Looking to the future has always been a tricky task, and given the pace of technological innovation taking place today, this has not become any easier. Nevertheless, it is possible to view trends as they are, and make some predictions with a fair degree of accuracy.
The power of empathy in business
Research by psychologists Mathew A. Killingsworth and Daniel T. Gilbert of Harvard University have shown that people spend 46.9 per cent of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they are doing. So, we need to be present. Imagine if we and our teams were able to increase our attention by just 5 per cent.
WorldÕs greenest hotels revealed
The 2017 Green Hotelier Awards have named the worldÕs most eco-friendly and sustainable hotels as part of Responsible BusinessÊWeek. The annual awards invite applications from hotels of any size anywhere in the world, judging them on their efforts to reduce energy and water consumption, their waste output, their roles as responsible businesses to their employees and in the local community, as well as looking at how they communicate their sustainable and responsible ethos to guests.
What independent hotels gain from the flagsÕ big investments in the direct channel
In 2016, several major hotel brands launched aggressive campaigns to drive direct bookings. HiltonÕs is among the best known, with its catchy ÒStop Clicking AroundÓ campaign. The company claimed this was Òits largest campaign ever”. Hyatt, Marriott and Intercontinental joined the fray, and what was once just a campaign became a long-lasting news story about the big brands waging war on OTA commissions. How did it work out for them?
Social media keys to the adventure market
Adventure travel is undeniably one of the most popular trends all over the world and growing by leaps and bounds. Social media and PR are a vital way to highlight your propertyÕs involvement to reap more reservations from this category. Although studies indicate that adventure enthusiasts read online magazines like National Geographic Traveler and Outside Magazine, they also follow their extremely popular Instagram and Pinterest feeds. Therefore, your destination should aim to gain coverage in these kinds of mainstream media outlets as part of a comprehensive PR program.
Steps towards branding success for independent and boutique hotels
Each day, consumers are exposed to approximately 5,000 advertisements. From morning to night, our brains are flooded with corporate branding, selling products and services. Due to the intense competition for each consumerÕs attention, every minute of every day, consistent and strategic branding and a strong first impression is especially important. Ideally, a brand identity should be developed and communicated long before your public launch, but if your property didnÕt have this luxury, donÕt worry. ItÕs never too late to improve your propertyÕs branding.
The voice of money in your hotel
In the hotel business, we have three equal pillars. The guest, the colleague and the money. We need to realize that theÊthird pillar, the money, the owner, the P&L, the paperwork, whatever you want to call it, needs a proper voice. The right voice, a voice that speaks to the leadership and the highest purpose that a corner stone of our business warrants. Far too often the voice of the money is scary stingy or down right mean. If the paper is going to have a voice we want to ensure itÕs the proper one – the voice that will get and give equity with all of our constituents.
The most beautifully furnished pubs, cafes and restaurants in Brisbane
As the autumn sun continues to beat down on Brisbane,Êthere hasÊbeen plenty of leisure timeÊdue to the recently finished Easter holidays.ÊNonetheless, Nextrend Furniture has decided to put together a list of our 10 most beautiful furnished pubs, cafes and restaurants around Brisbane that weÕve come to work on. From the stunning Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club and to the Pub Lovers Tavern in Aspley, the list takes us all over Queensland.
Elder adults staying in extended stay hotels
As people get older, they kind of get set in their ways.ÊThat means that if they are used to getting up at five in the morning that is what they want to do.ÊIf they always eat breakfast at five minutes past six in the morning, that is what they are going to want to do, even when they are on vacation. An extended stay hotel can help older people or anyone else for that matter, stick to their routines.
Why hotels need to turbocharge their service optimization capabilities
Leading hotels have always sought to handle the deluge of guest requests in a satisfactory and time-sensitive manner. The challenge today lies in the fact that guests expect ever-faster responses and ever-better service quality. They also expect a vast array of options for communicating their requests. Hoteliers, in turn, need to meet these expectations. And because the frontier on guest experience management continues to advance, they also need to ensure that they are driving optimal performance improvement on an ongoing basis.
