Marketing

📖 Legendary hotelier Horst Schulze shares his personal journey on Sept. 19, 2024, detailing how facing death altered his life's approach. Schulze emphasizes the importance of excellence, vision, purpose, and intent following a life-changing diagnosis. He advocates for leveraging wisdom and experience in life's later stages, aiming to maximize contribution. The story is featured on the "Hospitality Daily Podcast," inviting listeners to gain insights into Schulze's transformative experience.

📈 In 2024, the 3rd annual HerOwnership Conference by AAHOA took place in Redondo Beach, California, gathering 300 attendees. Women hoteliers, making up 40% of AAHOA's membership, celebrated the organization's 35th anniversary, focusing on executive presence, hotel ownership, and wellness. Keynote speakers included Neeti Dewan and Raji Brar, covering personal growth and political engagement. Breakout sessions, masterclasses, networking, and receptions featured during the two-day event, with future regional events planned.

📌 The Global Distribution System (GDS) exposes hotel inventory to 600,000 travel agents. To optimize GDS hotel listings: include detailed descriptions and quality images; monitor online reputation; highlight sustainability; set targeted rate strategies with 10% commissionable Public Rates and Negotiated Rates for partnerships; offer promotions; automate updates with systems like STAAH GDS for content accuracy and streamlined management. GDS is popular with business travelers for integrated travel bookings.

📍 Expedia launched shoppable Travel Shops on their app, curated by over 100 social media influencers and partners, including Brett Conti, Renee Roaming, and Oneika Raymond. Notable partners also feature Liverpool FC Captain Virgil van Dijk and actor Jaime Camil. Premier media partners like Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure have created storefronts. Travel Shops allow users to monetize and share travel recommendations, which will become accessible to all in 2025. The service, launched yesterday, is currently available on the Expedia iOS app in the US, Canada, and the UK. Join the waitlist for wider access next year.

🏠 Claire Llewellin-Davis, General Manager of The Lensbury Resort, discusses hosting elite sports teams, including Manchester United, the All Blacks, and the Lionesses. She highlights the resort's distinct approach to meeting precise dietary needs in collaboration with team nutritionists and chefs, managing logistics like equipment and routine changes, ensuring privacy and dealing with crowds (episode aired on Sept. 13, 2024).

🏠 TPG Hotels & Resorts to manage the AC Hotel Tuscaloosa Downtown in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, featuring WiFi, smart TVs, a 24-hour room, on-site business center, and 1,500 square feet of event space. Close to Riverwalk, Amphitheater, museums, and the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium. AC Kitchen offers croissants from France, while AC Lounge serves tapas and drinks. TPG focuses on enhancing performance and growth in U.S. college markets.

🏖️ Ascendant Capital Partners, Highgate, and Centerbridge Partners opened the renovated Monterey Beach Hotel in Monterey, Calif. Originally built in 1967, it now features 192 rooms and over 40,000 square feet of space. Spark by Hilton debuted in Canada with its 72-key Toronto Markham hotel, aiming to expand Hilton's Canadian portfolio by 50% in five years. Glokal Group and Blue Road began construction on the $40 million Dolce by Wyndham Miami, set to open in 2026. Choice Hotels opened the 119-room Radisson Hotel Fairview Heights – St. Louis.

🏡 Sutton Hall, a Georgian house in Norfolk, offers an exclusive 12-person country retreat with 6 en-suite bedrooms and amenities including an open-plan kitchen, hot tub, and pool room. Implementing the STAAH booking engine and channel manager resolved previous guest booking and distribution issues, enhancing the online experience and increasing revenue, while also connecting to 500+ OTAs. STAAH's customer support was commended for helping the property harness the full potential of these tools.

🍴 Restaurateurs Alexis Gauthier, Jon Davis, Mandy Yin, and Will Beckett join OpenTable's advisory board to provide local insights and expert perspectives. They represent Gauthier Soho, The Ivy Collection, Sambal Shiok Laksa Bar, and Hawksmoor respectively. The group aims to guide OpenTable in supporting restaurants in the UK, leveraging their decades of experience. OpenTable's VP of EMEA, Laure Bornet, seeks to enhance the company's impact with this collaboration.