Marketing

📱 MONOGRAM, launched in January, rapidly grew as a leading marketing agency for luxury hospitality and entertainment. By 2025, it celebrated a transformative year with significant achievements in the industry. The agency was covered by Travel And Tour World, highlighting its success.

🎃 Capella Hotel Group celebrates the Year of the Snake from January 28 to February 12, 2025, offering complimentary "Capella Moments" experiences at all destinations. Capella Singapore, listed in the World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2024, hosts a lion and dragon dance on January 29. Capella Sydney starts celebrations on January 28, featuring cultural activities and a special afternoon tea. Capella Bangkok, named The World's Best Hotel in 2024, blends Thai and Chinese traditions starting January 29. Patina Maldives, Fari Islands provides a reunion dinner and lion dance performance on the morning of Lunar New Year, January 29.

🍴 Chestnut acquires The Gin Trap Inn in Ringstead, adding 16 bedrooms to its portfolio. This marks Chestnut's fourth Norfolk acquisition in 2024, joining The Maltings, a 28-bedroom hotel in Weybourne. Founder Philip Turner highlights the growth since March 2020, reaching nearly 200 bedrooms county-wide. Chestnut opened a second "winter garden" at The Globe and aims to raise £15,000 through The Giving Tree for local charities. David Lamyman, the vendor since 2019, endorses Chestnut's management, ensuring a seamless transition for staff and guests.

🍸 Hush, Leamington's new speakeasy bar, transports guests to the Prohibition era with a 1920/30s American vibe. Opening as a private members' bar in January, it offers a five-star service and live music. The space, previously the Robbins Well cellar bar, has been revamped into a 40-meter underground bar after 10 years. Managed by Matthew Nisbets and Bethany Gaunt, the bar showcases 25 crafted cocktails, 13 gins, 13 rums, and 25 whiskeys, alongside over 20 wine selections, including premium Champagnes. The venue, adorned in Art Deco and murals by Gemma Grao, will operate from 5pm-2.30am on Thursdays to Saturdays, and offer private room hires outside core hours.

📷 A YouGov survey of 2,090 German consumers for Epsilon revealed only 8% want to be inspired by travel content on Instagram or YouTube. Over half (52%) find travel recommendations on social media and blogs exceed their budgets, with 18% stating costs are at least double their affordability, and 13% stating costs are thousands of euros above their budget. A third rely on friends and family for travel recommendations, with traditional travel agencies (21%) and travel media (17%) also influential. Young adults (25-34) are using AI chat recommendations (13%) and online forums like Reddit (17%) for travel ideas. CEO of Epsilon EU & Asia, Alban Villani, emphasizes the importance of realistic travel options and clear cost communication in marketing.

🏖 Mondrian and Hyde Ibiza, two beachside hotels, launch celebration packages for 2025. Hyde opened August 2023; full season from April 2024. Over 400 rooms, three pools, a boat dock. Mondrian, with 154 rooms, features design-led hospitality. Event spaces "COACHELLA," "ART BASEL," "SOUNDS OF HYDE" accommodate over 300 people; Sonrojo chiringuito up to 100. April-October 2025 event hosting, with outdoor events allowed until 10pm, indoors until 1am. Early booking advised.

🏠 French designer Philippe Starck used local Brazilian materials for the interiors of a 12,000 square-foot penthouse in the Rosewood São Paulo, housed within Jean Nouvel's "vertical garden tower". The luxury suite, offering panoramic views of the city, comfortably sleeps eight. Starck's design features Brazilian modernist elements, including Paraná marble and ipe wood. Artworks and furniture by Brazilian artists such as Oscar Niemeyer enhance the cultural connection. Guests have access to hotel amenities and the penthouse includes a private infinity pool overlooking Avenida Paulista.

🏨 Adele Gutman, former head of sales, marketing, and revenue at The Library Hotel Collection, featured in a podcast episode on Dec. 10, 2024. She discusses boosting guest satisfaction through team empowerment and operational excellence, leading to increased demand and revenue. The episode includes links to a State of Hotel Industry Survey, a text messaging option with Josiah, and music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound.

📱 Expedia's mobile app saw significant usage in 2023. Properties with mobile-exclusive offers on Expedia average a 15% increase in gross booking value. Since 2019, Expedia Group reported a 25% rise in Average Booking Value and Average Daily Rate from mobile transactions. Easy mobile promotion setup is available through Expedia Partner Central. Different types of promotions can be customized, including Basic, Early Booking, and Same-Day Promotions. Mobile offers increase visibility and bookings on Expedia’s mobile platforms. [Source: Expedia Group, Mobile Analysis, 2023; Date: December 9, 2024]

🎄 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.