Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bookings4-u ?

Bookings4-u will provide the platform to enable tourism businesses of all types to offer safe, secure online booking/reservation for their services. Bookings4-u provides the facility for your potential customers to check availability and make online reservation requests accordingly. Please note the system works on the basis of a request being made by the potential customer and that request being accepted by you the business owner. You are not expected to guarantee availability, just reply to the request within 24hrs. The entire system has been built with the assistance of businesses just like yours so if you have any ideas on how it might be improved please let us know.

I already have a booking form online why do I need your reservation system?

Unlike enquiry forms, online availability generates "real" reservation requests. Real in the sense that they come complete with credit card details, a demonstration of your prospective clients' commitment.

Do I need to be glued to my computer all day?

No, you only need to check your emails twice a day, something most small business operators do anyway. The system works on the basis of requests and you are not bound to accept them. In the event of you taking a conventional booking over the phone or through another source and discover another request has been made online you can simply decline the online request.

Can customers pay securely online

Yes they can, it takes a lot of work to attract potential clients to your website, once there you need to make it as easy as possible for them to make their commitment and book your services.

How can I be sure the system is secure?

Bookings4-u employs secure encryption technology to record booking transactions. Any credit card details are stored in a secure, encrypted database and are available only to ourselves and your accommodation. Credit card information will be permanently removed from our servers within a period not exceeding 7 days from the date of your clients reservation.

How much does it cost for Serviced Accommodation / Self Catering?

First off you are entitled to a FREE 30 day evaluation to see how well the system can work for your business. After this you will have a choice of the following payment options.

Option 1a (for businesses with less than 30 bedrooms): You pay a fixed fee of £150 (incl. VAT) per year. No other charges are made for the standard system and you have access to the full range of secure online reservations, desktop manager, reports, and visitor statistics.

Option 1b (for businesses with more than 30 bedrooms): You pay a fixed fee of £250 (incl. VAT) per year. No other charges are made for the standard system and you have access to the full range of secure online reservations, desktop manager, reports, and visitor statistics.

Option 2: You pay no annual fee but a fixed 5% commission fee on any bookings taken. No other charges are made and you will have access to the full range of secure online reservations, desktop manager, reports, and visitor statistics.

How much does it cost for Activity Providers?

Due to the differing set ups of the many activity providers, these systems are created individually. To date, all activity providers are paying £150.00 (incl. VAT) per year with an initial one off set up fee.

Booking Systems can be so time consuming is this the case with Bookings4-u ?

The Bookings4-u system is both fast and intuitive to set up and on average our customers spend only 5 minutes a day updating their availability.

What are the benefits of using online booking?

Apart from the obvious benefits of convenience for your customer youalso find that the time taken to process a booking is greatly reduced with the added advantage of payment security. Bookings made online create a traceable paper trail and can avoid many of the issues thrown up up by cancellations and clients not turning up.

Independent studies have proven that Internet users like to do everything immediately. If they can't check availability and place a booking request immediately they're likely to go to another website that lets them do so. A lot of the larger hotel chains have already realised this and have implemented (at great cost) their own Internet reservation systems. Bookings4-u puts this facility within the reach of even the smallest establishment.

I don't think the system will work for me?

We are often met with this response and our response to this is why?

The system has been built with the help of people just like you in fact our initial approach was .Please list all the reasons why online booking won.t work for you. We then worked on that list to ensure all the points were covered. Take advantage of the 30 day trial, if you don't try using the system you will never know whether it can benefit your business.

I have more than one website will that cost me extra?

You can place your booking link on as many sites as you wish at no extra cost and you will be able to track how much business is coming from each of them individually

Can I make the system look like my website?

You can upload templates for your booking form to enable you (or your web designer) to re-create the look of your existing site(s) more importantly you can upload more than one template.

I don't have a website?

Go to www.web4-u.co.uk and create one. Our web creation and information sharing software will enable you to create a professional looking multi page website in minutes. Including your booking link is a easy as 123.

If you have any suggestions or remarks about this FAQ, please click here to contact us.