By Feature Writer Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng: A ‘sense of place’, implies that a space is unique, comforting, bold, tranquil and alluring. In short, it’s the gut reaction to the physicality of your brand, and it’s used in a positive light. This expression encompasses first impressions, but it also denotes how a space can grow on you with more time spent around it or with each subsequent interaction.
Five Travel Marketing Trends For 2014
By Feature Writer Frederic Gonzalo: I recently shared with you what I expected as five key social media marketing trends to look out for in 2014. Since I have been working in the travel & hospitality vertical for the past 20 years, I figure it would be equally interesting to try to figure out what we ought to look out for in 2014 from that industry perspective. So here it goes!
Scent of A Hotel Part 2
By Feature Writer L. Aruna Dhir: The trend of adopting a signature scent is not as new as we may think. Perhaps because hotels have to be enticing enough to have guests really wish to visit them and choose them over another, there must be facets that are distinguishing. Also, hotels are really an experience-based industry, hence they must be able to ensnare all the five senses of the guest, smell being no less important.
Cooking Classes Anyone?
By Feature Writer Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng: I haven’t stumbled upon anything new by bringing up the notion of hotels offering in-house cooking classes, courses or an entire culinary teaching school. It’s a well-established facet of our industry, but one that is mostly in the realm of esteemed five-star jaunts or bucolic inns with Michelin-rated restaurants. So, what I ponder is why more hotels don’t engage in this practice. Is it exclusive to luxury providers, or is it something that any hotel could get up and running, even at the one-off, ad hoc level? Yes or no, make up your mind once we’ve reviewed five key advantages of this practice.
Pinterest and Travel: A Match Made in Social Media Heaven
By Feature Writer Frederic Gonzalo: Because it plays a key role at the aspirational and planning stages of the travel decision-making process, Pinterest should therefore be considered in priority by travel destination, transportation (airlines, rail, cruise) and hoteliers. But restaurants, festivals, events and attractions can all gain from the web traffic generated through compelling visuals, as can be seen by some of the examples above. Pinterest has certainly gained a key role in the social media marketing world, in particular within the travel vertical. It will be interesting to see how Place Pins move the needle and where things lead in 2014.
Drip Pricing Versus Upselling Analyzing the Subtle Difference
By Feature Writer Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng: We all have a conception of what’s implied by ‘upselling’. Drip pricing is a little less understood, so bare with me through a broad definition. It’s the practice of removing services out of what would normally be included in the regular nightly rate then offering them for an additional surcharge. Hence, the prices ‘drip’ from a customer’s wallet as opposed to flushing out in the form of a single line item on the final bill.
Learning Fitness from the Hotel Legends!
By Feature Writer L. Aruna Dhir: It is an urban myth to say that hoteliers don’t have the time to exercise; what with our busy schedules and long, long hours. I have been guilty of using this utterly feeble statement several times, only to my dismal loss. I have seen colleagues, with long schedules (such as those in Front Office and Food & Beverage), finding novel ways to stay fit if they have set their minds to it. Let’s look to some famous hoteliers for inspiration.
On The Effectiveness Of Travel Blogs
By Feature Writer Frederic Gonzalo: For travel marketers, in particular at the destination level, travel blogs play an important role in crafting the attractiveness of the place, its people and the stories that shape its daily life, no matter what time of year. The important thing is to know what role this content is intended to play in the overall online destination marketing strategy, in order to find a good fit for all parties involved: the travel blogger, the destination… and the traveler. Or holidaymaker.
Seventeen Guestroom Pet Peeves
By Feature Writer Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng: The guestroom is the crux of the hotel experience, and there are many small things that can set a guest off but are often overlooked. Call this my pet peeve list, but see if you don’t agree.
A Sense of Arrival, A Sense of Departure
By Feature Writer Larry Mogelonsky, MBA, P. Eng: A sense of arrival is critical, as it sets a tone for the guest’s upcoming visit. Done well, the guest is reassured and excited about their stay. All of their preemptive doubts regarding their stay have been alleviated. Your arrival routine may have even included an up-sell routine to a better room type. All of this is well-documented, analyzed and already part of your operational code. But what about developing a sense of departure?
