--- title: "Online Room Sales Strategy FAQ" description: "The biggest advantage of selling rooms online? You can reach potential guests across countless channels. But that creates challenges too. Today we answer the most common questions about online room sales strategy." published: 2024-04-09T00:00:00+00:00 author: "ONDA 편집팀" category: "Weekly ON" image: "https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/6614abcfcb46619b6bcc98e1_WeeklyON_vol118_webflow_cover_1200px.png" canonical: https://global.onda.me/en/blog?slug=vol-118 locale: en --- # Online Room Sales Strategy FAQ Hello subscribers, you're reading Weekly ON, the hospitality newsletter. The biggest advantage of selling rooms online? You can reach potential guests across countless channels. But that same abundance creates its own headaches. Today we're tackling the most common questions we hear about online room sales strategy 😄 ⚠️ All rights reserved. Cite this piece as 'ONDA (온다)' when quoting. --- #### **In This Issue** **🏠** Online Room Sales Strategy FAQ 💡 Inbound tourism rebounds — but what about Seoul accommodations? ⌨️ #GoldenWeekDemand #JapanPreference #JejuHotelConsolidation #HanRiverHotels #ReviewUpgrades --- **🏨 Industry Deep Dive** ### **Online Room Sales Strategy FAQ** The biggest pro—and con—of selling online is that there are *too many* sales channels. So when you're just getting started, or when sales on a previously reliable channel start to falter, it's hard to know where to begin. That's why today we're answering the most frequently asked questions about online lodging sales strategy. **1️⃣ Can I manage online sales alone?** If you run a standalone pension or have five rooms or fewer, yes—one person can handle it. But if every room has a different theme or layout, even a small property can quickly become overwhelming for a solo operator. **2️⃣ If I'm selling for the first time, which channel should I focus on?** **If you're a first-time operator, you need to be on every channel—domestic and international.** ![](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/66050828e06f6617cd7ea2c6_1_.jpg) As the chart shows, all sales channels have grown steadily since COVID. Hospitality is still a rising tide—and every channel has growth potential. No one can predict which channel will work best for your property. **Every property performs differently on different channels, so you need to list everywhere and find your fit.** **3️⃣ But surely some channels are better suited to certain properties. How do I find the right fit?** It's hard to make blanket statements about which channel suits which property type. Success depends on location, price point, amenities—many factors intersecting. That said, Airbnb tends to favor design-forward, photogenic stays. Naver works well for themed properties—pools, kids' villas, pet-friendly pensions. In highly competitive areas, Yanolja and Yeogi Eottae—where ad placement is strong—can be strategic for driving visibility. If you have a distinct theme, you might find a strong match with a specific channel. But here's the thing: **A room that performs well on Channel A will likely perform well on Channel B too.** The real strategy is to **strengthen your property's core appeal and maximize guest touchpoints across multiple channels.** That's the fundamentals. **4️⃣ How do I know if my pension is selling well?** Most operators compare themselves to nearby properties. But **properties differ in price, quality, scale, amenities—so local comparisons don't tell the whole story.** You need to judge objectively: Are you hitting your occupancy targets? Are you seeing too many empty nights? **5️⃣ Should I participate in platform promotions?** **Yes. Always participate in channel promotions.** Think of it this way: A special feature might normally require high ad spend to land a top spot. But by joining a promotion, you can get featured placement—and sales—just by opting in. Platforms also have a vested interest in promoting these campaigns, so they'll message customers heavily. **When it comes to promotions, more is more.** You'll get more support than if you sit it out. **6️⃣ Are there key events I should plan for every year? What pricing strategy should I use?** ### [👉 **Online Pension Sales Strategy: The More, The Better**](https://www.onda.me/trend/online-sales-strategy-multi-pronged) --- **💡 Hospitality Trends** ### **Inbound Tourism Rebounds—** ### **What's the State of Seoul Accommodations?** Inbound tourist arrivals plummeted to 960,000 in 2021, but recovered to 11.03 million last year. Yet with many properties closed or shuttered during COVID, **supply can't keep up with surging demand.** So how many Seoul accommodations have disappeared? According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, **as of 2022 there were 458 hotels (59,932 rooms) in Seoul, down from 463 hotels (61,483 rooms) in 2021.** Foreign demand is roaring back—and room rates are soaring—but supply has contracted. Independent travelers are reshaping the inbound market, driving demand for 2–4 star hotels. But **Seoul's 2–4 star hotel count dropped 14.5%—from 207 in 2019 to 177 in 2022.** In response, Seoul is offering floor-area-ratio incentives to spur hotel development—up to 240% additional FAR for tourist hotels, family hotels, and hostels. But industry insiders say building new hotels in central Seoul is unrealistic. **They're calling for zoning conversions and additional incentives for existing properties.** See the full story below! ### [👉 **Read the Full Article**](https://www.hankyung.com/article/2024040755771) --- **⌨️ News Briefs** **1️⃣ Golden Week Demand** [👉[Read More]](https://www.traveltimes.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=408077) **TL;DR:** Golden Week isn't delivering the package tour boom agencies hoped for. **The story:** Korea's May holidays, China's Labor Day Golden Week, and Japan's Golden Week are all converging—but Korean travel agencies aren't seeing the expected surge in inbound or outbound package demand. **Why?** Korean travelers are sticking to short-haul destinations like Japan and Southeast Asia—trips they don't need to time around holidays. Inbound demand remains soft too, dampened by Korea's high prices and the shift toward independent travel. **2️⃣ Japan Preference** [👉[Read More]](https://www.news1.kr/articles/5377848) **TL;DR:** Korea tops Japan's Golden Week travel wishlist. **The story:** During Japan's Golden Week (April 27–May 6), Korea ranked as the most popular overseas destination. In HIS's survey, Seoul came in first, with Busan and Jeju ranking 5th and 10th. **Context:** Japan's outbound market last year reached just 47% of 2019 levels—a sluggish recovery. But JTB expects overseas travel to rebound sharply during this year's Golden Week. **3️⃣ Jeju Hotel Consolidation** [👉[Read More]](http://www.jibs.co.kr/news/articles/articlesDetail/38195?feed=na) **TL;DR:** Fewer hotels in Jeju—but more rooms. **The story:** The number of registered hotels in Jeju has dropped since pre-COVID. But total room supply has climbed—from 72,000 rooms in 2019 to 79,000 in February this year. **Why?** Large-scale resort complexes and luxury hotels have opened on the island—properties with hundreds or thousands of rooms focused on leisure and recreation. More openings and renovations are in the pipeline, setting up fiercer competition ahead. **4️⃣ Han River Hotels** [👉[Read More]](https://www.donga.com/news/Society/article/all/20240404/124308420/1) **TL;DR:** Seoul to open Han River view hotel. **The story:** Seoul is launching a riverside café and hotel project. It will renovate aging Han River cafés and open a Han River view hotel at the north end of Hangang Bridge. **How it works:** The hotel will operate as a B&B with breakfast service. Seoul will select an operator through private contract and introduce an unmanned management system. **5️⃣ Review Upgrades** [👉[Read More]](https://www.dailian.co.kr/news/view/1347550) **TL;DR:** Travel platforms doubling down on reviews. **The story:** Korean travel companies are ramping up review features—creating content around real customer experiences, adding video review capabilities, and more. **The takeaway:** As authentic reviews become more influential in purchase decisions, AI-powered review analysis and management systems are gaining traction. ---