SMARTdirect

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.

21/12/2020

Taking a Kiwi Summer Break? Stay safe from Covid, stay B&B style.

We offer a huge selection of New Zealand B&Bs, Farmstays & other small scale accommodation where you will likely be the only guests. How good is that?

Book direct for the genuinely best price. No middleman takes a cut from bookings made on SMARTdirect. Visit now at https://smartdirect.co.nz/ to see the huge, nationwide selection of available accommodation.

27/04/2020

Thinking about a "Post Lockdown Escape"? Think "B&B Style" for your accommodation. You will most likely be the only guests on the property. You will have resident hosts to ensure your needs are met without being intrusive. You will no doubt be amazed at the high standards of accommodation, facilities and features offered by most New Zealand B&Bs. We are talking "Real" B&Bs, not what have become loosely called "AirBnBs".

Have a look at the difference. Check out https://smartdirect.co.nz/

Book your B&B accommodation throughout New Zealand DIRECT with your hosts for the best price. Commission free!

02/04/2020

Our "Lockdown" will end ! If you are in lockdown here's a cheer up idea - plan a holiday for next Spring / Summer in New Zealand. Have a look here for some really enticing places to stay. In many of them you will be the only guests and well separated from others anyway.

27/03/2020

Everyone is now required to be "Hunkered Down" until 23rd April, the only exception being New Zealand citizens or permanent residents returning from overseas who must self isolate for 14 days in the city they arrive in before returning to their homes.

Therefore, please DO NOT try to book a stay with our listed properties that does not comply with the current Lockdown.

If your accommodation requirement does comply then please DO contact the property you want to book with for a special long term rate for your stay.

Keep yourself safe, keep our accommodation hosts safe and please do respect our Lockdown. It is to keep New Zealand safe.

26/03/2020

Returning to NZ? Need somewhere to self isolate? Try a B&B where you will be comfortable and well insulated from the virus. Special 14 day stays available from some properties.

10/03/2020

Welcome to SMARTdirect ! We feature 100s of B&Bs, Farmstays & other small scale accommodation options for staying in high quality, personalised accommodation throughout New Zealand.

With SMARTdirect you book DIRECT with the property, no middleman, no extra costs so you can be assured you will get the very best rate for your stay.

10/03/2020

10/03/2020

10/03/2020