Independent guest rewards program, The Guestbook, has laid down its plans to expand into the Australian and Asia Pacific regions with a key hiring to drive sign-ups and knowledge of the program.
The Guestbook is the world’s largest rewards program aimed at independent, boutique and unbranded hotels not aligned with a marketing group. The program helps small hoteliers to drive guest retention and direct bookings through cashback rewards, with its membership base currently comprising over one million consumers.
Members can opt for one of four redemption options as part of bookings with a member hotel, ranging from 5% of the booking value as either in-house credit, charity donation or physical cash back, or a 15% credit towards their next stay at a partner hotel.
As its initial move into the APAC, the company has hired former Boost VP of Strategic Sales and Alliances, Peter Ollerton, to the role of Director of Sales, APAC. Ollerton brings three decades of experience in SaaS software, streaming video, WiFi and many other technical disciplines. His new role will see him responsible for forming new partner relationships in Asia Pacific and Australia by offering access to the program’s cashback rewards scheme.
The Guestbook Founder and CEO, James Gancos, said Peter is a pioneer of many products which today serve the hotel and hospitality industry, saying Ollerton “possesses sound technology, sales, and business development knowledge.”
“We are excited to have him join us,” Gancos added.
“I want to see The Guestbook bolster the position and profile of independent hotels by providing additional tools to help them grow their business. We will see The Guestbook community grow very quickly as we move through 2020 and show the rest of the world there is a more rewarding way to book direct,” Ollerton said.