Colombo, 17th October 2024 – An insightful event titled Transforming Guest Experiences: Winning the Battle for Direct Bookings was held at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo recently, jointly organized by Antyra Solutions, The Hotels Network, Profitroom and Hoteltime Solutions. The brought together industry leaders, hoteliers, and experts for an afternoon of insightful discussions focused on redefining guest experiences to enhance direct booking strategies.

The event featured sessions by Niranka T. Perera, CEO and Co-Founder of Antyra Solutions; Marisa Nolan, Senior Business Development Manager for Profitroom; Ivan Cintado, Director APAC for The Hotels Network; and Shaham Naufer, Country Manager for Hoteltime Solutions. Their discussions delved into the power of personalization in the guest experience and presented successful strategies that have helped hoteliers drive direct bookings in a highly competitive market.

In his session titled, ‘The First Impression and How to Get Better at It’, Niranka T. Perera focused on the importance of understanding guest archetypes and the opportunities this understanding creates for funnel expansion. 

“Hotel marketing teams must understand the importance of creating strong user journeys and building the connecting tissue from the inspiration stage to the booking stage in the travel buying cycle”, he said. Additionally, Niranka stressed the significance of Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) in improving the booking funnel, emphasizing that the first impression online is often the deciding factor for a potential guest.

Ivan Cintado shared insights on spotting conversion opportunities in the booking funnel and booking engine. He discussed the critical role of personalization in today’s competitive hospitality landscape and provided practical tips on identifying conversion opportunities within the booking funnel. Marisa Nolan spoke about the key aspects hoteliers can implement to differentiate themselves. Her session highlighted the potential of packages and loyalty programs as effective tools for enhancing guest engagement and boosting direct bookings. Shaham Naufer explored how hoteliers can leverage technology to personalize the guest experience and create successful, long-lasting relationships.

The afternoon concluded with a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Dinushka Chandrasena, Editor, Travel Talk Asia, featuring all four speakers. The panel offered attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers, allowing for deeper exploration of the day’s themes.  

The well attended event was designed to empower hoteliers with the latest insights and strategies to maximize direct bookings while enhancing the guest journey. It provided a collaborative space for industry leaders and hoteliers to share knowledge and connect with peers, paving the way for a more personalized, direct booking-focused future in Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector.