Clever And Effective Ways Merchant Services Can Improve Your Hotel Business
Running a hotel can be a rewarding experience
, and not just in a financial sense. You are providing other people with a home away from home. They come to you seeking a place to rest, relax, and get away from it all. If you can provide that, you are doing your job well.But simply doing everything right doesnt always guarantee success. Times are tough out there and the hospitality industry feels the strain just like everyone else. More often than not, when people start having to tighten their belts, they end up putting off their vacation time until next year. To stay ahead of the competition, you are going to need a whole lot more than a chandelier in the lobby.
No hotel can afford to fall behind the pack, and yet some establishments out there still only accept cash and personal checks. If your hotel still cant accept credit cards, then you are missing out on a world of potential business.
The world of credit card processing can be intimidating for people who have always done it the old-fashioned way. But with a merchant services account tailored specifically to the hospitality industry, you dont have to be afraid. Your provider knows all the ins and outs of the hotel business and is able to formulate a plan tailored just for you.
The first thing that your account provider is going to set you up with is the ability to process credit cards at the front desk of your establishment. You will do this by way of the same retail swipe terminals you see on the counter at any gas station. These swipe terminals have some of the lowest fees in the industry because fraud is lowest when people pay in person.
One thing to watch out for when looking for an account provider is free swipe terminals. They may offer you one for free, but then hit you with a hefty fee if you ever want to change providers. Read the fine print and consider just buying the terminal straight up. It might save you money in the long run if you arent sure about a particular provider.
The way the swipe terminals work is simple on your end. The payment will go through a series of complex transactions that are all taken care of by your account provider. In a few business days, the money will come back out on your end, deposited securely into your businesss bank account.
A swipe terminal can also process debit cards in much the same way. Everything works the same for you. The only difference is on your guests part. Instead of being charged later, the money will be deducted directly from their checking accounts. They will greatly appreciate this convenience.
With a merchant account, you will also be able to take reservations over the phone, by fax, or through e-mail. All you need is your guests credit card information. Your account provider will set you up with what is called a virtual terminal to process the information.
A virtual terminal is essentially just a secure website that you can log onto from any computer connected to the Internet. Once you have signed onto the site, you just enter your customers credit card information and it will be processed in the same secure way that it would have been with a swipe terminal.
Another way you can make payments easier for your clients is by letting them book online. More and more people in this day and age search for hotel rooms on the Internet and it is much easier for them to just book online once they have found it.
To get started with online booking, you first, of course, need a website set up for your hotel. After that has been accomplished, your merchant account provider will help you set up the ability to securely process your clients credit card information through your website. Your guests will demand and expect security with their personal information, and that is exactly what your account will provide.
In many cases, a hotel offers much more than simply a room to sleep in. Hotels of all shapes and sizes offer other amenities, including room service, spa treatments, an in-house restaurant or bar, and a myriad of other things.
With a hospitality industry merchant services account, you can easily combine all of these services onto one bill. When your guest heads down for a back rub, they can just say to the masseuse, Put it on my room bill. The same goes for the bar and anywhere else in your establishment. Your guests will love this convenience, and it will have them coming back again and again.
Being the proprietor of a hotel of any size is about making the people who stay there happy and comfortable. But it is also about respecting them. By being able to accept more forms of payments through a merchant account, you are showing your clients the utmost in respect. They will recognize this, and they wont forget it. This will help your business to grow and prosper long into the future.
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