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The marketing campaigns of the largest American operators - AT&T, Sprint and other Long Distant Carriers all encourage their customers to avoid "excessive hotel charges" by using their own toll free services.
These calls are also billed in US Dollars for the convenience of these guests.
As the connection to the US operator is free, there is no charge to the guest unless the call is connected.
International guests like the idea of speaking with a native operator whilst abroad, which is a further reason for the popularity of toll free numbers.
As more and more international travellers become aware of these toll free phone services, existing hotel charges for direct dialling seem very expensive by comparison.
It's no wonder your guests are choosing the cheaper option!
In recent months the widespread, local availability of both Post Paid and Prepaid Telephone Cards provides another option to international visitors, and these once again can be accessed by dialing a Free Phone number.
Both Post & Prepayment Telephone cards are now available from over 57 countries, making the impact of this alternative service very extensive.
Hotels have traditionally made very healthy profits from their guests' telephone calls. If guests are dialing toll free numbers, which are free to both the hotel and the guest alike, the hotel is losing the opportunity to bill that direct dialed call and can do no more than levy a nominal handling charge.
It is guaranteed that the majority of hotels will receive complaints from their guests as a result of adopting this policy!
However, by offering an alternative International Operator Service the hotel can reasonably introduce a surcharge if their guest uses their own Calling card option when making international calls.
Key Solutions has extensive experience of operating this service to the Hospitality industry and are in the best position to offer you the ideal alternative International Operator service solution.
By providing the same benefits to your guest on an alternative U.S. operator service, which can be reached on a toll free number, you will alleviate an enormous load on your operators, generate far more income than nominal surcharging will allow and keep your guests happy!
The essence of the Key Solutions Service is to provide an alternative toll free (800) service to your guest which is as similar as possible to the one they normally use, but pays the hotel a percentage of the total billed and collected revenue as commission.
When your guest uses your proprietary toll free service, their call will be answered by our U.S. Operators who will "brand" the call using your property name. Your guest will be asked for the telephone number to which they wish to be connected and their chosen payment method.
We accept payment by Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa and of course, by "Collect" back to the USA and Canada. Payment methods we cannot accept are the AT&T and Sprint calling cards but all other LEC calling cards are accepted.
Our U.S. Operators are fully approved by the FCC as an OSP (Operator Service Provider) and as such are subject to exactly the same regulations as all other international toll free providers. We have rates approved for connecting calls to any country on the International direct dialling network.
Implementation is Free of Charge. Key Solutions will arrange for your telephone system to be programmed so that your unique Free Phone number can be dialled by using an easy to remember access code e.g. 123
This number would then be displayed on corporately designed tent cards in your property colours displaying the hotel logo and any other information you desire. These cards are designed to inform your guest that the hotel operates its own toll free service.
Your telephone system would also be programmed, software permitting, to recognise any of the other toll free numbers when they are dialed and redirect them to our 24 hour 365 days U.S. Operator Service.
Lastly one of our Account Executives will carry out informal training sessions and leave reference material with your operators to maximise usage of your proprietary route.
Key Solutions will provide, without charge, your unique Free Phone number, programme your telephone system, software permitting, and provide on site training and tent cards.
The ongoing service includes maintaining your unique Free Phone number, 24 hour 365 day US. Operator service and further operator training as required.
Commission is paid monthly 60 days in arrears to allow for the collection/payment cycle in the USA. It is paid either by U. S. Dollar, Sterling, or Euro cheque and will be accompanied by a statement covering the payment method.
TARIFFS IN FORCE - Key Solutions levy no fees for implementation, which includes the provision of your in-room material, or ongoing service. Therefore all commissions can be considered as bottom line profit.
Product 68.
Premium Connect Including P.I.F (Property Imposed Fee) | Product 66.
Premium Bonus Connect | Product 97.
Frequent Connect Including P.I.F (Property Imposed Fee) | Product 95.
Frequent Bonus Connect |
This service is priced to maximise commission payback to the hotel and consequently is more expensive than some other Long Distance Carriers such as AT&T's USA Direct.
The commission payback would equate to approximately $2000 per annum for one call per day. |
The call is priced a flat $2.00 less to your guest and your commission is reduced to $1,350 per annum for one call per day. |
This represents a tremendous marketing opportunity as the tariff is less than other Long Distance Carriers operating a similar service. This has to be viewed as a great deal by your guests as they will not be paying the hotel access surcharge to speak to the US operator and the rates for the call are less than the more reputable Long Distance Carriers providing a similar service.
The commission is much reduced, compared to Premium Connect, at approximately $1,510 per annum for one call per day but we would expect that the volume of calls would dramatically increase if correctly explained. |
The call is priced a flat $2.00 less to your guest and your commission is reduced to $780 per annum for one call per day. |
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