GCommerce Partners With Jonas Chorum as Its Preferred Metasearch Provider
Jonas Chorum | April 17th, 2024
5 Sales Strategies to Win More Business in 2022
Amadeus | January 20th, 2022
Going to Texas for The Hospitality Show? What You Need to Know Make the Most of Your Time
Mike Pavicich | October 22, 2024
By Mike Pavicich | Director, Global Sales | SalesAndCatering.com As we get ready for The Hospitality Show 2024, there's a lot of excitement about the sessions, keynotes, and social events that will be happening. It's going to be quite a great event. But you know what, for me as a people-person, the real magic often happens outside the sessions. Ever notice how the best insights come from chatting with interesting people? These folks might share stories that make you laugh, confirm your ideas, or even surprise you with new perspectives. Sessions usually get all the attention, but they can be a bit of a one-way conversation. You can alw...
The Group Sales Trifecta: Cost Savings, Revenue Generation, and Operational Efficiency To Boost Bottom Line
Mike Pavicich | August 21, 2024
How to achieve the group sales trifecta according to a Senior Director of Sales at a leading national hotel management and consulting company By Mike Pavicich | Director, Global Sales | SalesAndCatering.com When it comes to optimizing your hotel's sales and catering operations, real-world examples speak volumes about the efficacy of advanced technological solutions. Take it from a Senior Director of Sales at a leading national hotel management and consulting company, who has hands-on experience with the capabilities and advantages offered by SalesAndCatering.com solutions. Initially, this hotel management company saw the potentia...
Hotel Sales Is High-Touch: Are You Under-Resourced to Compete?
Rick Blackburn | August 15, 2024
As we begin to ask questions specific to the hotel sales team – their strategy, tactics, sales initiatives, business development, client engagement, etc – it becomes quite apparent how “high-touch” the sales discipline is in today’s environment which often includes reduced staffing, loss of legacy talent, and the increased absence of training and corporate resources. The majority of my hospitality clients are franchise hotels, independents, smaller hotel brands, and destination marketing organizations (DMOs, or convention & visitors bureaus). Interestingly enough, the challenges and “pain points” are consistent in all o...
Knowland and Amadeus Report U.S. Group Business Delivers Seven Consecutive Quarters of Growth
KNOWLAND | August 14, 2024
Hospitality industry business segment growth normalizes over 2023, according to the Knowland and Amadeus 2Q2024 Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index ARLINGTON, Va. — August 14, 2024 — Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, and Amadeus, a leading technology provider for the travel industry, today present the metrics from the companies’ Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index- the “Index”. For the second quarter of 2024, the Index shows overall health of 105.5 percent year-over-year. This is the first time the overall Index has exceeded ...
Amadeus Improves Sales, Meeting & Event Planning With Enhanced Delphi® Experience
Amadeus | July 25, 2024
A newly enhanced and expanded sales and catering suite of solutions will allow hotels of all sizes to maximize efficiency and profitability July 25, 2024 - Group business is top of mind for hoteliers in 2024, with new research finding that hoteliers are prioritizing ways to strengthen customer relationships, to improve outreach with new and repeat business, and to plan and execute events more effectively. Recognizing this, Amadeus has harnessed over three decades of expertise to develop an enhanced Delphi solution. Designed to support teams from sales lead to execution, Delphi has been updated to better meet the needs of any hotel, no matte...
Sports Tourism Drives Las Vegas Year-Over-Year Growth in Meetings for June With a 22.2 Percent Uptick, Knowland Data Shows
Knowland | July 10, 2024
Louisville leads secondary markets with 72.73 percent year-over-year growth fueled by financial industry events ARLINGTON, Va. — July 10, 2024 — Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, reported that Las Vegas took the lead in meeting volume growth with a solid 22.2 percent increase for June year-over-year (YoY). Ranked second, St. Louis, Mo. saw a 12 percent increase in YoY growth. This data is sourced from Knowland’s sales intelligence platform and designed to help hoteliers protect and grow their revenue base. There was an increase in total square footage us...
How To Train Your Guest Service Staff To Turn Every Conversation Into a Sales & Marketing Opportunity – Complimentary Registration Now Open
Doug Kennedy | July 8, 2024
Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Register your team and participate live, or view the recording, of Doug Kennedy’s next 40-minute training webcast scheduled for Monday, July 22, from Noon – 12:45pm EST. REGISTER HERE As tech solutions continue to replace “touch points” in the guest’s “cycle of service,” each remaining “conversation” becomes ever more important, especially since guests are more likely to reach out to our humans either when things go wrong, or when they have a special request or need. “With so many guests booking online, often through third parties, with an ev...
Sojern Now Available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace
Sojern | June 19, 2024
Enhance real-time guest engagement and streamline marketing efforts using Sojern’s Guest Experience Solutions with Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform SAN FRANCISCO, 19 June 2024 – Sojern, a leading digital marketing platform built for travel and a member of Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN), today announced its suite of Guest Experience Solutions is available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace and can be deployed on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and integrated with OPERA Cloud via the Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform (OHIP). Oracle Cloud Marketplace is a centralized repository of enterprise applications offered by Oracle and Oracle...
