Marketing

📢 Google ended commission-based hotel ad bidding on February 20, 2025, shifting to upfront payments for clicks and impressions. This move away from paying only for bookings completed via ads increases financial risk for hotels, necessitating more strategic ad campaign optimization. Google's decision is influenced by tighter privacy rules and a decline in third-party cookies, emphasizing the importance of first-party data in marketing. Mews, a guest-first platform, helps hotels adapt by offering a commission-free direct booking engine, rich guest profiles for personalization, effective first-party data management, and data-driven insights for decision-making.

📝 Over 80% of travelers read reviews before booking hotels. Reviews come from TripAdvisor, Google, OTAs, and social media. Negative reviews can impact potential guests, but managing them appropriately can be beneficial. The guide suggests monitoring reviews proactively, responding swiftly and professionally, personalizing responses, taking offline conversations, showcasing improvements, encouraging positive reviews, and viewing negative feedback as marketing opportunities. STAAH ReviewMinder assists hoteliers by monitoring, alerting, identifying trends, and boosting positive reviews on multiple platforms.

📖 STAAH, a hospitality distribution and guest acquisition tech provider, launched a new eBook titled "Hotel Online Distribution 2.0" to help hoteliers redefine guest acquisition and revenue management strategies in response to evolving guest demands and travel behaviors. Authored by STAAH's team, it addresses changes in guest expectations, distribution technology, and provides tips for optimizing revenue. The eBook is presented as a neutral guide, not promoting specific tools, and is available for download. Marketing Director Edwin Saldanha emphasizes the guide's role in navigating the digital transformation of the hospitality industry.

📡 With STAAH’s Get Google, properties can connect directly to Google Hotel Search for global visibility and drive direct bookings. The platform allows for easy Google connectivity, optimization of listings with high-quality photos, competitive pricing, and compelling descriptions. Analytics tools enable tracking of performance metrics like clicks, impressions, and bookings for ROI analysis. Everything can be managed from the STAAH dashboard, streamlining processes and providing actionable insights.

🍴 Grupo RosaNegra, renowned for its dynamic dining locations in Mexico, opened RosaNegra Miami on December 4, marking its first U.S. venture at Dua Miami, Autograph Collection Hotel. CEO Eduardo Beaven envisions Miami's cultural and culinary diversity as a perfect match for the group's bold Latin flavors and high-energy dining experiences. RosaNegra Miami spans 13,600 square feet, combining indoor space and a patio, offering a speakeasy-style bar and live entertainment aligned with Miami's nightlife. Executive Chef Emiliano Galindo presents a Latin American menu, with USDA Prime and Australian wagyu steaks and exclusive Miami dishes. Beverages include spirits from across Latin America and an extensive Mexican wine selection. Plans for expanding Grupo RosaNegra's presence in Miami and other markets are underway.

🏡 Saraca Hotels & Resorts manages nearly 100 keys across India, with properties in Lucknow and Jim Corbett, and forthcoming locations in Jim Corbett & Sri Lanka. Faced with channel manager limitations and inventory push issues, Saraca switched to STAAH's channel management technology. STAAH's Max channel manager offers seamless integration, connects to 500+ OTAs, features dynamic pricing, and enhances revenue management with capabilities like MLOS, CTA, and CTD restrictions. This partnership has led to improved bookings and guest experiences.

🏨 STAAH's "Get Google" feature in 2025 helps hotels increase direct bookings by leveraging Google's travel research and booking platform. Advantages include increased direct bookings, improved guest trust, enhanced visibility, and actionable insights from STAAH's dashboard. Preparation involves optimizing digital presence, syncing real-time inventory, leveraging local search features, mobile optimization, performance tracking, and team training. Sign up with STAAH to activate integration, sync inventory, and go live on Google Search, Maps, and Hotel Ads.

🎄 During the holidays, restaurants like Dallas-based Imperial Fizz and others adapt by focusing on hospitality for large parties and corporate events. They offer festive décor and seasonal drinks, while some, like American Social Bar & Kitchen in Florida, expand holiday decorations across multiple locations. Special menus and themed cocktails, such as Partridge in a Pear Tree Martini, are crafted by chefs and co-owners like Angelo Sosa in Phoenix and Indian Wells, California. Restaurants like Esmé in Chicago fill up with large corporate gatherings and events, with Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor focusing on catering. Some establishments, like Cora in New York City, give staff a winter break, while others, such as Winona’s in Brooklyn, stay open and staff up, but take a restorative break in January.

💸 Expedia Group surveys show discounts are the top motivator for booking travel. The STAAH tool lets property owners create and manage promotions, targeting high-value travellers, saving time, and increasing visibility on Expedia sites. Promotion types include single or multi-night discounts, same-day deals, early booking, members-only and mobile-only deals, with options for minimum or maximum stay lengths, and long-term promotions. STAAH integration is not yet available for large chains. 🛎️