeds your B2B travel solutions provider. But, why work with us?

• A global network at your fingertips - gain access to a world of travel products designed to grow your sales opportunities.
• Best-in-class TravelTech - powerful cloud systems and easy integration with our award-winning API Suite to enhance your bookings.
• Analytics to leverage strategic opportunities - use our predictive tools to empower your business.
• Expert guidance from our operational teams - with deep knowledge of local travel markets and global trends.
• Cross-selling opportunities - thanks to our extensive worldwide portfolio and dynamic packaging options.
• Global reach and visibility to the right customers - thanks to our extensive worldwide portfolio and dynamic packaging options.
• Powerful booking platform and recommendation tools - with real-time updates and seamless features for effective selling.

And that’s not all.

As your travel partner, we also offer dedicated support when you need it. Your dedicated Account Manager is committed to navigating your unique journey with it, so you can think of them as a business partner, using their expertise to guide your business in the right direction.

Discover more about why travel providers need a travel partner like Hotelbeds, here.

Market-Specific Insights – with Insights

Built specifically to offer growth opportunities which are relevant to your business needs, Insights is a powerful recommendation and growth tool for your arsenal:

• Bespoke data and intelligence – to grow your business.
• Actionable insights – for full control over your opportunities.
• Monitor your growth – for flexible, agile performance.

Data from multiple sources provides you with bespoke and granular insights that give you fast and quantifiable growth in sales, while cutting-edge algorithms show you those properties that are in demand and that which present the most valuable growth opportunities for you.

We benchmark average performance in each corridor to ensure you do not lose out on any opportunity.

These recommendations are tailored to your unique market needs, offering deeply personalised opportunities to scale both your competitiveness, your market presence and your revenue potential, by providing the stays and experiences your market wants.

Accounting Software

For many independent travel providers – and established businesses of any size – the accounting software used is one of the most important tools. Travel is still a business, and it needs to be seamless, profitable, and streamlined for maximum sustainable growth.

Using dependable accounting software makes the process seamless and allows you to spend time on what matters.

Accounting software for travel bookings should be easy to use, helps you keep track of your expenses, manage your finances, alongside submitting and filing your tax returns if this is something that you need to do.

When it comes to which travel provider tools for accounting you should choose, focus on tools that offer: detailed reports, easy-to-implement templates for better financial management, and ideally, software that integrates with your booking and payment platforms.

A few great accounting software providers include:

• QuickBooks
• TravelWorks
• Xero

Additional Travel Management Tools

There are tools, resources and differing travel software products which can cater to even the most niche of business models and requirements. However, some other key travel management tools include:

• Itinerary management and planning tools.
• Payment and financial management platforms – much like our powerful payments platform for our clients, which offers e-billing and easy, secure payments.
• Communication platforms – such as an email marketing provider, for fast and personalised communication to your customers.
• Travel marketing tools – such as scheduling assistants, accounts on key social platforms where B2C presence is relevant for your business, and more.
• Reporting and analytics tools – to accurately measure your business success and find growth opportunities.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it’s certainly a place to begin for newer travel agents looking to make the most of this complex and rewarding industry.

Keep an eye on our Resources Page for more articles and resources of our own, designed to decode the travel industry and offer helpful advice for providers at all stages in their journey.

For a travel partner to connect you to the wider industry, offer enhanced distribution, and uplift your success, sign up today to become one of our valuable partners at Hotelbeds.