Almost Every Hotel or Resort Customer Reads Guest Reviews
Accor | June 17, 2024
A staggering 97% of hotel guests have consulted guest reviews when looking to book a stay in a hotel or resort, according to a new report from Accor, a world leading hospitality group. The report, based on research1 carried out amongst 5,000 travellers across five European countries who stayed in a hotel or resort during the last 12 months, reveals that almost four in ten (38%) guests do so every time they book a stay, and a further 38% do so most of the time. According to the study, guest reviews and ratings are the second most important factor in the booking decision process, ranking just behind rooms and amenities, and surpassing cri...
GCommerce Partners With Jonas Chorum as Its Preferred Metasearch Provider
Jonas Chorum | April 17, 2024
Metadesk, powered by GCommerce, has established a partnership with Jonas Chorum its preferred provider for metasearch management solutions. Jonas Chorum, a subsidiary of Jonas Hospitality, is an industry-leading provider of hotel management solutions, trusted by 1,200+ hotels. Their suite of products includes a hotel PMS, CRS, POS, as well as guest and staff mobile apps. Their commitment to providing distinctive, guest-centric technology resonates seamlessly with Metadesk’s objective of enhancing direct bookings while prioritizing the overall guest experience. Key benefits of the expanded partnership include: Strategic Market...
Why the Marketing Budget Should Include Customer Service Training
Shep Hyken | February 2, 2024
By Shep Hyken Many companies still believe that customer service is what happens when something goes wrong. However, that is only one part of customer service. The bigger picture is that customer service happens throughout a customer’s entire experience while doing business with you. It starts the moment they interact with your company, and that might not even be with a live human. It could be an interaction they have with your website. Companies spend a lot of money to get you interested in what they sell and eventually get you to buy. Traditionally, that is marketing and sales. Then, throughout the journey, you have an experience....
How to Stay on Top of Your Guest Feedback
Cendyn | July 21, 2023
When it comes to running a successful hotel, keeping a finger on the pulse of guest feedback is an absolute must. We know the sheer volume of feedback pouring in can feel overwhelming, but trust us, the benefits are well worth the effort. In today’s customer-centric world, guests are no longer satisfied with just a place to lay their heads; they crave a personalized experience that leaves a lasting impression. To deliver that level of service, you need to truly understand your guests – and the best way to do that is by asking them directly. Guest feedback holds the key to unlocking invaluable insights that can drive operation...
How to Attract Remote Workers to Your Hotel
Expedia Group Media Solutions | March 30, 2023
The way we work has drastically changed in the wake of the pandemic, which isn’t unlike the changes we’ve seen in travel. Despite some companies rolling out return-to-office initiatives, remote and hybrid work arrangements continue to play a large role in travel. In our research, we found that over one-third of business travelers are entirely remote, and approximately 85% of business travelers work partially remote as part of a hybrid work model. During the pandemic, remote work meant holding conference calls in our kitchens and blurring our home backgrounds to create a sense of separation between work and home. Now, with travel ba...
Leading Hotel Brand Valor Hospitality Selects STS Cloud as Their Preferred Sales and Catering Platform Partner for 8 Properties
SalesAndCatering.com | May 17, 2022
Valor Hospitality is Utilizing SalesAndCatering.com’s STS Cloud and ProposalPath across 8 properties to empower a stand-out group sales process that consistently wins more business Mount Pleasant, SC [May 17, 2022] - Valor Hospitality Partners, a full-service hotel management, acquisition and development company with a track record of excellence, has partnered with SalesAndCatering.com to transform their group sales processes. Using both STS Cloud and ProposalPath, Valor Hospitality Hotels are primed to stand out from competitor properties, capitalize on leads, drive revenue, and consistently over-deliver on meeting and event bookings....
TAJ Hospitality Selects STS Cloud, Proposal Path, and e-Signature to Fuel the Growth and Development of Its Sales Team
TAJ Hospitality Management | April 28, 2022
The globally recognized hospitality brand is on a high-growth trajectory as they look to optimize its group business segment with a technology stack from SalesAndCatering.com MOUNT PLEASANT, SC – (April 28th, 2022) - TAJ Hospitality, a premier hotel brand with 40 years of experience and a beloved reputation for treating each hotel guest like family, has implemented STS Cloud, ProposalPath, and e-Signature across their entire portfolio of hotels. With the help of these integrated solutions from SalesAndCatering.com, TAJ Hospitality is positioned to enter a new phase of growth while empowering its properties with intuitive, user-friendly t...
