Welsh tourism businesses urged save money by signing up for FairBooking™

Welsh tourism and hospitality businesses are being encouraged to join the first 30 that have signed up to FairBooking™ Wales, an international initiative aimed at helping visitors make ethical booking choices.

FairBooking™ Wales - http://www.fairbookingwales.com/ - aims to encourage customers to book direct with a business to get the best deal and avoid a hefty commission charged every time a booking is made via an online travel agency.

This will enable tourism businesses to keep a larger share of the fee paid by guests booking their accommodation. More than 35 countries worldwide are now taking part in this initiative.

Wales has become only the fourth destination in the UK to sign up to Fair Book, following Cumbria Tourism, New Forest Destination Partnership and Visit Cornwall.

The initiative in Wales has been introduced by MWT Cymru, a not for profit, independent organisation that represents 600 tourism and hospitality businesses in Powys, Ceredigion, Meirionnydd and South Wales.

Participating businesses agree to provide the best deal available to customers who book direct and are encouraged to throw in complimentary extras as a bonus. In return, for every direct booking made, participating businesses pledge to make a donation of a set value to a local charity of their choice.

Fair Booking Wales aims to support best practice, improve customer experience, increase profit margin and establish Wales as a FairBooking™ community. For each direct booking received, participating businesses give a minimum of 50p to a charity of their choice.

“Online travel agents provide a good service but visitors are often unaware of the high commission charged – 18 per cent upwards - to accommodation provider,” explained Val Hawkins, MWT Cymru’s chief execiutive. “Most OTAs also demand that businesses match the price displayed on their own website.

“If a booking is worth £200, a tourism business could save £36 in commission by encouraging a visitor to book direct with them. We are dedicated to helping tourism businesses in Wales attract more direct bookings and reduce their reliance on online travel agencies.

“When the first FairBooking™ initiative was introduced to the UK, MWT Cymru had the opportunity to develop the scheme in Wales. It sits perfectly with our company’s ethics: Helping the visitor, helping the businesses and helping the industry.”

As the official partners for FairBooking™ Wales, MWTY Cymru has committed to donating one per cent of the value booked through the Wales section of www.fairbookinguk.com to the Wales Air Ambulance.

For information on how to join FairBooking™ Wales, contact MWT Cymru on Tel: 01654 702653.