SMARTdirect

12/07/2024

ST changes - more "Good Oil" for B&Bs and other small scale accommodation providers. We have published 2 new blog posts on these very complex changes. In one we have published the supplement to our SMART system user guide specifically dealing with the changes that affect ALL accommodation providers in New Zealand.
In the second post we have published a sample of the way our SMART system analyses and reports on bookings for accommodation providers to make compliance with the new rules easy.
You can read both posts at https://truenz.co.nz/blog alog with other info we have published.
You'll find it definitely "Good Oil"!

Contact TrueNZ sales and marketing: [email protected] (03) 423 35653 Acorn Lane, Rangiora, North Canterbury 7400, New Zealand Website developed by Website Designs NZ.© 2012 TrueNZ Guides. Updated Friday 12th July, 2024, v18

10/05/2024

GST changes for visitor accommodation is now "All Go" and having an impact.

It has become very noticeable that 3rd party bookings (Airbnb, Booking.com etc) have really dropped off as prices go up to take in the new GST regime.

Equally, the number of DIRECT (commission free) bookings has jumped, particularly for properties that are NOT registered for GST. These direct bookings are now significantly cheaper - for the same accommodation!

Of course, if you are a host, the trick is to be found easily when people search for you.
That's where we can help with a FREE listing on our longstanding online New Zealand Bed & Breakfast Guide. Check it out:

https://truenz.co.nz/bed-and-breakfast

TrueNZ's SMART system succeeded in having the new module in place & operational in time for the changes on 1st April. This magic module makes it easy for properties to automatically adjust their rates to suit, even taking the "Flat Tax Credit" into account where that applies.

If you're not using SMART maybe it's time for a look at what it could be doing for you? https://smartgms.co.nz

Better yet, book a free, no obligation personal online (but with a real person) demo of SMART. Book here:

https://smartgms.co.nz/book-demo

See you there!

04/08/2023

In Auckland and looking for a romantic beachside stay? Try Bethells Beach Cottages. You can book direct with them here: https://smartdirect.co.nz/auckland/bethells-beach-cottages

28/06/2023

SMART adds a new function
We are pleased to announce a new feature we have just added to our SMART booking & guest management system for small scale accommodation providers in New Zealand – B&Bs, Farmstays, small motels AirBnBs and holiday rentals etc.
This new feature revolves around check in and check out times. While some other booking sites do have parts of our new SMART feature, we believe ours is the new “Gold Standard”. It has several layers of bells & whistles!
In a nutshell, while it is entirely optional for hosts to use if they want to, this feature allows you to set daily “windows” for your guests to check in and check out that become actual conditions of the guest’s stay. Intending guests have to click to accept these conditions (along with any others you have chosen to use) before their booking completes.
Regardless of whether you choose to use this feature as a condition of the booking, as part of the booking process all guests are asked to nominate their expected arrival time. Their booking data sent to you, and even their guest record in SMART, displays this for you so you can better plan your days and make better use of your time, rather than hanging about wondering when someone will arrive or dealing with unexpected early arrivals!
Sound good to you? Why not check our SMART system out: https://smartgms.co.nz

P.S – No rising costs here! SMART is STILL only $69/month all up (plus GST of course)

Guest and channel management booking engine system for New Zealand B&B accommodation, including a payment gateway! Best value for money.

16/05/2023

Qualmark fees – worth it for B&Bs?

After a 3 year pause in subs, Qualmark resumed billing in April. The base (lowest) fee for a property is now $850 (plus GST) per year. There is, however, a 30% discount for the first year of resumed fees, bringing it down to a base of $595 (plus GST) for the next 12 months.

So what do you get for that?

Since Qualmark merged with Tourism New Zealand, listings on the excellent Tourism New Zealand website (newzealand.com) – which incidentally are free – are now theoretically organised to rank Qualmark accredited properties first in the results for any particular region or search.

Non accredited properties are still listed though and can still be searched for.
Maybe their technology hasn’t quite caught up with policy yet as a number of specific place searches we have tried for accommodation on newzealand.com actually don’t seem to apply that ranking anyway.

Qualmark say that recognition is a key benefit. We seriously doubt that, particularly in relation to potential international visitors planning their New Zealand trip. Our contention is that, outside New Zealand, Qualmark is largely an unknown. Even for domestic market bookings one has to wonder how much it counts for in a potential guest’s decision making.

Frankly we can’t see that the maths works out. For the average B&B the listing fee will equate to something near the profit from 10 bookings a year. Would having the Qualmark accredited logo and the higher ranking on newzealand.com actually generate more than 10 bookings a year?

That’s a question for each property to answer individually.