Groups360 Raises $35 Million in Funding to Support Rapid Growth
Groups360 | April 7, 2022
$35 Million Investment from Zigg Capital, Blackstone Innovations Investments, and Fir Tree Partners to Accelerate Growth NASHVILLE, TN – April 7, 2022 – Groups360, a leading platform for booking group travel, today announced the completion of a $35 million funding round led by Zigg Capital and including Blackstone Innovations Investments, and Fir Tree Partners. They join existing investors Accor, Hilton, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Marriott International. Groups360 provides real-time availability and instant booking capabilities for both hotel room blocks and meeting space, streamlining group travel for organizers, attendees, a...
Understanding Distribution: OTA Channels
Vizergy | April 5, 2022
With countless channels and platforms to manage, distribution can be tricky. Today, we begin our series on distribution to help demystify some of the process and provide you with information you need to boost bookings and create new business. Building a Hotel Distribution Channel Strategy When it comes to hotel channel distribution, you have several options. To maximize production and revenue, you need to consider the right channel mix that best fits your property’s target market. Understanding different traveler segments who book at your property allows you to diversify your business mix and optimize your distribution strategy. The ...
What Makes an Effective Digital Marketing Strategy and How to Craft One
Dr Valentina Clergue | February 9, 2022
By Dr Valentina Clergue Over the past decades, marketing practice has increasingly focused on creating online interactions between organizations and their consumers. This shift is spurred by multiple developments, such as the growing internet penetration, the increasing sophistication of devices, as well as the greater connection speed that network technology offers. The increasing relevance of digital marketing is underlined by the significant increase in spending on digital advertising, which is estimated to grow from $335bio to $645bio in the period between 2019 and 2024. Digital marketing refers to a set of different digital tool...
Make It Meta: What Is Metasearch and Why It’s Important for Travel Marketers
Dave Goulden | February 3, 2022
By Dave Goulden, VP of Product at Sojern Hotels are always looking for new ways to attract travelers and drive direct bookings. From display ads to social media, video to native, marketers already have a great mix of options at their fingertips. However, a healthy multichannel marketing approach doesn’t stop there. In today’s marketing landscape, hotels must also leverage metasearch, as it has the power to drive big results. Metasearch has the potential to be one of the most powerful marketing channels available for travel brands. Metasearch helps travelers with one the most important factors when considering travel: price. Travele...
5 Sales Strategies to Win More Business in 2022
Amadeus | January 20, 2022
Many questions are on the minds of hospitality leaders as they think about 2022 and strategize new, creative ways to generate revenue. While COVID-19 recovery has largely been driven by domestic, leisure travelers, groups and corporate bookings are starting to return. In the US alone, group meeting volume increased 30% in October 2021 over the previous month. Additionally, the average number of attendees and event space used surpassed pre-pandemic levels. This has sales and event professionals asking, “What’s driving the latest group business trends?” and, “Will this be the year corporate travel returns?” As events bounce back...
ProposalPath Tapped by Troon for Proposal and Contract Innovation to Win More Group Sales
Bluebuzzard | January 19, 2022
Club management industry leader selects ProposalPath as preferred all-in-one document automation solution to drive productivity, personal service and revenue Chicago, Illinois - January 19 2022 - Troon®, the leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, has joined forces with Bluebuzzard to transform their sales process with ProposalPath, the company’s flagship proposal platform. Utilizing ProposalPath’s all-in-one document workflow, Troon-affiliated facilities can maintain brand consistency with ease while closing more leads in less time, and offering personalized sales documents that impress at every...
Google Represents Ongoing Threat to Online Travel Agencies, Says GlobalData
GlobalData | January 13, 2022
COVID-19 had a serious impact on online travel agencies (OTAs), according to GlobalData, which notes that the OTA market value decreased by a gruesome 60.4% year-on-year (YoY) in 2020. The leading data and analytics company reveals that this strain has amplified OTA’s existing concerns around the growing presence of Google in the market, and how the tech giant’s control could impact competitivity and, therefore, consumer choice. Ralph Hollister, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Google’s growing presence in online travel will be ominous for OTAs that have no choice but to rely on the search engine fo...
Anchor Pricing as a Teachable Moment From NYE
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | January 12, 2022
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky All Omicron matters considered, this New Year’s Eve was still a time for going out and celebrating. As the time has passed, the lesson today is meant more as a resolution for the year ahead, with our hope that you will take the concept of ‘anchor pricing’ and figure out how to use it to optimize beverage sales for the entirety of 2022 and beyond. A form of cognitive bias, anchoring is when a person is influenced or nudged towards a particular outcome or decision based upon a previously introduced point of reference. With applications throughout behavioral economics, the ‘pricing’ comes wh...
Rethinking Your Post-Pandemic Branding
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | January 6, 2022
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky We’re still yoyoing through the Great Reset and the latest spat with Omicron has proven that we’re still in the midst of very erratic travel conditions. The longer this pandemic persists, though, the more customers will change their travel habits, and this can mean brisk business for capturing more market share as people get their boosters and confidence is restored. A big trend therein to consider is ‘purposeful travel’ and the more you define this the better your odds on standing apart from the herd. A large factor for why purposeful travel will have a big impact for the decade ahead has to do with...
