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Monette Canawin

644 posts
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  • 2 min

Faisal Murtaza Discusses AI's Impact on Hotel Revenue Management and Launches Sarucci's AI-Driven Tools

💻 Faisal Murtaza, founder of Sarucci, leverages over a decade of experience in hotel operations to develop AI-powered revenue intelligence tools. Since 2011, he managed 11 hotels with 3,000 rooms. AI helps identify revenue opportunities, automate pricing, and enhance strategy by reducing the time on data management. The Future Travel Summit will feature Faisal as a finalist. Independent hotels could compete beyond price in an AI-driven marketplace, emphasizing AI discoverability akin to traditional search importance.
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  • 5 min

HARO, Connectively, and Featured Revolutionize PR Strategies for Small Businesses Seeking AI Visibility and Earned Media.

📅 In 2026, PR strategies involve local storytelling as micro-resorts gain a media advantage over big chains. A 90-day PR plan for new properties includes competitor research, creating online profiles, and press releases. Existing properties should address media gaps, leveraging earned media like Connectively and HARO. AI visibility is crucial, with GEO visibility audits on platforms like Featured. A consistent one-hour daily PR effort is recommended to navigate evolving digital landscapes, despite algorithm changes.
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  • 1 min

Treasury Appoints Jerry Schurder for Independent Review of Business Rates for Pubs and Hotels, Report Due 2027

💰 Jerry Schurder, ex-business rates policy lead at Newmark UK, has been appointed by the Treasury to lead a review of business rates for pubs and hotels. Schurder's findings are due by March 2027, aiming for implementation in 2029. A consultation, starting today, seeks input from landlords, brewers, hoteliers, and business owners.
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  • 1 min

Consumer Spending in Hospitality Sector Shows Selectivity in July, Casual Dining Performs Strongly, Reports Moore Kingston Smith Index

☀️ July saw selective consumer spending in hospitality, per Moore Kingston Smith index. Despite favorable conditions like warm weather, the FIFA World Cup's end, peak tourism, and school holidays, not all sectors thrived. Casual dining excelled, hotels sustained growth, and fine dining stayed strong. However, pubs underperformed.
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Promotional banner for AI in Travel with Tony Carne; orange background, striped left edge, and circular photo of the host.
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  • 8 min

Mindtrip Pivots to B2B with Destination Marketing Organizations Amid AI-Driven Travel Planning Surge

📰 In late 2022, Tony from Intrepid Travel delves into AI's role in travel. Research indicates 83% of users find travel inspiration on social media, with AI chat tools gaining traction. Mindtrip and other travel companies are aligning with AI strategies, recognizing consumer trends. Airbnb's recent shift to expand car rentals and experiences signals AI's influence. Travel firms now focus on AI's practical benefits like improving margins and reducing workload. Chris Torres emphasizes the importance of authentic marketing over AI-generated imagery.
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  • 9 min

Independent Hotels Must Enhance Direct Booking Strategies as OTA Dominance Grows in Mobile-Driven Market

📈 In 2009, Cornell researchers identified the "Billboard Effect," where OTAs like Booking.com and Expedia indirectly drive direct hotel bookings. However, OTAs have since optimized their platforms to retain users, urging hotels to adapt their strategies. The direct booking rate through metasearch, like Google Hotel Ads, and strategies like Pay Per Stay (PPS) can cut costs from 15-20% to about 10-12%. Independent hotels must leverage closed-user-group incentives for immediate rewards, not traditional loyalty points.
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