Benefits include enhanced rate management and RevPAR growth.
Choice Hotels International, one of the largest hotel companies in the world and known for the Comfort, Quality and Clarion brands here in Europe, announced the European launch of Rates Center, a proprietary tool designed by Choice Hotels to deliver enhanced rate management control to its franchised hotel network.
Rates Center is a web-based tool that allows hotels to manage their rate availability, stay restrictions, special events and promotions from anywhere in the world via an internet connection. Just one click changes the hotels’ strategies across all rate plans and selling limits in every distribution channel. Hotels set alerts so that the Rates Center advises them automatically when occupancy or room thresholds are reached and hotels can view actual average daily (ADR) and occupancy rates (OCC) as well as RevPar data, revenue per available room, in real-time.
Originally launched in North America, in 2009, Rates Center is currently installed at over 4,700 Choice Hotels’ properties worldwide, with six UK hotels added at the end of the first quarter 2015 along with others in Germany, France and Italy.
Carl Oldsberg, VP, International Operations, Choice Hotels International commented: “Our franchised hotels can now manage their rate strategy with ease and simplicity. Furthermore, UK hotels that have implemented Rates Center have seen more than a 10% increase in RevPAR growth, compared to the same period the previous year. We are planning to have all hotels in our UK network use Rates Center by the end of 2015, part of our continued commitment to adding value for our hotel owners by helping to ensure their properties have access to the best technology in the industry.”
Annie Shafi-St Hilaire, General Manager, Comfort Inn Kings Cross St Pancras, commented: “Since Rates Center was installed the benefits have been impressive. Not only have we seen a jump in RevPAR, but our staff have more time to devote to other revenue-generating activities as they no longer need to manage rate changes manually.”
Rates Center works alongside choiceADVANTAGE, Choice’s cloud-based hotel property management system (PMS), that has been successfully installed so far in over 47% of its UK hotel network and provides Choice Hotels franchise operators with unparalleled advanced hotel management functionality. The software’s innovative features include efficient guest servicing, sophisticated revenue management, complete groups functionality, remote access, and full integration with the company’s programmes.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
