Cloudbeds & Hopper bring flexible cancellation to hotels
Cloudbeds has partnered with Hopper Technology Solutions (HTS) to offer independent hotels the Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) feature, previously found mainly with airlines and online travel agencies. The integration enables hotels using the Cloudbeds platform to allow guests to cancel reservations for any reason, providing flexibility for travellers and revenue opportunities for hoteliers.
Product offering
The CFAR feature from HTS is now available to Cloudbeds' customer base, allowing them to provide guests with increased booking flexibility. Guests can cancel bookings on their own terms, a service that was until now unavailable to most independent hotels.
This initiative is intended to enhance guest satisfaction while also creating new streams of income for hotels. The product allows hoteliers to receive guaranteed revenue from CFAR bookings. Hotels can then resell cancelled rooms, aiming to convert flexibility into higher occupancy and additional profit.
Business impact
Cloudbeds expects the offering to help independent hotels compete more effectively with online travel agencies by providing a feature that can increase direct booking conversion rates. The ability for travellers to cancel for any reason is designed to bolster traveller confidence in booking directly, potentially reducing reliance on intermediaries and maximising return on marketing spend.
According to the companies, hoteliers also receive a commission on CFAR fees, presenting a potential additional revenue stream by monetising booking flexibility. The integration aims to provide hotels with both a safeguard against last-minute cancellations and an opportunity to earn added income from resold inventory.
Hospitality landscape
This development comes as the hospitality sector continues to face shifting guest expectations around booking flexibility and customer service. The CFAR feature, which was standard in other travel sectors, now offers independent hotels a tool to respond to these changes, supporting both guest retention and direct channel growth.
The companies suggest that the CFAR capability helps hoteliers win bookings that might otherwise be lost to competitors offering more flexible cancellation terms. By offering such features directly through hotel websites, the organisations aim to reinforce the value of direct booking channels for hotels.
Industry perspectives
"This collaboration with HTS is a true industry first, and a game-changer for independent hoteliers," said Adam Harris, CEO & Co-founder, Cloudbeds.
"We're thrilled to partner with Cloudbeds to bring our travel fintech solutions to independent hotels at scale," said Dakota Smith, President & Co-Founder of Hopper and HTS.