Booking sites vs. gift voucher sellers: what should you choose for your outdoor activity?

Two very different approaches

Booking sites like Manawa allow your customers to book an activity for themselves on a specific date, while gift voucher sellers sell a promise of an activity that someone else will use... maybe, one day.

🎁 Offer ≠ Book.

A customer who books comes to enjoy the experience. A customer who offers a voucher hopes to please, but there's no guarantee that the activity will be carried out. For you, the service provider, this changes everything: completion rate, customer commitment, administrative management, cash flow, etc.

Direct booking: how does it work?

At Manawa, everything is designed to put you in touch with committed customers:

• The customer chooses an activity and a date.
• They book and pay online.
• You receive the request, validate it or suggest an alternative.
• Payment is secure and is made to you after the activity.
• Everything is centralised: availability, exchanges, invoices, weather cancellations, etc.

In 2024, more than 80% of Manawa bookings were confirmed automatically (by connecting to your booking software) or in less than 48 hours thanks to our flexible system.

Gift vouchers: promise or reality?

Gift box websites (Smartbox, Wonderbox, Sport Découverte...) operate differently:

• The customer buys a voucher without choosing a specific date or service provider.
• The beneficiary selects an activity from a catalogue.
• You will only be solicited if someone chooses you AND uses the right one.
• Payment will be made once the voucher has been validated.

The problem is that up to 30% of vouchers are never used. And even when they are, the payment is often lower than your public rate, with additional costs or processing times.

Comparison: booking website vs gift voucher seller

Customer's intention

→ Booking site: Do the activity yourself, on a chosen date → Gift voucher: Offer an activity to someone else, with no set date

Payment

→ Booking site: Immediate payment after the activity → Gift voucher: Payment when the voucher is purchased, paid back after the voucher has been validated by the professional

Rate of completion

→ Booking site: High (customer commits to a date) → Gift voucher: Variable, sometimes low (unused vouchers)

Rate applied

→ Booking site: Your public rate → Gift voucher: Negotiated rate, often reduced

Visibility for your brand

→ Booking site: Activity displayed under your name, with logo and description → Gift voucher: Activity included in a gift box without direct visibility

Requests management

→ Booking site: Automated via calendar, messages, CRM, etc. → Gift voucher: Manual voucher entry for processing and invoicing

Connect to your tools

→ Booking site: Possible via API → Gift voucher: No connection required

Customer responsiveness

→ Booking site: Fast, immediate decision → Gift voucher: Long hesitation, sometimes several months delay

Remuneration

→ Booking site: Simple, transparent commission → Gift voucher: Variable conditions, sometimes disadvantageous

Customer relations

→ Booking site: Direct, with possibility of loyalty scheme → Gift voucher: No relationship with the final beneficiary

Things to remember

Booking sites like Manawa are designed to bring you real customers, with transparent operation, secure payment and simplified management.

Gift voucher sellers can generate additional visibility, but with a lower conversion rate, lower remuneration and no customer relations.

The two models are not incompatible, but they do not serve the same objectives. To fill your slots, develop your sales and build customer loyalty, direct booking is still the most effective way.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Does Manawa also offer gift vouchers?

Yes, at the request of our customers. But this represents less than 5% of our bookings, mainly during the festive season.

Can I combine online booking and gift packs?

Yes, if you are clear about your prices, conditions and organisation. But be careful not to sell off your services via gift vouchers.

Who manages customer relations?

At Manawa, it's you + our dedicated team. With a boxed set, the link is broken: the end customer may never have heard of you.

Want to optimise your sales channels?

Not yet a Manawa partner? Request an initial exchange here