Whitepaper

Solve the Crisis of Hotel CRM Fragmentation with The Unified Guest Experience: Solving the Crisis of Fragmentation in Hotel CRM Systems

In today’s hospitality landscape, delivering a seamless, personalized guest experience is no longer optional – it’s essential. Yet, many hotels still operate with fragmented systems that don’t communicate, leading to missed opportunities, frustrated guests, and lost revenue.

What’s Inside?
✅ The biggest challenges caused by disconnected CRS and CRM systems
✅ Why deep, native integration is the key to guest satisfaction and loyalty
✅ Real-world success stories proving the impact of a unified system
✅ Actionable steps to transform your hotel’s guest journey

Did You Know?
Hotels with integrated systems see higher guest retention, increased revenue, and improved operational efficiency – but 34% of hotel CRM systems remain poorly integrated.

Discover how a unified CRS-CRM system can:
✔️ Recognize guest preferences instantly
✔️ Deliver real-time loyalty rewards
✔️ Boost direct bookings and upsell opportunities
✔️ Reduce operational inefficiencies and manual work

Get your free copy today and start delivering the experiences your guests expect.

Posted in Uncategorised, Whitepaper

Guide to Digital Strategy for Hospitality 2025 Mini Book

The hospitality landscape has changed. The guest journey is now messy, nonlinear and powered by AI. Is your strategy keeping up? 

This comprehensive guide is your blueprint for success in the fast-evolving world of digital hospitality marketing. 

What’s Inside: 

  • Proven Strategies: How to win at every stage of the guest journey. 
  • AI-Powered Insights: Leverage predictive analytics to boost ROI and guest loyalty. 
  • Data-Driven Tactics: Reduce OTA dependency and grow direct bookings with first-party data. 
  • Actionable Solutions: Practical steps for SEO, social media, paid search and beyond. 

Whether you’re managing a boutique property or a global chain, this guide will equip you with the tools and insights to thrive in 2025 and beyond. 

Take control of your digital strategy. 

👉 Download the Guide Now 

It’s time to stop guessing and start leading. Future-proof your hotel today. 

Posted in Industry Trends, Whitepaper

7 Lessons Hotels Can’t Ignore from 2024

Picture this: Your hotel’s lobby is buzzing. The front desk staff smile warmly. Guests sip cocktails, enjoying every moment of their stay.

But behind the scenes? Chaos. Systems aren’t syncing. Data silos keep teams guessing. Revenue opportunities are slipping through the cracks.

This disconnect between guest-facing perfection and operational dysfunction is holding too many hotels back.

2024 was a wake-up call for the industry. It showed us where the gaps are – and what’s possible when you address them.

Here are the seven lessons every hotelier must know heading into 2025.

1. Fragmentation is the silent killer

2. Google isn’t just a search engine anymore

3. Your website is your #1 revenue drive

4. OTAs aren’t your enemy, but they’re not your savior either

5. AI isn’t the future – it’s the present

6. Team alignment is non-negotiable

7. The cost of inaction is higher than you think

The future starts now

The hospitality industry is evolving at lightning speed.

The hotels that win tomorrow are the ones taking bold steps today.

If you’re ready to break free from tech fragmentation, outpace your competitors and create unforgettable guest experiences, you need the full playbook.

👉 Download the mini-book here

Your journey to seamless operations and unstoppable growth starts now.

Posted in Whitepaper

Unlock the Direct Booking Advantage

Discover how to strengthen your direct booking strategy and deepen guest relationships with insights from our latest white paper, “Reclaiming the Direct Booking Advantage: Strategies for Hotels to Enhance Guest Relationships and Optimize Profitability”.

Created in collaboration with h2c and SHR, this comprehensive resource provides:
– Proven strategies for boosting direct bookings
– Trends in guest loyalty and engagement
– Real-world solutions to enhance your digital channels and optimize profitability

Equip your team with the latest data and actionable insights to navigate today’s competitive landscape and reclaim control over your booking channels.

*Ready to elevate your strategy?* 

Posted in Whitepaper

SHR’s Hotel Industry Trends Report 2024

Hotels explore new strategies to enhance guest acquisition amidst increasing competition 

After analyzing over 50 million room nights across more than 2,000 international hotels that are currently using one or multiple Allora products and services, SHR’s Hotel Industry Trends Report 2024 reveals a turning point for the hotel industry. This insightful report exposes for the first time the way the recent influx of marketing spend from OTAs is impacting hotels’ share of direct bookings, and discusses the marketing strategies needed to respond. 

