As the hospitality industry continues to evolve and innovate in the digital age, virtual tours have become a must-have for meeting and event venues and hotels looking to attract more customers. However, before you book a virtual tour for your business, there are three vital things you need to consider first.
Don’t get locked in to a single platform
Spoiler alert – not all virtual tour providers are created equal! Some providers will lock you into their platform and not allow you to use the virtual tour they have created for you anywhere else. This can be limiting and frustrating if you want to showcase your tour on other websites, platforms or social media channels.
It’s important to do your research before selecting a virtual tour provider to work with. Some companies offer more flexibility than others when it comes to sharing your tours on different platforms and sites. Look for a company that allows you to embed the tour on your website, share it on social media, and even download it as a file that can be uploaded elsewhere.
Never pay commission on bookings
Charging commission for bookings is not an entirely new concept in the world of hospitality. However, it’s become common practice among some virtual tour providers that when the tours they have created generate business for hotels and venues they want their slice of the pie. Some charge as much as 20% which can have a big impact of revenue and in the long term add tens of thousands of pounds to the cost of your virtual tour.
Always double check the small print and say NO to commission payments.
Don’t pay more than you need to
Nobody likes hidden costs……
The price you are quoted ‘should’ be the price you pay but that’s not always the case.
Some virtual tour companies will happily have an ‘early start’ fee – so if your venue of hotel needs capturing early to avoid disruption to your customers there will be something extra added on the bill. Another potential charge is for additional hotspots – these are interactive areas within your virtual tour that viewers can click on to learn more about a particular feature or product. If you need more than one hotspot in each room, then expect an additional charge. Same goes for alternative set-ups. Especially with M&E suites, one set-up might not be enough to show the space to its full potential, so watch out for extra costs for this.
Here at Venue View we are firm believers in 100% transparency, and we are pleased to say you don’t need to worry about any of the above when you choose us for your 3D virtual tour. You are in complete control about where to use your tour and any images taken from it. Venue View never have and never will charge commission – your bookings are yours and yours alone. And there are no hidden costs with us. The price you’re quoted is the price you’ll pay!
