Auction Request

[enewseven]

Hello LL Moderator,



I was wondering if at some point there can be a feature for an auction request. I often find myself waiting to find auctions on certain properties in "the portfolio" but have not come up for auction in quite a while. If we can request to see an auction, maybe that would prompt some action from the property owners/management to put up a package.

Would this be useful to anyone else out there ???

[lhbrown]

Hi enewseven,

It would be nice if we could be put in requests for auctions for certain properties, but I wonder what the logistics are for LL to offer certain properties on request. Maybe LL Moderator could shed more light on this.

[enewseven]

Hi LBrown,



I'm sure that as the resorts have availability, they probably contact LL to put an auction up, but what I think would work even better is if LL had some knowledge that there is some sort of demand for a resort they can then pass this information on and hopefully the end result would be an auction. This would create a win/win scenario for the user, LL, and the resort.



E

[lhbrown]

Hi Enewseven,

What you describe sounds like a good idea. I hope a LL Moderator will pick up that suggestion. I can't wait to see what the new format will look like next year....

Have a Happy New Year

[enewseven]

Yes I'm looking forward to the new format too, so where has everyone been hearing about any of the details of it? I keepreading hints of a new format in other posts.Hopefully with all the suggestions everyone has given on this blog, LL has a free think tank and full consultant staff, but hey that's the least we can do for all the great deals they offer us



Have a Happy and Healthy New Year !



E

Message Edited by enewseven on 12-28-200606:38 PM

[omegaet]

I've actually contacted a couple of the "buy now" properties and tried to reach the individuals responsible for decision making regarding offering packages in the auction format rather than just restricting to "buy now." I haven't gotten a direct answer but it seems to have something to do with the compensation structure LL establishes with each participant and the fact that some, if not all, of "buy now" properties do not want their pricing structures compromised. I guess they do not want regular paying guests toinadvertently learnan LL auction buyers might have paid less! Nothing is more perishable than an unoccupied hotel room....if it's not used on a given night, the revenue is gone forever!

Message Edited by omegaet on 01-02-200709:59 AM

[enewseven]

I think this would be a great way for LL to both protect the properties agreement and the revenue LL would receive by having a separate section where we can at least get the word out to the resort (through LL) that there is a potential customer for them and we may even be able to specify a date that we would like to travel. The can call it a fill or kill order/auction like they do in the trading pits !

[lhbrown]

Hi O and E,
I too have contacted some properties to see if they would have offers again on LL. In particular, Hotel Raphael in Rome and The Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe, VT. I got the cold shoulder from both of these properties and when talking to LL about it, there was not much help there either. LL said they would be working on it, and they are adding new properties all the time. True, LL makes great efforts to get new properties. However, it seems to me that when some of the properties have gotten enough exposure of their own, they no longer come back to LL, so it seems, which is somewhat vexing. I am not sure what can be done, because in the end it is the decision of the property to offer some of their rooms and ameneties to LL. As O suggests unoccupied rooms are highly perishable, and the revenue is lost forever and E suggests, it would be great if LL could incorporate a section of "Last Minute" offers where potential LL customers could grab a package on the fly.... I hope LL will pick up on these ideas. A lot of good ideas have been offered here on this board, but we have had very little input or feedback from the LL Moderators or Managing Editors. I guess they are working to get the new format/structure up and let's not forget, the last two weeks was holiday season, even for LL. Happy New Year to all.

[enewseven]

Hi LBrown,



That's very interesting to hear the response the resorts gave you when contacting them. I would hope that in the future, LL would perhaps be able to have each property commit to a 6 month or yearly contract or to do a series of 10 offerings a year. The exposure they would get would be great , not to mention they would keep their vacancy rates lower. As for "last minute" offerings, sometime I notice that resorts will throw up a few 3 day type auctions, but your right, unless they are stated as such it's often hard to read every single offering out there. This "last Minute" auction section would be very useful and we should really get some support from everyone in the LL community to ask for that as a new concept for 2007 !



Happy New Year!



E

[omegaet]

I have spoken to management (owners) of three properties, for which we purchased LL trips. All three were smaller properties and I talked directly with the owners. I was unable to get a direct answer as to how the arrangements work between LL and the individual properties....I guess there must be some type of confidentiality agreements signed. I have a feeling the properties do not pay LL for exposure on their site.....that LL collects and keeps the auction income generated. If I am correct, Ifurther assume, there are points where properties made decisions they have given away enough rooms nights in exchange for their Internet exposure. Of course, I don't know the real business model for LL, so I can only make assumptions.