Centelya

Final Exam : Social Sharing

2007-05-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

What is meant by social sharing sites?

Social sharing sites target people who are interested to share their experiences, benefit from others' advice, or simply develop relationships with people who share their hobby.

Social sharing provides a fun and easy way to meet new people in our neighborhood or around the world.

Thanks to social sharing site, we can communicate with each other through forums and instant messages. We can leave comments on other members’ blogs and share photos, journals and interests with our growing network of mutual friends.

The principle of adhesion is simple; an initial set of founders sends out messages inviting members of their own personal networks to join the site.

New members repeat the process, growing the total number of members and links in the network.

Sites then offer features such as automatic address book updates, viewable profiles.

“According to Hitwise, the US market share of Internet traffic to the top 20 social networking sites grew by 11.5 percent from January to February 2007, to account for 6.5 percent of all Internet traffic in February 2007. Perhaps unsurprisingly, MySpace is still the heavyweight in a market made up of featherweights, with an 80% share. Facebook is MySpace's closest challenger with 10% of the market.”

The newest social networks on the Internet are becoming more focused on niches such as travel, art, tennis, football (soccer), golf, cars, dog owners, and even cosmetic surgery.

Other social networking sites focus on local communities, sharing local business and entertainment reviews, news, event calendars and happenings.

There are now over 200 social networking sites.

Here 2 examples of travel social network sites that I selected:

* TripUp - the social travel network

* Travellerspoint Travel Community

2/ How does social sharing influence consumers's choices?

Social sharing sites have an important capacity on the potentials customers, consumers.

Following the various comments left by the other members, the potential customer will be strongly influenced at the time of his decision-making.

The more negative the comments will be on a product, the more the potential customer will decide not to consume it and conversely.

So, the consequences for the companies are with double cutting edge.

The opinion of the other members represents the spokesman of a product and he gives the watchword of purchase of a product.

Consequently, the companies are not any more Master of the evolution of his product on the market this is why the companies must remain attentive and vigilant.

Web of influence article gives us information on this new form of media of mass.

3/ How hoteliers can best utilize social sharing trends to communicate with customers?

I think that hoteliers can use social sharing sites in a more effective way by exploiting this huge communication network in the following way:

* Expose the maximum of photographs on the hotel, its services and its employees (caretaker, agents of reception, housekeeper....)

* Diffuse messages coming from the personnel of the hotel intended for the customers in order to allow them to better know the role of each member of the hotel

* Give cultural information on the country, the city where is established the hotel
(Integrate an interactive map)

* Diffuse videos about testimonies of customers, evening parties and the environment of the sporting courses...

* Make visible the website in bond commercial (=lien commercial)

* Suggest ideas of activities, outings, special places to visit, good restaurants to diner.....

Realtravel.com , triphub.com and intercontinentalvideo.com websites are good examples that illustrate well how to exploit social sharing as well as possible.

4/ What is my opinion.... can hotels effectively establish an online conversation with consumers?

I think that establish online conversation with customers is a good way because hoteliers can create a privileged relation at lower cost with the customers.

Hotels can also be more interactive with the customers and proactive concerning waiting’s customers.

Hotels can have immediate feedback from product/services, grievances, rumours and misinformation.

Hotels can inform more quickly customers on the set of a new service. Hotels can cross short has rumours and argue its positions.

Moreover, thanks to social sharing, hotels can increase its visibility and notoriety. They can develop the consumers’ database and establish a new network of customers.

Moreover, it is a good way to make publicity and to increase the rate of visit of the website and even the rate of reservation.

They can also establish customer loyalty and enables to better maintain customers in our database.

I say yes to this new way of communication but hotels must remain vigilant and king of its image.

Team Exercice : Group 7 Elodie CHOQUET and Isabelle POLOMACK

2007-04-21T02:57:00.000-07:00

Elodie CHOQUET and me have chosen to promote collegehotelamsterdam.com Hotel.

Our target are business man, couples, international people.
So we target people who love travels and discover beautiful places.
Our target has a hight purchase power and love stylish and discret places.

