Fifteen years ago, revenue management was not considered a crucial part of hotel operations. Revenue Managers weren't even committee members within the industry as they were more thought of as “glorified reservationists,” who at most would report to the Director of Sales and Marketing. As a consequence, hotels trailed behind, still learning the dynamics behind rate-optimization and pricing strategies that were only implemented a few times a year. READ MORE

As marketing professionals in a technology savvy digital era, there is only one thing that is constant…and that is change. As always, there is a new era in marketing for us to embrace, and it is likely one of the most advanced forms of marketing that we will see over the next couple of years. It's a bird, it's a plane, no… no… it's a drone. READ MORE

With the banners of somewhere around 492 hotel chains emblazoning tens of thousands of hotels, it is no wonder that many independent owners and operators are convinced they hardly stand a chance. They're wrong. The underlying reasons for the proliferation of brands have left them vulnerable to successful competition by smart independents. This key advantage, which is wrapped in a deeper understanding of customers and the ability to take action on these insights, can be leveraged by focusing on two factors: availability and relevance. In this article we examine how independent hotels can take advantage of this weak underbelly and successfully compete with branded hotels. We offer a two point program to successfully compete against the onslaught of brands. READ MORE

Over the years, my team and I have seen it all. We've also made and fixed every marketing mistake imaginable. From not asking owners for the proper budget, to ignoring past guest data or ignoring guest reviews, we've made all the missteps that we still see many hotels making today. But, those types of blunders can make you smarter... READ MORE

This article discusses the growing market for accessible tourism and the opportunity it represents for the hotel sector. The article focuses on one hotel chain in particular - Scandic - that has positioned itself as a world leader in accommodating visitors with disabilities. With 230 hotels spread across Europe, Scandic is the Nordic region's leading hotel chain. In 2003, it drew up an accessibility standard as a platform for all accessibility work at every hotel. Such a proactive approach has given Scandic a competitive advantage in the hotel sector. READ MORE