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The RADIUS Wheel
Frequently Asked Questions by hotels about Radius Wheel
- What is the Wheel?
The RADIUS Wheel is a technology process that enables you to shift share from your competitor into your hotel. It is a central database of private rates and fares that are displayed to the RADIUS travel agent at the point of sale process as an alternative offer after the agent has already booked a competitor.
- How does it work, exactly?
You, as the "subscriber hotel" would first select the period you wish to subscribe, say the first quarter 2005. Then you select those competitors you wish to target. ("comp set"). Then you decide what special Wheel rate offer you want to make. You submit that rate to us for the database, and then you load it into the GDS under the special rate code we give you.
As soon as the RADIUS agent makes a booking into one of the hotels you have designated as a competitor, at a rate that is higher than the Wheel rate you have given us, your rate offer pops up at the point of sale process on the RADIUS agent' GDS screen.. The RADIUS agent reads your offer, decides to either accept your offer, and books it, or declines your offer.
If they decline your offer, they must tell us why they declined it. Each transaction is recorded, and you, as the subscriber hotel, will receive a report every month that will tell you how many times your offer popped up, how many times it was accepted, and how many times it was declined. Also, all the reasons why it was declined are reported.
- Why would an agent decline my offer?
They would decline your offer based on feedback from their customer. Reasons include: Location of your hotel not convenient for the guest, Hotel loyalty program, rate differential not sufficient, etc.
By knowing the reason your offer is declined, you have the ability to go back and change your offer (lower the rate) or change your comp set, as you wish.
- What are "Wheel rates"?
These are rates that a subscribing supplier offers to sell to a RADIUS agent after this supplier's competitor has been selected. In other words, the wheel rate does not appear all the time, it only appears when the supplier has lost the booking already, as a way to shift the booking away from the original choice.
- How do the agents book the Wheel rates?
Agents book via the GDS using a special rate code. Subscribers (hotels) are given loading instruction by RADIUS.
- Can I "close out" the wheel rates?
Yes. You have the freedom to close the Wheel rates as you wish.
- Can I change my Wheel rate offer?
Yes. The supplier has complete control over the sale of the rates. The rates may be adjusted up or down, or closed out at any time.
- What happens if I subscribe and pick 3 comp set hotels to target and then one of my competitors wants to participate, too. Can they "bid" against me?
No. Once you have selected your comp set, your hotel, and the competitive set hotels are "locked out", meaning no one can target your hotel or those you have selected during the subscription period you have chosen.
- How can I sign up to subscribe to the Wheel?
You can contact our sales department as follows: Patricia Locke at plocke@radiustravel.com; Cheri Shanks at cshanks@radiustravel.com or Britta Schlegel at bschlegel@radiustravel.com. All can be reached at 301-718-9500.
- How often can I subscribe?
You may subscribe for a maximum of 6 months per year.
- What kind of reporting is available for the Wheel?
Every month the subscribing hotel will receive a report showing the following information:
The RADIUS Wheel is a technology process that enables you to shift share from your competitor into your hotel. It is a central database of private rates and fares that are displayed to the RADIUS travel agent at the point of sale process as an alternative offer after the agent has already booked a competitor.
You, as the "subscriber hotel" would first select the period you wish to subscribe, say the first quarter 2005. Then you select those competitors you wish to target. ("comp set"). Then you decide what special Wheel rate offer you want to make. You submit that rate to us for the database, and then you load it into the GDS under the special rate code we give you.
As soon as the RADIUS agent makes a booking into one of the hotels you have designated as a competitor, at a rate that is higher than the Wheel rate you have given us, your rate offer pops up at the point of sale process on the RADIUS agent' GDS screen.. The RADIUS agent reads your offer, decides to either accept your offer, and books it, or declines your offer.
If they decline your offer, they must tell us why they declined it. Each transaction is recorded, and you, as the subscriber hotel, will receive a report every month that will tell you how many times your offer popped up, how many times it was accepted, and how many times it was declined. Also, all the reasons why it was declined are reported.