Some key insights in the report: 

  • Understand recent shifts in the dynamics of direct bookings
  • Impact of Cost-Per-Click inflation on hotelier’s digital marketing strategies
  • Trends in the evolution of booking channel mix   
  • How AI-powered technology solutions can help hoteliers maintain competitiveness. 
Posted in Whitepaper

Unlock the Power of Seamless Integration: The SHR CRM + CRS Whitepaper

Welcome to the forefront of hospitality innovation. SHR is proud to present our latest whitepaper, The Importance of a Deep, Native Integration Between Your CRS & CRM. This ground breaking resource delves into the transformative potential of deep, native integration for hotels worldwide.

Why Deep, Native Integration Matters:

Enhanced Efficiency: Discover how seamless data flow between your CRS and CRM streamlines operations, saving time and resources for your hotel.

Improved Data Accuracy: Say goodbye to discrepancies and errors with a cohesive system that ensures accuracy across all your platforms.

Seamless Guest Experience: Elevate guest satisfaction with personalized interactions made possible by a fully integrated CRS and CRM.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Understanding Deep, Native Integration: Explore the concept in depth and learn why it’s crucial for modern hotel management.
  • Comparative Analysis: See how deep, native integration stacks up against typical API-based connections and why it’s the superior choice for your hotel.
  • Real-world Success Stories: Hear from hotels around the globe that have embraced deep, native integration and experienced tangible benefits.

Ready to Elevate Your Hotel’s Performance?

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to revolutionize your hotel’s operations and guest experience. Download our whitepaper now and discover the power of seamless integration with SHR.

Posted in Whitepaper

Embracing Guest-Centrism: Powering the Modern Era of Central Reservation Systems (CRS)

A Guest-Centric Approach Redefined

In the dynamic realm of hospitality, where the only constant is change, the unveiling of groundbreaking insights is akin to unlocking a treasure trove of opportunities. Enter the latest white paper from SHR Group, Future Proof: Key Trends Shaping Hotel Distribution in 2024, a beacon guiding hoteliers through the complexities of the evolving industry landscape. 

As we stand at the cusp of a new era, this white paper serves as a compass, charting the course for hotel management in 2024 and beyond. At its core, the paper offers a comprehensive exploration of Central Reservation System (CRS) strategies that are poised to redefine how hotels manage their bookings, streamline operations and optimize revenue streams. 

One of the key pillars of the white paper revolves around the integration of advanced technologies into hotel operations. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation have transcended from futuristic concepts to indispensable tools reshaping the industry’s DNA. The white paper delves into how these technologies are revolutionizing daily operations, enabling hotels to enhance efficiency and deliver unparalleled guest experiences. 

A particularly noteworthy aspect of the white paper is its emphasis on data-driven decision-making. In an era where information is power, harnessing the potential of data analytics becomes imperative. Hoteliers are guided through the intricacies of leveraging data to make informed decisions, empowering them to stay agile and responsive to the ever-shifting market demands. 

Personalization emerges as another focal point, echoing the industry’s shift towards a more guest-centric approach. The white paper highlights the role of personalized experiences in fostering guest satisfaction and loyalty. Readers will discover actionable strategies to implement effective personalization, creating bespoke experiences that resonate with today’s discerning travelers. 

The white paper doesn’t merely stop at dissecting trends; it serves as a practical guide for hoteliers looking to implement these transformative strategies. Case studies and real-world examples pepper the narrative, providing tangible insights into how hotels can translate theory into practice. 

As we traverse uncharted territories, SHR’S white paper positions itself as a beacon of innovation. It not only anticipates the challenges that lie ahead but equips hoteliers with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the evolving landscape successfully. 

Interviews with industry experts featured in the white paper offer a deeper dive into the nuances of the trends discussed. Their perspectives add a human touch to the narrative, offering a glimpse into the minds driving innovation within the hospitality sector. 

In a world where adaptability is key, SHR’s white paper emerges as a vital resource, ensuring that hoteliers not only stay afloat but thrive amidst the changing tides. By marrying visionary insights with actionable strategies, this white paper invites hoteliers to reimagine the future of their establishments and embrace the transformative journey that lies ahead. 

As we eagerly anticipate the unfolding of 2024, the SHR white paper stands as a testament to the industry’s resilience and commitment to excellence. It beckons hoteliers to embark on a journey of transformation, armed with knowledge that transcends the mundane and propels them into the forefront of the evolving hospitality landscape, keeping them always ahead. 