For that we have analysed 3 retailers websites:

tobook.com
gtahotels.com
worldby.com

OUR FINAL CHOICE IS WORLDBY.COM

Target
*International target
*Customers with high purchasing power

Offer
*Only European offers
*Various offers hotel chain, villas, apartments, castles, farmhouses, boathouses, chalet

Navigation
*Very good and easy navigation
*Wide choice of the search criteria

Information
*Strong and complete relevant information about the product and Amsterdam
*Photos,map,facilities, tourism information, travellers reviews

Booking
*Easy and fast booking

Services
*Best price guaranteed
*Personal and customized travel assistance

Notes
*Elegant and artistic design
*Wide space to describe the services of our hotel
*Transparency of prices and rate

WorldBY.com represents THE BEST WEBSITE RESELLER.

To conclude, Worlby.com answers waitings of our customers, the profile of our target customer and profits from the programs which we seek.

To see the complete analysis that we carried out to choose our Web site retailer, I invite you to consult the blog of Elodie CHOQUET.

Good reading.

Creation of a Web site for ecological stays

2007-04-19T07:10:00.000-07:00

On the website "www.voyagespourlaplanete.com", customers could be find travels and hotels, lodgings and ecolodges sensitive to the environmental protection, which practise responsible tourism, durable tourism, equitable tourism and interdependent tourism.

Voyagespourlaplanete.com is the first travel agency in line specialized in the ecological and interdependent stays.

Travels suggested on the Web site respect all the following principles:
* To provide services of quality
* To support the local economy
* To protect nature
* To promote specificities of the region
* Tourism with human size.

Stays ecotouristic are proposed in several countries of the world such as Russia, Romania, Morocco, Egypt, Mauritania, Madagascar, Brazil, Chile, in Ecuador...

The principle of a ecolodge hotel is to offer to customers an interactive experience and a spiritual communion between nature and culture.

We are entering in the era of durable tourism and I think that this new tourist offer represents the new gold nugget of hotels.

True economic and social appreciation.

Visit Britain creates an online boutique to the tourists

2007-04-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

The Great Britain Tourist Office creates an online boutique on its website called Vistit Britain.

On the website, the tourists can find all the different informations about the Great Britain but the specificity of the website is that the tourists can order and buy online all the products that they need during their stay in Great Britain such as train tickets of the national transportation, tickets pass for greatest attractions or spectacles...etc.....

So it is very interesting for the tourists to have its subway map, Heathrow Express tickets, London Sightseeing tours, les Great British Heritage Pass before its stay.

Moreover, I think that is a good way to make easier the stay of the tourist.

I think also that the hotels can have the same mission. To have a partnership with several companies such as cinema, Tourist office, museum, theatre, transportations... represents an interesting profit to the hotel.

Moreover, thanks to its offer of service, the hotel can create a personalized relationship with the customers by sending them a beautiful private letter with theirs tickets bought online.

I envisage to create this concept for my business hotel.

Travelocity Affiliate Program

2007-04-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

Travelocity offers 2 types of Affiliate Program.
The first program is "the Travelocity branded program". It consists on:
1/ To feature the partnership with Travelocity on my website.
2/ To earn a commission when my referrals book travel.

The second program is World Choice Travel. It consists on:
1/ Give me the same competitive rates and inventory that are offered on Travelocity.
2/ Get generous commissions
3/ To have the most popular online private-label travel partner program in the world

Accor and Pierre et Vacances Joint Venture

2007-03-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

Accor and Pierre et Vacance is being launched a new concept called " Hotel-Flat".

This week, the Customers will be able to discover the first Hotel-Flat in the 15e district of Paris, it is a building with 375 luxury flats. Accor and Pierre et Vacances want to create the same concept in major European cities.

I notice that this concept like similar to the Luxx Hotel (go and see the following article).

Whatever, it is evident that the Hotel Industry is being live a new era. This new offer of service is very interesting to the Customers and it permitts to diversify the offers og lodging.

Fron now on, the Customers can choose between a traditional hotel, a hotel flat, "une chambre d'Hotes", a bungalow, a villa...etc....

With this new concept, I think that the Customers will change their direction of consumption because in the mind of the Customer, it is as if it lived in its secondary house.

So, I think that there will be an impact on the duration of the stay and the frequency of the rate of reservation per customer.

It is a good way to target the families that would like to stay several weeks to Paris or the business men.

I am convinced that this project will be a success and the competition will be hard against the traditional hotels.