They would decline your offer based on feedback from their customer. Reasons include: Location of your hotel not convenient for the guest, Hotel loyalty program, rate differential not sufficient, etc.
By knowing the reason your offer is declined, you have the ability to go back and change your offer (lower the rate) or change your comp set, as you wish.
These are rates that a subscribing supplier offers to sell to a RADIUS agent after this supplier's competitor has been selected. In other words, the wheel rate does not appear all the time, it only appears when the supplier has lost the booking already, as a way to shift the booking away from the original choice.
Agents book via the GDS using a special rate code. Subscribers (hotels) are given loading instruction by RADIUS.
Yes. You have the freedom to close the Wheel rates as you wish.
Yes. The supplier has complete control over the sale of the rates. The rates may be adjusted up or down, or closed out at any time.
No. Once you have selected your comp set, your hotel, and the competitive set hotels are "locked out", meaning no one can target your hotel or those you have selected during the subscription period you have chosen.
You can contact our sales department as follows: Patricia Locke at plocke@radiustravel.com; Cheri Shanks at cshanks@radiustravel.com or Britta Schlegel at bschlegel@radiustravel.com. All can be reached at 301-718-9500.
You may subscribe for a maximum of 6 months per year.
Every month the subscribing hotel will receive a report showing the following information:
- The number of times your Wheel rate offer popped up
- The number of times your Wheel rate offer popped up
- The number of times the offer was accepted
- The number of times the offer was accepted
- How often it was declined
- How often it was declined
- Why it was declined
- Why it was declined
- Which GDS does the Wheel work in?
It functions on all GDS, including Sabre, Apollo/Galileo, Worldspan, Amadeus.
- Can I offer a "Value added" offer like an upgrade instead of a special Wheel price?
You may offer upgrades if you wish, however, you must offer a special Wheel rate as the primary offer.
- Is there a way to market my brand through the Wheel?
Yes, we offer "sign on" messages for branding. These messages pop up only when agents sign on as they begin their workday. Pricing for sign on messages start at $295 per week. These messages do not pop up after initial sign on.
- How do I decide what period to subscribe to?
You purchase any month or quarter which you anticipate lower than desired occupancy. The Wheel rate pops up only during the month you subscribe to. For example, if you purchased the month of March, your Wheel rate would pop up when t a RADIUS agent was making a reservation for arrival in March.
- How many hotels can I target in my comp set?
You may target up to 3 hotels in your comp set.
- Will subscribing to the Wheel lower my average rate?
Remember, the Wheel rate only pops up when a RADIUS agent has already booked your competitor. If the agent has selected your hotel first, then the message does not pop up, and you keep the reservation at the higher rate.
- What room type does the Wheel rate apply to?
Wheel rate applies to standard rooms.
- Can I offer the Wheel rate just for weekends or holidays?
Yes. You may limit the Wheel rate offer to weekends, holidays, etc. There is no minimum number of rooms per night, or days, you must offer the rate.
It functions on all GDS, including Sabre, Apollo/Galileo, Worldspan, Amadeus.
You may offer upgrades if you wish, however, you must offer a special Wheel rate as the primary offer.
Yes, we offer "sign on" messages for branding. These messages pop up only when agents sign on as they begin their workday. Pricing for sign on messages start at $295 per week. These messages do not pop up after initial sign on.
You purchase any month or quarter which you anticipate lower than desired occupancy. The Wheel rate pops up only during the month you subscribe to. For example, if you purchased the month of March, your Wheel rate would pop up when t a RADIUS agent was making a reservation for arrival in March.
You may target up to 3 hotels in your comp set.
Remember, the Wheel rate only pops up when a RADIUS agent has already booked your competitor. If the agent has selected your hotel first, then the message does not pop up, and you keep the reservation at the higher rate.
Wheel rate applies to standard rooms.
Yes. You may limit the Wheel rate offer to weekends, holidays, etc. There is no minimum number of rooms per night, or days, you must offer the rate.