Posted in Whitepaper

Future Proof – Key Trends Shaping Hotel Distribution in 2024

Successful hotel distribution strategies today require a holistic approach that encompasses each facet of the booking journey. In the coming months, hoteliers will be laser focused on optimizing their channel mix for profitability, personalizing the booking experience to increase conversion, and leaning on Artificial Intelligence to drive efficiencies.

To operate a successful hotel, there are a lot of things that have to go right. Owners need the right building in the right market tailored for the right demand generators, and operators need to build a top-notch management team equipped to offer great service.
Perhaps most importantly, though, is a well-thought out strategy to attract guests. Even the perfect hotel will not stay open long with no guests.
Gone are the days when hotels could simply open their doors next to a tourist destination and expect to fill up. As more and more hotels pop up in a market, hotels are constantly pressed to find ways to differentiate. Simultaneously, the ways travelers are searching and booking accommodations has evolved drastically, and hotels are constantly updating their strategies to ensure their offerings are in front of as many potential guests as possible.
Hotel distribution today involves a holistic approach to inventory management, digital marketing and pricing, with all teams across the commercial department acting in synchrony to ensure room availability and rates are appearing in the right places. To stay ahead of an increasingly complex landscape, hoteliers are turning to modern and innovative technology as an essential component of their distribution strategies.

  1. First, hotels must remain focused on optimizing their channel mix, which means analyzing which channels are the most profitable for them and driving as much business through these channels as possible. Ancillary channels can and should be used to fill in need periods or to reach travelers the hotel otherwise might not reach through its own channels.
  2. Next, it’s increasingly imperative for hoteliers to personalize a traveler’s booking experience, which can mean anything from using a first name in an email to presenting only offers that are relevant to that guest, based on previously identified preferences.
  3. To enable these and other modern distribution strategies at scale, hoteliers are increasingly relying on Artificial Intelligence. While the industry has long relied on machines for their ability to aggregate and normalize large sets
    of guest and transactional data, we are at the beginning stages of AI actually putting this data into action. Today, AI is helping reduce manual work across hotel distribution, from generating rate packages and descriptions to knowledgable chatbots equipped to handle any guest inquiry.
Posted in Industry Trends, Whitepaper

We need to talk about cancellations

Allora.ai creates a personalized booking experience for every guest, which drives engagement and unparalleled guest conversion and is supported by digital marketing with outstanding website design.

2022 Cancellation Rate Trends: How can you maintain guest retention

Without a doubt, one of the most challenging things about running a hotel is the tendency for guests to make a reservation but then frustratingly cancel at the last minute.

Given the current climate we are all facing, there are multiple reasons why travellers and guests are cancelling their bookings and deciding to drop-out of their plans at the last minute. As rates rise year on year, forecasting and pricing decisions for hoteliers will continue to be undermined which magnifies inefficiencies, increases costs, and damages margins.

In 2019, we found that the share of direct booking revenue lost due to cancellations had jumped to 15%. Now in 2022, our latest research reveals this figure has skyrocketed with 20% of bookings cancelling – a 33% increase over 2019 for the same period.

So what can hoteliers do? Below, we delve into the state of cancellations in 2022, the patterns that hoteliers need to be aware of, and the tools that can help businesses deliver a proactive booking retention game plan.

Posted in Whitepaper

The Hotelier’s Playbook for Integrating Hotel Systems to Maximize Guest Recognition

Learn how vital hotel systems can be interlinked to improve operations, better connect with guests, and provide real loyalty rewards that move the needle on maximizing revenue.

The hotel industry may be welcoming more guests now than pre-pandemic times, but resource limitations and the uncertainty about the trends that will impact the industry going forward remain top of mind. Fortunately, advancements in automation and guest recognition technology have made it easier than ever for hoteliers with less staff to manage operations while exceeding guest expectations.

Hotels are challenged with finding the right technology solution that will help them to improve the guest experience. Hoteliers must consider the capabilities of the technology they are investing in and their partners’ capacity to provide support as well as find new ways to improve their platform over time. Understanding how this technology fits into the working system and the ways in which it can continue to improve process, is really important in alleviating the ‘technology burden’ and allowing hoteliers to focus on what’s important to them; their guests.

In this report, you’ll learn :

  • How automation is helping hoteliers to save time and increase efficiently
  • What questions to ask to properly automate your hotel’s operations
  • How hotel recognize guests in ways that reward loyalty
  • The ways hotel loyalty programs have evolved
  • Why traditional loyalty programs are no longer a necessity today
Posted in Whitepaper