LUXX Hotel in Bangkok introduces "Home for the Young, Hip & Trendy Traveller"

2007-03-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

LUXX Hotel in Bangkok is a 4-storey twin hotel building composed of a mezzanine floor and 13 individually designed rooms and suites.

Each room is built on a studio concept and features a heavenly bed space, cable TV with hot and cold shower.

Suites are perfectly structured into one-bedroom set-up with LCD TV, personalized DVD player, coffee and tea making facilities, minimalist pantry and private views overlooking the newly created courtyard that reflects the spirit of calmness and zen.

Luxx Hotel is a "Home for the Young, Hip & Trendy Traveller" and I appreciate this new concept because the design is modern and comfortable. Moreover, the fact that an Hotel offers to stay in a studio seems like to be at your Own Home. I think that it is very pleaant to the Customers to stay in a place where they can do everything like at home and to have in addition services and warm hospitality.

I notice that the Hotelier need to be more and more creative in order to be the best competitor. But to create and to develop a new concept takes time and in this new era of Hotel Industry, we must be pro-actif if we don't want that our competitors are always the first innovators.

In order to be innovator or to be ready to give a new image of my hotel, I plan to appeal TENDERS.

What is your thinking?

3 Resllers Sites and their guarantee

2007-03-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

Orbitz.com Guarantee: "If you book a prepaid hotel rate that's backed by our Low Price Guarantee, and then find the same room, in the same hotel, for the same dates, at a lower price online within 24 hours, we'll refund the difference. Just e-mail Orbitz within 24 hours of your Orbitz purchase"

Hotels.com: "If there is a lower rate available for the same dates and the same hotel or vacation rental, you must contact us within 24 hours of booking your Prepaid hotel and vacation rental reservation. We will either refund you the difference or cancel the reservations without penalty."

Hotwire.com: "Within 48 hours of booking on Hotwire, if you find a lower price for your entire stay for an equivalent room type in the same hotel on the same dates, we'll refund you double the difference."

Tourism Could Do More To Protect Marine And Coastal Environments | Greenhotelier Reports

2007-03-12T06:15:00.000-07:00

According to the January edition of greenhotelier, the tourism industry is accused to contribute to the degradation of marine and coastal environments.

This article shows us that is very important to protect our coastal and marine environments because it is time to become aware of the disastrous consequences that the construction of the hotels and its activities can cause on the natural environment.

Nowadays, the first world concern is the respect of the ecosytem. We enter a new era in which each citizen becomes ecologist. Obviously the companies are also concerned with this new value, ethic, politic and I agree on the fact that the industry of tourism must take part to conserve, protect and rehabilitate the marine environment.

I propose that each company, world organization and Head of State spend each year an amount of money X corresponding to the ECOLOGY Budget.

I adhere to all the new ecologic projects which enable us to use renewable, economic and ecologic energies.

It is time that the things change.

What do you think about it? View article

Wil Ruigrok Expertise about Revenue Management

2007-03-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

Che Hotel Group Launch 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

2007-02-15T09:56:00.000-08:00

CHE Hotel Group is launching its new '100% Satisfaction Guarantee what consists on to be able to deal with any form of customer complaint quickly and effectively in order to offer an optimal satifaction to the guests.

Through this initiative, the customer complaints are systematically listened and resolved. Thanks to this management, the customer is compensate if he is not satisfied with any aspect of his stay, and if the situation cannot be corrected to the customer’s satisfaction, the customer will not be charged for that element of their stay.

The main objective is to create an atmosphere of trust between the customer and the hotel because it is very important to develop a loyalty relation with the customers.

It is vital to put the customer first because the customer represents the well-being of our business. Thanks to the customer and its word of mouth, our business can have a good financial healthy and our brand image can increase.

Nowadays to satisfy the needs of the customers is not difficult for the companies but it requires to have a consequent budget to invest in good processing system of management. Moreover, the companies have to be able to recruit specialized agents to treat the dissatisfactions customers.

It is also my priority to guarantee ad to offer 100% Satisfaction to my futur customers. My culture of company will be also based on this value.

I think that the customer service must be the first preoccupation to the companies and I am not afraid to spend a lot of money to reach this objective.

What are your objectives to satisfy the customers? View the article

Launch of Proactive Customer Alert System

2007-02-15T08:16:00.000-08:00

View the Article

Travelocity has planned the "Customer Championship" program by lauching the Proactive Problem Prevention Service.

