In the competitive world of tourism, B&B owners are constantly looking for ways to stand out and attract more travelers via strategic booking websites like Expedia. In this guide, find out how to promote your bed and breakfast activity on Expedia, boost your presence and increase your bookings.
What is Expedia?
Expedia is an online travel brand offering a wide range of services, including flight bookings, hotels, car rentals and, of course, vacation rentals and B&Bs.
In a few figures, Expedia represents :
- an average of 10 million daily visitors to all the group's sites and applications.
- +1 billion searches per month on average.
- a presence in over 70 countries.
- over 3 million properties listed.
Expedia Group brings together leading companies such as Vrbo, Trivago and Hotels.com. This makes it an attractive platform and a perfect showcase for hosts wishing to promote their properties and reach a national and international audience.
3 advantages of listing your Bed & Breakfast on Expedia
Discover some of the benefits of working with the Expedia platform to promote your bed & breakfast.
Global exposure and new bookings
Thanks to its international audience, Expedia enables you to reach travelers all over the world and also target international tourism. By having a presence in many different markets, you can ensure that your B&B is highly visible to travelers from all over the world.You can convert these visits into new bookings.
Make data-driven decisions
Expedia gives you access to real-time data. This will enable you to make informed decisions based on the data presented, gain competitiveness, boost your visibility and increase your bookings over time.
Efficient customer service
Expedia offers 24/7 support for both guests and customers. So if you have a problem, you'll have the peace of mind of knowing that dedicated customer service is available when you need it.
How do I publish my listing on Expedia?
If you have a vacation rental, refer to our Vrbo guide. To start offering your B&B on Expedia, follow these steps:
Create your Expedia account
- Go to the Expedia.comhome page
- Click on “List your property” at the top of your screen and follow the steps on the Expedia Partner Central page.
- Step 1: Enter the address of your accommodation/name of your establishment
- Step 2: Tell us a little about your accommodation
- Property name
- Property type
- Number of rooms/units
- Legal name of your property
- Currency
- Does this property work with a Channel Manager? Yes/No
- Is the property part of a chain? Yes/No
- Step 3: Create your account
- First name
- Last name
- Phone
- Email address
- Password
Then click “Next” to complete the registration process and share your basic property information, amenities, photos, description and more!
Rate and availability settings
To maximize your bookings and offer an attractive product to future travelers on Expedia Partner Central, it's essential to set your rates and availability correctly.
- Competitive rates: research the rates of similar properties in your area and adjust your prices accordingly.
- Offers and discounts: consider offering discounts for longer stays or early bookings.
- Availability calendar:keep your calendar up to date to avoid double bookings or availability errors.
How to optimize your listings on Expedia?
Discover some practical techniques for optimizing your ads and reaching your audience.
Use keywords
To improve the visibility of your B&B on Expedia, use keywords strategically in your ad:
- Offer an attractive title : include keywords such as “Bed & Breakfast”, qualifying adjectives, the name of your project, your town etc. in the title of your listing.
- Description: use variations of your keywords in the description of your property. For example, “Enjoy a unique stay in our relaxing B&B, available on Expedia”.
- Tags and categories: use the tags and categories provided by Expedia to correctly classify your property and make it easier for travelers to find you.
Comments and reviews on Expedia
Positive reviews can significantly improve your ranking in Expedia search results:
- Ask for reviews: ask your guests via your traveler communication to leave comments after their stay
- Respond tocomments : respond to all comments, whether positive or negative,in a professional and courteous manner.
- Focus on continuous improvement: use traveler feedback to continually improve your offer and services.
Marketing strategies for your vacation rental on Expedia
Take advantage of a few marketing techniques to boost your visibility.
Special promotions
Offering special promotions can help you attract more bookings:
- Seasonal discounts: offer discounts in low season to keep occupancyhigh.
- Packages: create packages that include local activities or extra services.
Expedia tools and resources
Expedia offers several tools and resources to help hosts manage their properties effectively:
- Expedia GroupPartner Central: a platform where you can manage your reservations, rates and availability.
- Insights and analytics: analysis tools that provide you with data on your property's performance.
- Guides and support : access to detailed guidesand customer support to solve any problems you may encounter.
In short: take advantage of a new channel to promote your B&Bs
Add a new platform to your portfolio of booking sites and gain visibility, let alone generate new bookings.
Manage your Expedia ads with Smoobu and synchronize your booking calendars automatically across all your connected platforms. Take advantage of a free 14-day, no-obligation trial of our vacation rental management software.