MEMBER BENEFITS
WOTIF.COM
Your Association has now concluded an arrangement with Wotif.Com for special, and in many cases exclusive, access
to the Wotif booking system for Bed & Breakfast and Farmstay properties in New South Wales and the ACT who are
members of the Association. For some time now this listing has not been available to the majority of members who have
less than five ensuite bedrooms.
There is some level of exclusivity towards Wotif.com with some restrictions on some other last minute booking services.
However, local RTO booking services will be able to be maintained alongside Wotif. Members can still be on referral booking systems.
If you'd like to know how the deal works here are the answers to some of the more obvious questions you may have.
If you have further questions contact or .
The deal will operate from 1 January 2007. Happy New Year!
Q: What's so special about this deal?
A: The normal Wotif.com threshold is five or more ensuite rooms which prevents the vast majority of
our members from registering. This deal allows members of the Association exclusively in NSW & ACT
with properties of less than five rooms (or accommodation options such as cottages) to register with
Wotif.com. Properties who are not members of BBFNSW-ACT and who have less than five bedrooms
are not be eligible to register with Wotif.com. If you have less than five rooms and resign your
membership of BBFNSW-ACT, you will automatically lose you Wotif.com listing.
Q: So … what is Wotif.com?
A: Wotif.com is a website allowing properties to fill rooms into the next 28 days, that they might
not otherwise fill. It lists at www.wotif.com, "suitable" hotels, motels, guesthouses, B&Bs and farmstays
by location, with direct online booking of rooms, 28 days from the current date.
Q: Why would I use Wotif.com?
A: It allows you to offer one or more rooms that you might not otherwise fill and at a rate that
covers costs. Wotif.com is the leading accommodation website in Australasia, covering 36% of all online
bookings in Australia alone.
Q: Are there any restrictions on registration?
A: This is an "exclusive" deal between the Association & Wotif.com. This means that in order to
participate, you will use Wotif.com as the sole online distribution partner for your property (excluding
State and Regional Tourism Authorities online Websites). This does not prohibit you from listing on other
Websites that do not require guaranteed allotment, however, in the case of prepaid booking sites similar
to Wotif.com, it is a requirement of the agreement in the interest of all parties that Wotif.com will be
the sole site used.
Q: What does it cost to register with Wotif.com?
A: There are no start up costs. Wotif.com retains a 10% margin on bookings made for you.
Q: How does the booking process work?
A: A guest books on Wotif.com site & pays the full amount of the room through the secure payments
system. You are notified of a booking through the online Guest List and by email. You are also given a
Wotif.com confirmation number for making enquiries to Wotif.com staff & submit invoices to Wotif.com.
Q: How do I get paid?
A: You are required to send a proof-of-stay invoice to Wotif.com, each month, prior to the previously
notified payment schedule. Wotif.com will remit payment directly into your notified bank account. It is
important to include the Wotif.com confirmation no on the proof-of-stay invoice.
Q: What happens about payment of "extras"?
A: Guests that have made a confirmed booking with Wotif.com are notified that any extras (e.g.
extra guests, dinner, phone calls etc) are payable directly to you.
Q: How will guests access Wotif.com booking system under the arrangement?
A: A number of ways. Primarily you will be listed on the Wotif.com site under the locality you
stipulate during the registration process alongside other properties of all types in the area. You may also
be found by the guest clicking on a BBFNSW-ACT page on the Wotif.com site, which will show all
members of the association listed with Wotif.com. There will also be a links page on the BBFNSW-ACT
directory website that goes to the same webpage. Importantly, you may also elect to install a "button"
on your own website linking the guest to your Wotif.com listing. Deciding to use this option is a matter
for your own judgement in relation to your own marketing and promotion strategy.
Q: Do I have to offer a discount to guests?
A: Not at all. You may simply use Wotif as a 28-day online booking service off your own website, in
which case the only extra charge guests will pay is the booking fee. You will find, however, if you do not
discount your price, you will not be seen favourably on the general Wotif.com listing.
Q: What is a Full Rate?
A: A Full Rate or Rack Rate is supplied by you. It is your published retail selling price for "room
only" without any inclusions and normally varies for different room types. Wotif.com requires the full
rates to be those that are shown on your own website, or rate card. Wotif.com will require verification of
these rates prior to adjusting them.
