Marketing

🍴 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.

🏖 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.

🏨 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. 🛎️