Marketing

📍 Wyndham introduces Registry Collection Hotels in the U.S. with The Mining Exchange in downtown Colorado Springs, a 128-room lifestyle hotel in a building from 1902 featuring dining venues, a spa, gallery, and 15,000 sq ft event space. Drury Hotels to open a 252-room property in Charleston, S.C., with amenities like complimentary breakfast and a pool; their second in South Carolina, seventh in the Carolinas. RIU reopens Riu Palace Bavaro in Punta Cana with 994 rooms, including 255 family rooms and 108 Elite Club rooms, post extensive refurbishment. IHG to launch Vignette Collection in the Maldives with Noku Maldives in Noonu Atoll featuring 50 villas, joining IHG's five properties in the Maldives post-December refurbishments.

🏩 With 28 years of experience, the new Director of Operations plans to implement personalized services, team skills training, and a culture of passion for Scottish hospitality at Cameron House. Attracting people to the industry, engaging and retaining talent, and supporting the Resort Director are outlined as main goals. Initiatives include a Graduate Programme, partnering with educational institutions, and mentoring to identify talent. Cameron House also focuses on sustainability, with 11 beehives, over 200 trees planted, and 1,018 trees for an umbrella hire scheme.

📈 Expedia research reveals consumers visit an average of 277 websites before booking travel, a significant increase from 38 websites in 2013. The trend suggests either an inundation of choices or the rise of passionate travel research. The value of time is questioned in relation to the extensive travel planning process. Meanwhile, the role of creativity in marketing is contrasted with the reliance on large budgets to achieve success, highlighting the importance of constraints in fostering creativity. Additionally, the article discusses the parallels between Founder Mode in tech and the hands-on approach of hotel General Managers, suggesting that direct involvement in projects is crucial. B2B marketing challenges are examined, with insights from Linkedin and Forrester research on buying dynamics. Hotel management trends are also touched upon, referencing JLL research on management agreements in APAC. The article concludes by emphasizing the strategic use of freebies in hospitality to enhance guest satisfaction.

🏩 On September 3, 2024, Micah Solomon, an author and customer experience expert, spoke about service excellence in the hospitality industry on the Hospitality Daily Podcast. Solomon highlighted how businesses like Ritz-Carlton and Audi of America use superior service as a competitive edge. He stressed the role of word of mouth and online reviews in customer decision-making and the need for memorable experiences. The episode also covered strategies to improve service without significant costs, emphasizing personalization and understanding guest preferences.

📈 PhocusWright predicts a decline in brick-and-mortar travel agency sales, with a slowdown compared to past years as of September 3, 2024. Online travel sales growth tends to decelerate upon reaching 40% market penetration. The corporate travel sector, still largely offline due to complex policies, contributes to this trend. The effectiveness of hybrid offline-online agency models remains uncertain.

🏨 Over 10,000 U.S. hotel workers initiated a strike on Labor Day, September 3, 2024, affecting services in 25 hotels across nine cities. The strike, entering its second day, corresponds with a 9% increase in Labor Day domestic travel. Hyatt and Hilton are working on fair negotiations, while Hyatt implements contingency plans. The strike could last three days.

📈 Article focuses on the disadvantages of using a Global Distribution System (GDS) for hotels. The article discusses high costs associated with GDS, shifting travel trends, and industry controversies suggesting a move towards alternative booking methods. Authored by Prabhash Bhatnagar, the article was published on September 1, 2024, at 06:30 ZULU, with an update at 06:58 ZULU. The content is hosted on the Hotelogix blog, which is dedicated to providing tips and trends in the hospitality industry.

🏝 John Clune, Global GDS Development Manager at STAAH, cherishes Sydney for its iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, stunning beaches, diverse food scene, rich cultural life including the Vivid Sydney festival, beautiful weather facilitating an outdoor lifestyle, outdoor adventures in the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley, friendly locals, a thriving business scene, and vibrant nightlife. Sydney embodies a perfect balance of excitement, beauty, and community for John.

🍕 Perrine, a French-American eatery at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, launched in 1930, introduces an Indian menu honoring The Pierre Grill's Indian cuisine offered from the 1940s-1970s. Executive Chef Michael Mignano unveiled nine new dishes, drawing inspiration from Taj Hotels' Indian heritage. The menu, which may expand based on guest feedback, includes modern and traditional Indian dishes like dhaba chicken curry. The Pierre, known for seasonal and sustainably sourced menus, may incorporate Indian dishes into its main offerings.