PPHE Park Plaza BS 090818

DISTRIBUTION AND RESERVATION
PARK PLAZA HOTELS & RESORTS – BRAND STANDARDS
3.5
ONLINE TRAVEL AGENTS (OTAS)
3.5.1
GENERAL
1. OTAs are able to provide your hotel with increased online
exposure, as well as additional channels for distributing your
inventory to generate revenue. Recommendations and several tools
have been implemented to help you optimise your revenue from
third-party websites.
3.5.2
ASSESSING A TRAVEL WEBSITE
1. There are various considerations which must be made when
assessing a website distributor or advertising opportunity. Some
main points to consider before requesting approval for
participation include, but are not limited to:
× research connectivity;
× research the business model (retail, merchant/net, last minute
and opaque);
× research sign-up costs, commissions, mark-ups or other fees
associated with the supplier or vendor;
× research the relation the proposed site has with your targeted
customer;
× analyse the average daily rate (ADR) you expect to achieve
through this channel and the average ADR for your specific
market on the site;
× refer to your hotel’s Business Source Report as a resource tool;
× research current placement on travel websites to determine if a
special rate is required for better placement; and
× research if the site has promotional opportunities via sales,
destination pages or other marketing opportunities to extend
the reach of your hotel.
3.5.3
CONTRACTING OF A TRAVEL WEBSITE
OR WHOLESALER
1. The final review of all OTA and wholesaler contracts is handled
centrally by Radisson Hotel Group and/or by PPHE’s Corporate
Distribution Department. Hotels are not entitled to sign any
OTA or wholesale agreements without the approval of PPHE’s
Legal Department.
2. A summary of approved OTAs and wholesalers is available on
you:niverse and is frequently updated. Contract summaries of
approved contracts are communicated to the relevant people
within PPHE once they come online or when updates occur to the
terms and conditions.
3. Brand trademarks on OTAs
A preferred supplier or vendor acknowledges that Park Plaza values
its trademark. The Brand has therefore developed strict agreements
for OTAs, wholesalers and tour operators. Hotels are not allowed
to enter into such agreements without prior approval from PPHE’s
Distribution Department.
3.5.4
PREFERRED CONNECTIVITY
1. Hotels may only participate with online suppliers/vendors
offering connectivity to the Myfidelio/ SmartHotel system or
Curtis-C either through a direct connection, a GDS or network
switch services such as DHISCO. Once connectivity is provided by
Park Plaza for the hotels, this is the only participation option
available to the hotels.
3.5.5
PREFERRED SUPPLIER AND
VENDOR SELECTION
1. Preferred supplier and vendor selection standards support Park
Plaza’s efforts to build consumer confidence in the hotels while
offering Park Plaza hotels more favourable participation terms.
Park Plaza preferred suppliers and vendors must operate under the
following guidelines as described in this policy in order to be
deemed a ‘Park Plaza preferred supplier/vendor’.
2. Preferred suppliers/vendors must support the following:
× Best Online Rate Guarantee;
× Brand negotiated margins guarantee;
× Limited most-favoured nations clauses;
× Yieldable inventory management;
× Direct connectivity;
× Content management guarantee;
× Park Plaza’s trademark rights;
× Marketing opportunities (positioning) guarantee;
× Brand protection clause;
× Discount or margin restrictions to brand limits;
× A maximum one (1) year term without automatic renewal;
× No allocations;
× Flexible pricing.
3.5.6
CONTENT MANAGEMENT GUARANTEE
1. Research indicates travellers prefer to research air and hotel
travel online before making reservations. This research confirms
the importance of current and accurate hotel content. Channels
of distribution that utilise outdated means, such as extranet or
manual content tools which prevent real-time updates online, fail
to provide travellers with current and accurate content and/or
images. Preferred suppliers and vendors must receive and accept
online content updates according to industry standards. Property
updates, such as renovations and images, must be accepted realtime,
and suppliers and vendors must be held responsible for
ensuring that this data is available on their sites to consumers
once provided by Park Plaza hotels.
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