Five years after his original look at gamification in the hospitality world for HotelExecutive, Plan A Technologies Chairman Aron Ezra revisits the piece. He recounts which of his predictions proved right (and examines which of his proved less so) while offering his biggest takeaway for the entire field. READ MORE
HOTEL BUSINESS REVIEW
June FOCUS: Sales & Marketing

Selling is a complex art and a tricky science, yet it is an under-trained, undervalued, not respected high skill profession, where people are often hired untested because 'they're really nice.' In a post pandemic era, competing with virtual sales and a marketplace underflowing with available talent, this article will help you to understand the purpose of selling in a different way and what to look out for in your salespeople. READ MORE

Behavioral scientists have known for decades that core human values drive all our decisions, including which hotel we choose. When we add valuegraphics to the demographics and psychographics in our audience profiles, we get a clear picture of how to motivate our prospects and customers at the level of human instinct. This case study walks through how valuegraphics could impact marketing strategy for a luxury hotel brand in Europe. READ MORE

With their popularity and high rates of commission, OTAs can be a thorn in the side of every hotel. But there are a few different things you can do to make the OTAs work for you, and even beat them at their own game. Check out these six tips and see if you can start to turn the tables. READ MORE

With what is expected to be the busiest travel season of all time right around the corner, hotels need to ensure their technology runs smoothly and keeps up with increased traffic. Hotels and short-term rentals need to adopt technology that balances both guests' wants and staffing constraints to ensure their comfort and safety this summer and beyond. READ MORE
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The strength of your branding and marketing today will have a dramatic effect on long-term success. For hospitality, today's messaging needs to inspire consumers to get out again and return to travel. But we also need to manage expectations, and that has to happen at both the marketing and operational levels. It's time for an internal assessment and perhaps a course correction. Whether a small independent property or a multi-state operator, hoteliers need to be honest with themselves, be real with people, make smart investment and get creative. READ MORE

For most hoteliers, the hotel website is the hub of their digital marketing machine. It is the crucial last point of contact the hotel has with its guest before a booking is made...or lost. Building a fast, modern, user-friendly website and then marketing that website using appropriate digital marketing channels are important first steps in driving qualified visitors to the site and encouraging direct bookings. But there is still more to do to fully optimize the site: By providing a more customized viewing experience for website visitors, dynamic content and personalization can significantly improve conversion rates and lower customer acquisition costs for hotels. READ MORE