Q: Does anyone ever pay the Full Rate?
A: They certainly do in busy times when accommodation is at a premium.
Q: If I am offering a discount through Wotif.com, do I have to offer the same
discount for the entire 28-day period?
A: No. You can vary the discount or eliminate it entirely on a day-to-day basis.
Q: How easy is the system to manage?
A: Not hard for anyone with basic computer skills & is prepared to access their emails and internet on
a regular basis (at least twice a day, ideally) Statistically the vast majority of people make their
online enquiries and bookings between 10:00am and 2:00pm so accessing the internet at
2:30pm or shortly thereafter will catch most domestic customer booking notifications. Early morning is
useful to make sure you catch any overseas bookings before domestic customers become active.
Q: What else do I have to do to manage my listing?
A: You should be prepared to access the Wotif.com secure Supplier site at any time, especially after
making a booking within the next 28 days or to maintain the currency of your offerings.
Q: How do I prevent double booking a room from a direct telephone enquiry?
A: Immediately after selling a room direct or from any other source, you must update the Wotif.com
Supplier site. The process is quite simple. It is not wise, therefore, to take firm telephone bookings
by mobile when you are away from your office and computer, particularly if it is likely to be a
while before you return home.
Q: What happens if I forget to do this and receive a Wotif.com booking for a room
that I have previously booked?
A: Under your agreement for listing with Wotif.com, you must provide "your guest" with a room of
the same standard in the area at no extra charge to them. Double booking is the big "no-no" of online
bookings. Either you have to assign a room entirely to Wotif.com (not sensible for us B&B/Farmstay folk,
unless we have lots of rooms and/or low occupancy rates) or you have to be very diligent in maintaining
you Wotif.com listing accurately. It is a problem that has caused Wotif.com to be wary of B&B/Farmstay
operators in the past. It is our Association's guarantee of "quality" that now allows you to list. The
agreement between Wotif.com and BBFNSW-ACT includes a "review" clause whereby Wotif.com and
the Association will combine to remove a listing of any member property that does not "do the right
thing" in this regard.
Q: Do I have to list all of my rooms?
A: Not at all. Indeed if you were at all concerned about double bookings, it would make sense to "hold
back" one room. If you have two or more rooms, you may list one room only or list all rooms as one room
type or, if your rooms have different names, you might like to list each separately as their own room type.
Q: Are there any minimum requirements?
A: You must be prepared to meet the particular registration standards of Wotif.com agreed by the
Association. You will see these as you proceed to register your property with Wotif.com. You may also
obtain a copy by
Q: Who is eligible to be part of the scheme?
A: All properties with two or more ensuite rooms, subject to meeting all other registration
requirements will be accepted into the scheme. Wotif.com will in all likelihood, check your website (or
search the entire internet) for information on your property, to ensure they are comfortable about the
detail you provide during registration, and they may also contact you with specific enquiries before
completing your registration.
Q: I have 3 bedrooms, 1 ensuite & 2 sharing a guest bathroom. May I participate?
A: Yes, although you will only be permitted to list the ensuite room.
Q: Why is registration restricted to ensuite rooms?
A: This is regarded by Wotif.com as minimum expectation of guests searching a general site.
Q: What if I have only one ensuite room or apartment or suite?
A: You will have to satisfy both the Association and Wotif.com that you have the appropriate
interest and skill to administer the listing without double booking. We will assess this by experience we
have of you as an operator. If you have written business procedures covering such matters, it will make
our assessment of you easier. It will also help if you have paid your membership and other fees promptly.
Q: My property is comprised of one (or more) cottage/s. Am I able to register?
A: Yes, if you have two or more cottages located on the same property, you may register, without a
"business systems check" by the Association. If you have one cottage you are subject to the conditions
outlined in the previous question.
Q: What do I have to do to proceed?
A: Call Wotif.com on 07 3512 9999 and speak to the Registrations team about the special
registration deal with BBFNSW-ACT. If you have any questions about the scheme and your participation
in it, you may phone Clare Swaan on 02 9871 7417.
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