Marketing

💰 Omni Hotels & Resorts launched Omni Select Business, a travel program for small and midsize businesses (SMBs), across over 50 U.S. and Canada locations. The program offers 9% off standard rates, free loyalty perks like welcome drinks and Wi-Fi, plus a sign-up bonus of double Omni Credits on the first three stays. Eligible businesses must book a minimum of 50 room nights annually and cannot already have Omni corporate rates; travel agencies and wholesalers are excluded. No cost or long-term commitments required to join.

🏨 Most hotel bookings originate from Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), especially during peak season. Reliance on OTAs can cause panic when their performance dips, leading to immediate OTA rate changes or promotions. Repeat customers often rebook through OTAs despite previous direct stays. OTA ads overshadow brand keyword searches, with no direct marketing, training, or technological advancement plans in place. Commission costs for OTAs are triple those of direct booking investments. Hotel teams depend on OTA tools rather than enhancing their technology, and marketing strategies are often speculative. Over-reliance on OTAs may undermine confidence, strategic planning, and career advancement. Four key areas of OTA dependency are highlighted, indicating it's not only about the commission expenses.

🏨 Written by Debiprasad Sarangi on April 20, 2014, the article touches on the behind-the-scenes efforts required to maintain a glamorous hotel experience, highlighting the importance of room service and amenities in providing a tranquil stay for guests.

🏡 Radisson Blu Das Triest Hotel in Vienna reopened after a comprehensive renovation, initially launched in 1995 as Vienna's first design hotel. The hotel retains its historic charm with modern amenities, including 120 rooms and suites, a fitness center, sauna, and a terrace. It houses Bistrot Bertarelli 1894 and the iconic Silver Bar. The hotel features five conference rooms for up to 284 guests, emphasizing its suitability for business events. Located in Vienna's 4th district, it offers easy access to landmarks like the Stephansdom.

🗺 Solo travel is on the rise, expecting nearly 10% annual growth through 2030, appealing to Millennials, Gen Z, and retirees. On Apr 24, 2025, it's noted that hotels are innovating to accommodate this trend by redesigning for solo travelers, prioritizing safety with services like optional check-ins, and facilitating social engagement with community dining and cultural activities. Omni Boston and The Hoxton are examples of properties adapting with solo-oriented design and events. Solo travel is becoming a permanent aspect of the hospitality industry.

💸 OTA undercutting is not only a pricing issue but also a marketing problem, with SHR research indicating a 47% increase in cost-per-click and a 36% higher expense than hotels with a direct rate advantage. The competition for branded search terms intensifies when OTAs bid higher in paid ads due to lower rates. The consequences include higher ad costs, lower conversion rates, and reduced marketing budgets. Despite some hoteliers believing they are not OTA-dependent, underlying dependencies may still affect their marketing power.

💾 STAAH’s Channel Manager offers real-time OTA synchronization and pooled inventory, aiming to eliminate hoteliers' challenges such as manual updates, rate disparities, and overbookings. Its features include instant rate plan and promotion push across OTAs, an intuitive interface for easy channel mapping, and built-in analytics for data-driven decisions. Properties worldwide use STAAH for distribution and revenue management.

🍴 Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality since 1999, previously wrote for The New York Sun (2005-2008). In Thailand (1992-1997), he contributed to Manager magazine and Asia Times. Graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University (1990), studied at Peking University and Nanjing University (1988-1989), and attended Le Cordon Bleu (1986). Thorn's column won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and he was president of IFEC in 2005. Inducted into Disciples d’Escoffier (2014), authored entries in Oxford food encyclopedias (2012, 2015). Hosts a podcast, expert in French cuisine, Asian cuisines, restaurant trends. Contact: [email protected], LinkedIn, Facebook: Bret Thorn, Twitter and Instagram: @foodwriterdiary.

🔑 Morse Watchmans, a developer of electronic key control systems, created the KeyWatcher product over 30 years ago to manage physical keys in hospitality and other industries. KeyWatcher allows hotel security administrators to assign users, track key usage, and set automatic reports and notifications. The systems are modular, scalable, and integrate with other security technologies, providing real-time data and centralized security management for hotels of all sizes, increasing safety, efficiency, and reducing risks of lost keys and expensive re-keying.