This new service consists to identify and to investigate about all the events that can pertub the stay of the Customer.

The goal of this program is to warn Customers in advance of their trips about noisy, ongoing construction at a popular resort, alterations, closing of the swimming pool...etc....

The Travelocity Objective is to keep informed the Customers about the unexpected of the hotel by calling them or sending them an alert e-mail.

This tactic permitts to the Customers to replan their journey and to guarantee an optimal satisfaction.

I'm agree with this politic because it's an additional tool to take care of the Customers and to make them confidence about their journey.

Actually, the Customer hates the unexpected and not to be informed about that and he waits to be recognized and treated like a Privileged Customer.

I adhere to this service.

Customer Satisfaction Guarantee.

Ten Nights in Haunted Hotel Rooms

2007-01-31T00:34:00.000-08:00

I felt a bit thrilled when I came to remember the movie "The Shining" and its Overlook hotel long corridors.

Whatever, "1408,Ten Nights in Haunted Hotel Rooms" is a movie adapted from a terrifying short story written by thriller author, Stephen King.

Eventhough it has been postponed twice, the expected release is on the next Friday the 13th (in july 2007).

So according critics, this film appears to be on the Carrie movie same level. But you will let me know.

Sample
"The only demons in room 1408 are those within you..."

Synopsis
Do you believe only in what you can see with your own two eyes?
After a string of bestsellers discrediting paranormal events in the most infamous haunted houses and graveyards around the world, a renowned horror novelist Mike Enslin (John Cusack) has no real proof of life…afterlife.

This time Enslin’s phantom-free run of long and lonely nights is about to change forever when he checks into suite 1408 of the notorious Dolphin Hotel for his latest project, “Ten Nights in Haunted Hotel Rooms.”

Therefore, Defying the warnings of the hotel manager (Samuel L. Jackson), the author is the first person in years to stay in the reputedly 1408 haunted room. Then he must go on...

So, Impatients could find the detailed plot by clicking HERE

Do you think there's a market for truly haunted hotel?

Just Knock three times if you know the answer... As for me, I'm probably standing in the left corner, behind you.

2007-01-24T07:27:00.000-08:00

This article speaks to us about the financial impact of hotels SPA.

Who didn't hear the word SPA?
Who among us is not attracted by the SPA?

Nowadays, which hotel of luxury doesn't propose the SPA to its customers?

SPA is becoming inescapable in the world of Hotel Industry because SPA attracts many customers and it's a good investment to increase incomes from the hotel.

SPA represents an important economic impact and its proved by a SPA revenue analysis Moreover, this article demonstrates to us that SPA is a strong added value for an Hotel.

" The success of a spa does affect a hotel’s financial performance,
both as an operating department and as a marketing asset."

For me, SPA is more than a phenomenon of fashion, it's a hygiene of life and for this reason, its represents an important part of my market orientation, HEALTH, BEAUTY and WELL BEING.

Witch is your opinion? View the article.

Increasing RevPAR Guarantee

2007-01-16T09:23:00.000-08:00

This article speaks about the Seniors, the new consumers of Internet and E-Commerce.

The Seniors have a strong purchasing power, they are retired so they have all time to spend their money and to travel.

Moreover, this population increase and they like to use internet.

Indeed, I'm agree that the Seniors represent an important target for E-Commerce market and the hotel industry.

So, the e-marketing must be suitable to their segmentation because the seniors have a specific process of purchase.

This population need to be studied.

Strong Points of the article:
HOW BRANDS CAN CAPITALIZE ON THE GROWING ONLINE SENIOR MARKET

There are 11.5 million Seniors who regularly access the Internet, defined as those 65 or older.

Jupiter expects that number to double by 2010.

In a recent Forrester survey, only 25% of Seniors somewhat or completely agreed that “Technology has made my life easier”. Only 18% agree that “The Internet helps me get ahead in life"

While Seniors see the value of interactive media for communications, it’s not a priority commerce channel.

They lag in a number of basic e-commerce indicators, including online researching, purchasing online, and in the average amount of each online transaction.

But this will change as more and more Seniors come online, and smart marketers can’t afford to ignore this market any longer.

Mash Up : Web 2.0

2007-01-11T11:18:00.000-08:00

As manager of my own company, Mash Up appears to be a good opportunity to narrow a marketing strategy.

