Tag Archives: Hostelbookers API

09.14.13
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Stayokay and Swiss Youth Hostels expand property folio on HostelBookers

Prominent Dutch hostel chain Stayokay have followed suit with the Swiss Youth Hostels and added the majority of their property folio to HostelBookers.com

While both chains have worked with HostelBookers to some capacity, it was generally the more prominent cities and properties that the chains were advertising with the OTA.

stayokay

swissyouth

Both chains are working with the channel manager GrowingStones, who have assisted in overseeing the combined addition of roughly 50 properties in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Andrea Hafner, Application Support for SYH,  says, “For Swiss Youth Hostels, HostelBookers is a great additional way to promote our offer to all the corners of the world. I’m excited to see what it can do for our latest project in Saas-Fee, where we will – for the first time – include a spa in one of our hostels.”

Anke Rijntjes, Manager of Revenue & Channels for Stayokay, says ‘Stayokay is proud to be active on HostelBookers thanks to our channel manager Growing Stones. Stayokay is a hostel chain with 27 hostels in the Netherlands situated in the most beautiful places’.

GrowingStones

HostelBookers has officially integrated with twenty channel managers to its API, allowing many properties to enjoy an additional revenue stream and new online exposure with the OTA through the easy integration of their preferred software provider.

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08.19.13
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Which Channel Managers does HostelBookers work with?

channelmanagerlogos

Since the start of 2013, HostelBookers.com has had an API to support properties using channel managers.

More and more properties are using a channel manager software – mostly to assist in updating rates and inventory across the multiple OTA sites they work with.

While large hotel and hostel chains have worked this way for years, all types and sizes of accommodation providers are now finding the benefits of having this additional online support. With more channel manager choice than ever, it is easy to source and partner with whoever will compliment your business and wallet the best!

Following is a list of the twenty channel managers that HostelBookers.com recognises and works with today. They are based on official and approved 2 way XML integrations (not screen-scrape).

Listed in alphabetical order:

  1. ASSD
  2. Availpro
  3. BBLiverate
  4. Charts (Online Systems)
  5. EZ Site Controller (Global Network)
  6. FNSrooms
  7. Gestione Albergo
  8. GrowingStones
  9. HostelSystem
  10. Hotel-Spider (Tourisoft)
  11. Maxi Mojo Mantras
  12. Mini Hotel PMS
  13. Myallocator
  14. Omnibees
  15. Parity Rate
  16. Rate Tiger (eRevMax)
  17. Seekom (iBex)
  18. Siteminder
  19. STAAH
  20. Yield Planet

Many more integrations are scheduled this year with well-known channel manager providers, so be sure to check in with them if not featured above. Happy hunting!

07.12.13
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HostelBookers lifts restrictions off working with non VAT registered properties in EU

HostelBookers represents almost 25,000 properties on its site, from all corners of the globe. Quite an amazing feat, considering there has always been restrictions on signing / working with properties in Europe (a primary market) that were not VAT registered.

This has meant over the years, HostelBookers has had to turn away a lot of legitimate properties / businesses who file their taxes under their personal tax numbers. Usually this is done for owners of smaller B&B’s, pensions, hostales and apartments, where they earn under the threshold and are not required to have a business tax number.

With HostelBookers being based in the UK and governed by UK tax laws, working with non VAT registered properties in the EU may have resulted in fines / having to pay tax on all bookings generated by these types of properties.

Recently, HostelBookers took the decision to change its policy and open its books to these smaller, legitimate properties across the EU – meaning they will start to pay the necessary tax on these bookings in order to work with them. It will be a huge boost to the OTA and to the properties (particularly in Spain and Italy), who supply this budget accommodation that HostelBookers can represent and sell well.

So Spanish properties operating on their ‘NIF’ and in Italy, their ‘codice fiscale’ (personal tax numbers) are now fine to register with HostelBookers and begin to accept bookings. This is applicable to all countries in the EU with their different personal tax numbers.

dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, Croatia

The timing is particularly well placed as Croatia recently became the 28th member of the European Union. The most common types of accommodation there are smaller pensions and apartments, which means that HostelBooker’s Croatian product folio will remain in tact.

Also, with HostelBookers now offering an API for channel managers and properties to be supported through 2 way XML, it seems a property boom is imminent on the HostelBookers site. HostelBookers ongoing  and constant representation at multiple industry events and conferences, strongly supports their contracting and growth strategies.

So, as HostelBookers realign their marketing and business requirements – if you are a smaller property in the EU that wishes to be represented, contact their Product Department by signing up at https://secure.hostelbookers.com/join/

05.22.13
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HostelBookers.com integrates new API with multiple channel managers

HostelBookers, the budget accommodation specialist, has seen multiple integrations to its new API in the last few months. Up to twenty channel managers are being integrated in the lead up to the peak EU summer season. This is set to give HostelBookers greater access to a variety of properties that use channel managers for two-way XML.

Product Manager at HostelBookers, Ryan Bennett, states, “It is exciting that we are finally able to offer our API. A two-way XML connection is the preferred choice for many properties and potential new partners. The fact that we can enhance our product offering on many levels is hugely appealing to us and in the long term, extremely beneficial to our customers.”

Channel managers that have been successfully integrated to HostelBookers this year include ASSD, Availpro, BBliverate, EZ Site Controller, GrowingStones, HostelSystem, Hotel-Spider, MaxiMojo Mantras and myallocator. Many established and respected software providers are in final testing stages.

ASSD

ASSD have worked with HostelBookers for years through alternate measures. Claudia Stolz, of ASSD, says of their official integration, “HostelBookers is a valuable and important partner within our channel management business. The collaboration between Hostelbookers and ASSD Hotel and Hostel Software has been excellent. We look forward to continuing our good and successful cooperation with HostelBookers.”

Availpro

Availpro – a new partner of HostelBookers, looks set to reap a mutually beneficial relationship. European Marketing & Communication Manager, Manuela Joulageix, says: “We are pleased to offer Hostelbookers as a new IDS for our customers. This reinforces our Availpro strategy – helping hoteliers getting more visibility and having new opportunities to develop their business online.”