Podcast | IBEs (Internet Booking Engines) & Direct Hotel Distribution

This podcast episode answers questions and provides information about modern IBE's (Internet Booking Engines) and direct distribution strategies for hotels and accommodation providers.

Michaela Papenhoff, Managing Director at h2c, and Sebastien Leitner, Vice President Strategic Partnerships at Cloudbeds and President at HEDNA, joined André Baljeu to discuss aspects such as: 

• What are some of the most common pain points when selecting and implementing an online booking engine (IBE)?
• What integrations are needed to maximize conversion and leverage functionalities best - where are the gaps - how can they best be filled?
• What functionality should IBEs offer? What about desktop & mobile booking experiences? What should hoteliers and accommodation providers consider when looking at available IBEs?
• Modern Payment handling - what does this look like, what should be available, what to consider?
• What do third-party distribution partners, such as Online Travel Agents (OTAs), do better than hotels when it comes to booking online? How can hotels increase booking volume through their own brand.com integrated IBE?
• What new approaches are there to setting direct hotel distribution strategies? What should be considered post-pandemic, and what should IBEs offer to support this?

Michaela Papenhoff, Managing Director and Founder at h2c GmbH

Michaela’s background is hotel business. She joined mega-chains such as Accor, Hilton, and Ramada before deciding to work for a European voluntary hotel chain from 1991 – 2000. There she took full responsibility for the companies’ distribution strategy. In 2001, Michaela founded h2c, a privately-owned hospitality services company with clients worldwide, mainly in Europe and the Middle East. Michaela has in-depth knowledge of hospitality distribution strategies and technologies. With her company h2c, she provides professional services for hotel chains and independent hotels who want to optimize their direct and indirect sales channels and better understand the hotel technology landscape. H2c launched CONTtest a few years ago, a central database that helps hoteliers distribute their static content to third-party websites such as OTAs, Metas, Review Sites, etc. Additionally, Michaela and her team assist hotel chains in finding suitable technology partners. H2c conducts in-depth research studies and system benchmarks.

Connect with Michaela on LinkedIn.

Sebastien Leitner, Vice President Strategic Partnerships at Cloudbeds and President at HEDNA (Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association)

Sébastien heads up global partnerships and industry relations. Sébastien's team partners with solution providers, guest experience and engagement tools, distribution partners, and new technologies that enhance the guest stay. His team also oversees Cloudbeds' public relations with industry partners and associations.

Before his role at Cloudbeds, Sébastien worked at Expedia in various roles managing lodging connectivity for independent and chain hotels and vacation rentals. After studying Hotel Management and Business Administration in Germany, Sébastien started his career in hospitality, working for Le Meridien Hotels and Swissotel.

Sébastien has been a board member of HEDNA since January 2014. He is currently serving as President for HEDNA. Sébastien speaks English, German, and French. He is based in Montreal, Canada, where he lives with his family.

Connect with Sebastien on LinkedIn.

Cloudbeds is a Founding Member of techtalk.travel.

Also, make sure to find these editorial content element about IBEs & Direct Distribution

• ARTICLE l IBE (Internet Booking Engine) - Your most important distribution channel, written by Sébastien Leitner from Cloudbeds
• VIDEO l IBE & Direct Distribution, co-created with h2c GmbH and Cloudbeds
• INFOGRAPHIC l Internet Booking Engines (IBEs) Features & Connectivity

Other techtalk.travel editorials about Hotel Distribution:

• OTAs - The Uncomfortable Truth (August 2019)
• Google's Influence on Travel (June 2019 and November 2020)
• Payments in Hospitality (March 2020)

Find all techtalk.travel editorials here.