It would be so interesting to set a communication campaign based on the on my web user.

The paramount Mash up should achieve an amalgam of Google analytics: http://www.google.com/analytics/ and a API able to define the best communication scheme according the defined segmentation.

An other possible Mash up for my website could be a drag and drop interface melting a list of the local available activities with an API setting the best possible stay and purposing a confined quote.

Comment about an article published on Aurélie 's Blog

2007-01-11T06:58:00.000-08:00

It's true that payment online is very practical and it's a important saving of time for the Customers.

Moreover, in few years, I think that this type of payment will be the 2nd tool of payment used in the World.

But, to invest in Security is very important for the Companies because it's a good return on investment.

In this way, The Companies gain Customers Confidence.

I use this type of payment but I admit that I'm not very reassured during the operation.I use e-payment only on big and renowed website.

And few days after my payment, I check my Bank Statements.

I hope that this type of behaviour is not current and it will disappear. View the others comments

2007-01-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

This article invites us to become aware that we must take care of our Environnemt and that it is time to enter a new era, that of ECOLOGY.
The article announces the launching of a hotel concept to us the "I" hotel, it's an eco-friendly global hotel brand.
I approve this new concept which consists in building Hotels with new and ecological materials.

I appreciate also the fact that emvironnement thanks to this new method of construction is protected.

To respect our Environment, it is us that we respect.

This article made me become aware that this new concept in Hotel trade is innovating and it certain is dedicated to a favourable future.

In any case, I adhere to it to 100% and I think that I will direct myself towards an ecological concept.

What do you think about it?

Strong Points of the Article: A NEW CONCEPT HOTEL

Starwood Capital Group, led by Barry Sternlicht, announced today the launching of "1" Hotel and Residences, the first luxury, eco-friendly global hotel brand.

The concept will combine the best of environmentally sustainable architecture and interior design with impeccable service and luxurious comfort.

"1" will adhere to green construction and operating principles and commit to environmentally sensitive consumption of natural resources.

"1" will demonstrate that green principles can coexist and enhance a luxury hospitality experience and healthy residential lifestyle.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has agreed to be an environmental advisor on "1" with the initial goal of setting a new standard for environmental excellence and, over time, to transform the entire hotel industry.

With such critical issues facing us as foreign energy dependence and global warming, we cannot afford to ignore the growing consumption of our natural resources and the inability to sustain our enterprises," said Mr. Sternlicht.

While some hotel brands pay lip service to the environment by asking guests to reuse towels, and adding plants to a lobby, "1" is not using eco-friendly jargon simply as a marketing tool.

Our intention with "1" is to build hotels and residences that are truly green and minimize their impact on their environment.
The first hotel will be the "1" Hotel and Residences Seattle expec

ted to open in late 2008.

Following Seattle, "1" will open in the ski resort of Mammoth Mountain, California; in Scottsdale, Arizona; and in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

The first international "1" hotel will be located in Paris, France and will be a renovation of a historic property. In addition, we expect "1" to enter New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and other major urban markets, as well as premier resort destinations, within the next 12 months

Each new "1" will be built to LEED standards. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System(TM), created by the U.S. Green Building Council, is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

Additionally, a new concierge concept with unparalleled personalization will ensure all that is needed, and most of what can be imagined, will be provided effortlessly.

2006-12-29T07:51:00.000-08:00

This article invites us to redefine the function of the Concierge and the values which it must transmit to the Customers.

This article is worrying. It announces to us that the Customers have a rather negative image of the Concierge.

Each employee contributes to the construction of the notoriety of the Hotel, consequently it is of primary importance that it is perceived like a person of Confidence within the Hotel.

Warning.

Strong Points of the Article: CAN YOU TRUST YOUR HOTEL CONCIERGE

Travelers are pretty cynical about concierge recommendations, and they assume that most concierges accept comped meals once in awhile.

And travelers wouldn’t be surprised if some hotel concierges actually earn hard cash for steering guests to particular eating and drinking establishments.

According to a Wall Street Journal article, “hotel-employed concierges receive commissions of up to 15% on some bookings — say, from a limousine company.”

But the article notes that they have an incentive to keep guests happy so they’ll return to the hotel.

The irony is that the era of the concierge as a local expert may be waning.

