Marketing

💸 The quote from a media planner highlights skepticism towards retail media investment, noting that while being findable is necessary, it's not the top priority for the first dollar spent. After a period of rapid growth in retail media, marked by platform launches and high year-over-year (YOY) growth figures, 2025 brings a new phase of maturity due to economic uncertainty. Media planners and brands are applying a critical lens, questioning retail media's value in media plans and joint business plans. An ADWEEK article suggests that retail media may not provide advertising value but rather acts as a forced spend to increase retailers' margins without driving incremental sales. The industry is moving towards a more transactional phase with increased negotiation and scrutiny between brands and retail media owners.

🏨 Portuguese hotel chain Octant Hotels has unveiled Latitude, a new platform featuring over 200 curated experiences around their hotels. After extensive research and months of planning, Latitude offers guests the chance to explore local culture, gastronomy, arts, and crafts beyond conventional tourist attractions. Filipe Bonina, marketing director at Discovery Hotel Management, emphasizes Latitude as a travel manifesto for purposeful immersion in each hotel's unique region.

📝 Under Donald Trump's presidency, the United States' reputation has plummeted, as indicated by public perception surveys. A survey by IFOP for NYC.fr revealed a decrease in favorable views of the U.S. among the French from 65% (2010) to 25%—a 40-point drop. Moreover, only 26% of French people now believe the U.S. shares "similar values" with them, a significant decline from 49% in 2004. U.S. tourism potential has also fallen by four points compared to 2022, with New York being the exception, still favored by 62% of French respondents. Across Europe, a YouGov study showed more than 20-point drops in positive views of the U.S. between August 2024 and February 2025: Germany (from 52% to 32%), Sweden (49% to 29%), and Denmark (48% to 20%). This disaffection impacted travel, with Accor hotels experiencing a 25% drop in U.S. bookings and Voyageurs du Monde reporting a 20% booking decline compared to the previous year.

🌍 Apr 11, 2025 - The Trump administration's chaotic tariff policies have led to economic uncertainty, weakening consumer confidence in the travel industry. The dollar's slight dip still favors American tourists in Canada and Mexico. The airline industry faces higher production costs and reduced demand, causing carriers like Delta to cut back and low-cost airlines to struggle. Hotels face increased operating expenses and labor shortages. Many Americans are now opting for domestic travel, with middle-income travelers seeking more affordable options.

🥂 Sinners, a new venue for dining, drinking, and entertainment, will open in Hoxton with The Eden Lounge starting on 1st May. The lounge caters to remote workers and offers an all-day menu with options like French Toast for £5, and dishes from The Forbidden Feast section cooked over an open fire grill. It provides high-speed Wi-Fi, power outlets, and transforms into an entertainment space by night.

📍 In a recent episode of Hospitality Daily, Suzie Thompson, Vice President of Commercial at Red Carnation Hotels, was interviewed by Danica Smith about guest experience. Red Carnation Hotels, a family-owned collection of 18 boutique hotels worldwide, prides itself on exceptional guest experiences. The interview delved into how the company blends data, culture, and creativity to personalize stays, emphasizing the importance of guest satisfaction and the empowerment of staff to exceed expectations. Suzie shared insights into the company's strategy for creating unique and personalized experiences, such as curated tours with chefs and partnerships with local theaters. Red Carnation Hotels focuses on the entire traveling party's experience, including pets, and has worked on optimizing their tech stack for future-proofing. They also prioritize getting their data in good shape to leverage AI and other tech tools effectively. The conversation highlighted the shift in guest expectations post-COVID, with a demand for more personalized and unique experiences.