Marketing

🏖️ PKFARE, a global travel product aggregator, has partnered with European hotel booking platform Stayforlong to provide more competitive rates and a wider range of accommodation options. PKFARE's network includes over 650,000 properties, which Stayforlong will utilize to expand its inventory globally. The partnership leverages PKFARE's advanced algorithms and hotel mapping technology to offer personalized accommodation tailored to travellers' preferences, enhancing Stayforlong's existing portfolio of over 500,000 hotels in 25 countries. Stayforlong, with more than three million users, specializes in extended stays, while PKFARE focuses on flexible booking options and personalized experiences.

🏠 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.

🎄 In Vilnius, Lithuania, the city’s monuments are dressed in hand-knitted holiday attire for Christmas. The initiative, by Go Vilnius, includes 10 local knitters using eco-friendly materials to create festive clothing for statues. Highlights include the Grand Duke Gediminas Monument and the Užupis Angel, along with others like the Lithuanian writer Žemaitė and a sculpture inspired by Jurga Ivanauskaitė. An interactive Vilnius Christmas Map guides visitors to these attractions. Vilnius has been named European Christmas Capital 2025 by the Christmas Cities Network.

🏨 RevOptimum offers specialized revenue management services for independent hotels, promising immediate impact and long-term growth. Key offerings include weekly RevMax calls, strategy report updates up to 3 times weekly, tailored reporting, and proprietary tools like RevO® and Hotel Rate Strategy Report System©, guaranteeing results in 30 days. Client success stories report up to 40% revenue increase within months. The company has over 30 years of experience, emphasizing cost-effective, sustainable growth, and ROI for hoteliers.

🎄 Arnica Scuol and Verdi Hotels employ festive strategies to boost direct bookings during the holiday season, with gift vouchers and complimentary travel assistance insurance offers. AMANO Group promotes exclusive New Year’s Eve events, while The Thief highlights a special Christmas menu. Festive campaigns aim at increasing guest satisfaction and creating memorable experiences.

💸 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. 🛎️

🏠 Lough Erne Resort's Thai Spa in Northern Ireland was awarded Best Spa of the Year at the Firmus Energy & Local Women Magazine Business Awards 2024. The award, a testament to the spa's management and team, was based on online reviews and mystery visits by a judging panel of local businesswomen. The announcement came during a ceremony at the Europa Hotel in Belfast with Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly in attendance. Spa Manager Stephanie Coogan acknowledged the team's dedication and the role of women in shaping NI businesses.