The concierge’s role as a guide is being supplanted by online services, not merely because travelers are doing their own research online, but because concierge services are being outsourced to online travel agencies.

2006-12-29T06:34:00.000-08:00

This article is "Terrorizing" because it brings back for us to the sad truth of our World, the Terrorist attacks in the Hotellier sector.

Unfortunately, our Customers are the target of the Terrorist acts.

We must thus set up powerful safety measures to protect us and protect our Customers.

To leave on holiday or in Business trip must remain a Pleasure, one moment of Relaxation.

Simple truth to be kept in memory

Strong Points of the Article:
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOTEL IN A ERA OF TERRORISM

Today, doing everything possible to protect the safety of your guests is an absolute necessity.

And while you may think that your property is an unlikely terrorist target, attacks on hotels and restaurants around the world prove that no hospitality provider can become complacent.

Run a Google search on the words “hotel” and “bomb” and the Internet index site turns up some 11.8 million Web pages in which the two appear together.

Searching for “restaurant” and “bomb” yielded nearly 6.6 million “hits.”

In the first search, the number of hits had nearly doubled in less than a year; in the second, it had more than tripled.

The hospitality industry has long been a favorite target of terrorists around the world, and the dangers it faces are growing with each passing year

Most hoteliers have done little to improve their security, probably because they do not know how to begin.

However, progressive business professionals understand that change is inevitable.

Those who do not make changes will have a difficult time staying competitive and profitable.

Change our Approach for Better Security

Change perspective:
Don’t confuse perception with reality. Today’s consumer considers safety to be among the most important factors when selecting a hotel.
Good security will not harm your brand or raise the price of the room.
Create a culture shift:
Shift from a culture of liability paranoia to one
obsessed with guest and employee safety.
The only acceptable goal for preventable safety and security losses is none at all.

Utilize credible resources:
Bodies such as the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provide standards such as NFPA 1600, for national emergency
preparedness and business continuity; and NFPA 730-2006, which is designed to reduce security vulnerabilities to life and property.

Adhering tosuch standards can improve your preparedness and reduce your liability.
Go beyond the basics:
Many facilities are beginning to perform preemployment background checks and employee drug testing;
implement effective weapons screening and access control measures;
provide public access to automated electronic defibrillators;
and develop comprehensive site security/emergency management plans based upon a security vulnerability assessment.

Plan ahead:
Systematic risk assessment is a mandatory and continuing function for any hospitality business.

Every hospitality executive wants to build up years of safely, profitably serving the needs of satisfied guests.
Too many such plans end with an ugly headline in tomorrow’s newspaper.

Risk assessment can make the difference.

2006-12-29T05:36:00.000-08:00

This article explains us how to exploit the CGM.

This tool of marketing is essential for us.

The CGM enables us to establish bonds of interactivity, reactivity and proximity with our customers.

The CGM enables us to return our website more powerful and more productive.

Return on Guaranteed Investment

Strong Points of the Article:
CONSUMER GENERATED MEDIA A THREAT OR AN OPPORTUNITY

Consumer Generated Media (CGM) is online content created primarily by Internet users themselves—anyone other than professional writers, publishers or journalists, and made available to other Internet users via interactive technology applications.

This includes discussion boards, blogs, social network sites such as MySpace and LinkedIn, trip planners (Yahoo Trip Planner, IgoUgo), customer review sites like TripAdvisor, experience or photo sharing, and any other opportunity for the consumer to share their knowledge and familiarity with a product or experience.

What is the role of CGM in the Hotelier’s Direct Internet Marketing Strategy?

In 2007 nearly one-third of all reservations in hospitality in North America will be generated from the Internet (29% in 2005).

By 2010 over 45% of all travel reservations in the U.S. will be done via the Internet (Merrill Lynch, HeBS).

Next year over 60% of these Internet reservations will be via hotel-branded websites, though some major hotel brands already enjoy a very healthy 85:15 direct vs. indirect online distribution ratio.

In our view hoteliers should consider CGM initiatives only as part of a comprehensive Direct Internet marketing strategy, together with other important aspects such as search marketing, email marketing, website optimization, strategic linking and link popularity, online sponsorships and display ads.

CGM initiatives like blogs should become a line item in the overall hotel marketing budget.

