Sales and marketing have long been key factors for success in the lodging industry. These departments have evolved with other traditional units within lodging. While there is little positive about the pandemic, there are takeaways from the "pivots" that businesses made to survive COVID-19 and business disruptions. One aspect to note is the integration of technology in marketing and sales efforts. For example, marketing channels that are embracing voice searches, the use of Chatbots and more are preparing lodging sales and marketing for the Metaverse. READ MORE

How to achieve successful metaverse businesses in the hospitality industry? The advent of Mixed Reality glasses would enable everyone to carry portable glasses to experience a layer of the digital world on top of the physical world. Hospitality practitioners should pioneer and prepare to design their desirable digital world as a new marketing initiative to showcase and interact with customers. READ MORE

Advanced guest-facing technologies based on artificial intelligence (AI), virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR), or the metaverse currently have different adoption levels and potential in hospitality, but operators should nevertheless consider integrating them in their marketing and sales strategies. In this article, we explore why these solutions may become indispensable for hotels in the future. READ MORE

Within a given cohort, individuals are on average only 10.5% similar to each other. That means demographic-based marketing efforts will miss the mark roughly 90% of the time. There's a more effective metric for hotel marketing: values. Here's a look at the common hospitality problems a values-driven strategy can solve and a tool for identifying values in your audience. READ MORE

Embracing cutting-edge marketing strategies like virtual reality, voice search, chatbots, and preparing for the Metaverse is crucial for hotels to thrive in a competitive market. By leveraging advanced technologies, hoteliers can attract more guests, enhance customer experiences, and boost their business. Adapting to these emerging trends ensures hotels remain at the forefront of the industry and capitalize on new revenue opportunities. READ MORE

Traveler behavior has changed in recent years faster than we can anticipate. If the disruption from COVID taught us anything, it's that a reliance on traditional channels that we've historically depended on can be a threat to business. This shouldn't engender fear, but rather curiosity. Consider these six sales and marketing strategies to help accelerate your business and keep pace with changing travel behavior. READ MORE

The speed of change in today's hospitality industry is unprecedented. That means that, now more than ever, hotel sales staff and management need to be able to make sales decisions faster and with easy access to reliable data intelligence. Leveraging newer technologies that can instantly combine all relevant data sets into a single source, hoteliers can now finally ensure that their sales strategies are in line with evolving market trends. READ MORE

Marketing budgets have always been tight, but this post-Covid world put a greater emphasis on cost containment. Marketing spends must be justified and optimized - and with limited hotel marketing expertise available, properties have a difficult time knowing what to focus on. The key priorities include: 1) staying focused on positioning; 2) supporting the fundamentals; and 3) ensuring marketing supports business needs. READ MORE

Emerging technology encourages positive change for hotel sales teams, but also comes with its own sets of challenges, especially as it relates to understanding where these it fits into a company's structure and operations. Once properly onboarded, teams that can properly utilize the resources available to them can work more efficiently, ultimately yielding better results for teams and potential clients. READ MORE

Technology is always advancing, but the foundations of good marketing and salesmanship will always remain the same. The key for hotels is not to jump on the latest technological fad, but to embrace technologies that allow them to better know their customers, meet guests where they are, eliminate purchasing friction, encourage positive interactions, and amplify brand advocates. READ MORE

To reduce cost burdens and boost efficiency, hotels can harness an Android TV setup which is a cost-effective solution for their businesses that allows them to get free from the monthly costs of providing TVs in their rooms. The solution can help hoteliers reduce costs and offer their guests their desired content at a relatively lower price. READ MORE

Hotel guests are more than willing to share personal information to elevate their experiences. Properties that use that data in the form of profitable marketing campaigns have the ability to learn more about their guests, stay connected with them, and capture more of their spend. Learn how empowered staff use guest data to identify hospitality moments and personalize their experiences, resulting in champions for their brand and five-star reviews. READ MORE

In a breathtaking 5 days, ChatGPT amassed one million users, dwarfing Facebook's 10-month and Netflix's 3.5-year journeys, sparking an urgent call to action for hoteliers and ownership teams. The profound potential of ChatGPT for revenue generation and operations is undeniable, demanding swift investment in education and strategy. Seize the moment and master prompt crafting, AI agents, and more, lest competitors overtake you in this revolutionary shift. READ MORE

Business travel continues to rebound, with 2023 spending projected to reach $1.16 trillion. Nonetheless, economic pressure - along with geopolitical conflict - is threatening positive progress. As the industry works to recover, emerging trends could hold the key for destinations seeking to overcome headwinds and position themselves for a new surge of success. READ MORE

Evolving workplace environments and travel kicking back into high gear three years after the pandemic have presented new categories of travelers. From business to leisure travel and everywhere in between, this increase in traveler types proves that providing flexible lodging options at your property to appeal to both short and long-term guests is essential. What are the benefits of offering flexible stay offerings? Increased visibility from new categories of travelers, more local support from residents in the community and ultimately an increase in sales. READ MORE

Hi-tech is cool, however hi-touch is more important than ever. Our personal interactions with guests need to matter. Can we outthink even ChatGPT? Well trained staff is enabled to leverage technology both for developing information rich guest profiles plus our hi-tech resources at the fingertips of staff are useful tools for upselling, answering inquiries and even transacting if needed. READ MORE

Consumers demand it. Marketing teams see results from it. Now, personalized marketing is a reality in the hospitality industry, thanks to today's modern technology stack and a better understanding of how to create a custom path to purchase. Here's how hotels and resorts are leveraging personalized marketing at scale to increase conversion rates, grow revenue and build loyalty. READ MORE

In today's ferociously competitive environment, hoteliers must be hyperaware of providing a consistent experience throughout the entire sales cycle. Check out this guide to realize the potential of having a holistic CRM. See how your hotel sales and marketing teams can work together to anticipate and adapt to booking patterns and guest behavior, making visibility and accountability top priorities at every step of the sales process. READ MORE

In response to the trend of customers seeking sustainable hospitality, hotels are rolling out the green carpet for their guests. They are launching new initiatives and incorporating green marketing into their plans. Sharing details about sustainability on property captures the attention of travelers as they seek to book accommodations at a property that shares their commitment to gloriously green travel. READ MORE

The concept of Emotional Intelligence is considered a cornerstone for the ability demonstrate numerous soft skills that are critical to the hospitality trade. Individuals aside, there is less discourse about how hospitality brands at large should be demonstrating their EQ within the marketplace. Branding expert Martha Marchesi, CEO of JK Design, provides five signs that a hospitality brand lacks EQ. READ MORE