On the other hand Hospitality eBusiness Strategies considers CGM a vital part of the comprehensive de-commoditization strategy of the hotel, a potent tool to provide a unique value proposition to its customers.

A well-developed CGM strategy could provide visibility to unique aspects of the hotel product and destination, and a differentiated approach to reach key customer segments.

CGM is available in various formats, including text, images, videos, podcasts, and voting/ranking.

In our view there are three ways hospitality and travel marketers can use CGM to their benefit.

First, use CGM to listen to what consumers are saying. Hotel marketers gain unfiltered insights into the customer experience, something that in the past could only be achieved through surveys and comment cards.

By monitoring sites that contain reviews and comments about your property, you can immediately address any issues and act appropriately.

Second, hoteliers can establish interactive relationships with the customer via corporate-sponsored CGM initiatives.

Examples of such corporate-sponsored initiatives are the pioneering Starwood effort with their blog theLobby.com and Sheraton’s new consumer experience and photo sharing CGM functionality.

And third, hotel marketers can utilize the various types and formats of CGM to promote their products and services.
For example, HotelChatter.com and TripAdvisor now accept display ads, and many discussion boards accept sponsorships and advertising.

A successful website is one that presents the hotel product, addresses all key customer segments and provides fresh, up-to-date content that both online consumers and search engine bots like.

Copy on the website must have high keyword-density to boost the search engine-friendliness and be updated on a regular basis with new content and rich media.

Website optimization, customer segmentation, strategic linking, keyword rich density copy, email and online sponsorship strategies, and search marketing strategies are fundamental to growing the online channel

CGM is a tool that can give marketers unfiltered insights into the customer experience, helps establish interactive relationships with customers, and provides a new medium to promote services and products.
oposition to
CGM is also a vital part of the comprehensive de-commoditization strategy of the hotel, a potent tool to provide a unique value pr its customers.

2006-12-29T04:38:00.000-08:00

This article is quite simply "astonishing".

It makes us of a new hidden function of the mobile phone.

It is from now on possible to reach its hotel room without presenting itself at the Reception of the Hotel thanks to its portable telephone.

This article shows us also that is important for Client to develop a protected system which enables him to save time with its arrival with the Hotel.

System to be tested.

Nowadays, to lose its mobile phone is really Dramatique. We can remain with the door.

Nevertheless, Innovating system.

Strong Points of the Article: MOBILES PHONES AS HOTEL ROOMS KEYS

After a long flight, you arrive extremely tired at your hotel to find a line of people queued up at the front desk.

Then you remember that you are an NFC user …

you bypass the front desk and go straight to your room because you already know your room number and the key … in your cell phone.

This is already a reality – at least in pilot-form – in select European hotels and it’s going to be introduced to American audiences soon.

The solution is one more exciting capability of Near Field Communications (NFC) ... in this iteration an NFC-enabled phone communicates with contactless door locks that are NFC-compatible.

2006-12-29T03:49:00.000-08:00

This article shows us how to develop and create a strategy of Gaining.

I'm integrated the fact that more we are clever, innovating, creative in our strategy of communication of our website more we develop CA.

Indeed, a website must be multi-cultural, instructive and ludic in order to be seen, included/understood and appreciated of all Nations.

Assured notoriety of the website

Strong Points of the Article: HOW TO RELAUNCH A WEB SITE

“Research indicates that online spending in Europe and Latin America will be approximately one-third of that of the U.S. by 2005.

This statistic alone exemplifies the need to stay competitive in the marketplace and to communicate with our customers around the world in their native languages.
By offering these different languages, we are one step further in our efforts to being a truly global company,” said Gino Giovannelli, senior director of e-Commerce, Carlson Hotels Worldwide.

“In addition, we have added new features that will be universally valuable to guests.”

New features on Radisson’s web site include :

an easy search for the lowest available rate across all Radisson hotels in a city

an enhanced amenity listing on the hotel directory to highlight and compare amenities across all Radisson hotels in a particular city

a “Find a Hotel” map feature on the home page

and a dynamic currency converter that re-displays the rates in the requested currency.

In addition to the new language functionality, Radisson.com reached $8 million in online bookings during the month of July.

2006-12-20T10:47:00.001-08:00

This article is interesting because it shows us has which point to create an Internet site became a tool of communication, marketing and development of the sales turnover of an hotel.

I agree completely on the fact that it is essential nowadays to have a Web site to develop the image, the notoriety of our hotel and also
for to create a contact with our visitors and to establish a first fidelisation

Return on investment GUARANTEED

Strong points of the Article: WHAT MAKES A GOOD REVENUE MANAGER?

What is the role of the revenue manager?

Hospitality’s quest for every spare dollar available makes the corporate revenue manager one of the highest profile jobs in the industry today.
The job description and responsibilities for the corporate revenue manager vary from chain to chain, but regardless of the hotel company, nearly all revenue managers perform multifunctional roles that extend far beyond optimizing room rates and forecasting group profitability

What is an effective revenue manager?

An Effective revenue manager using the right tools can raise a chain’s average daily rate (ADR) as much as seven percentt of which goes straight to the bottom line.
Revenue managers are fast becoming corporate leaders who chair rate strategy committees, train property managers in pricing strategies, and guide sales and marketing teams in the most effective positioning for their selling strategies and campaigns.

Every decision they make affects company profitability and because of this the position demands a professional competent in their ability to manage both people as well as revenue.

What are the objective of the revenue manager?

Revenue managers have two equally important jobs to do to achieve their goal of maximizing chain revenue:

(1) develop the most effective rates and strategies to increase revenue

(2) motivate corporate executives and chain managers to implement those rate and strategy recommendations.

What is the revelation about revenue management's study?

A 2005 RM study by Softscribe Inc. revealed that in most chain-franchised properties, operators repeatedly resist corporate revenue management guidelines and set pricing and length-of-stay policy themselves based on ‘gut’ instinct.

Why the resistance?

Many operators lack an understanding of how corporate rate recommendations are developed and do not believe central revenue managers have an adequate knowledge of their property’s unique market to provide realistic rate recommendations.

The study showed that the result of not applying optimized pricing was consistently lower property revenue.

What are the revenue manager qualities?

Progressive operators must look for the following qualities in an effective chain revenue manager:

Relationship skills: The best revenue managers spend as much of their time managing people and building relationships as they do managing revenue; this is an essential quality.
Creative thinking: Top revenue managers are visionaries and corporate change agents who
Effective sales ability:
Property management experience: Many RM
Training experience
Solid communication skills: Good revenue managers are excellent communicators and listeners

2006-12-20T10:31:00.000-08:00

This article describes us the role, the objectives and necessary qualities to be effective returned to manage, key position and essential within a hotel.

The post of returned to manage is rich of responsibilities and consequently full of consequences.

Who among you is ready to raise it?

Good salary GUARANTY

Strong Points of the Article : HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR WEB SITE

Utilizing Your Email Signature to Promote Your Web Site

It may appear silly to some people, but

Adding your site address to your email signature can promote traffic to your site.

The email signature is your business card.

Your signature file is a mini-advertisement for your hotel and its services (called sigvertising).

Instead of listing your hotel’s phone number and URL, give the reader an insight into your hotel and a reason to visit. e.g. located less than 1 mile from the Convention Center.

Developing a Dynamite Link Strategy

Developing a link strategy is one of the most crucial elements involved in Internet marketing.

Links are important because:

Appropriately placed, they can be a real traffic builder.
A number of frequently used search engines use link popularity as one of their ranking criteria. The more links to your site, the more popular it is; so the number of links to your site can significantly impact your placement with search engines.
The more links you have to your site, the more opportunities search engine spiders have to find your site.

Never place outbound links on your home page; they should be two or three layers down on your site. You want visitors to view as much as possible on your site before giving them an opportunity to leave it.

Hotel web sites today have the ability and capacity to produce a substantial portion of your hotel’s total revenue; many hotels receive 30-70% of their total reservations online. It is definitely worth your attention.

Using Your Web Site to Develop a Permission-based Email List

Developing a permission-based email list of visitors is an excellent way to develop loyal site visitors.

Many hotels do this with the help of an email newsletter; hotels in Florida have been doing this for years.

There are many email engines available to place on your site, which will collect this important data, store it, and allow you to communicate with your site visitors.

Pay-Per-Click Advertising

click is an excellent way to boost your site’s visibility.

Hotels bid for placement on search engine sponsored search results.

Since some search engines use your site’s popularity to help determine your ranking, this can be a great temporary marketing task.