Louisville, Kentucky Nearly Doubles Year-Over-Year Event Volume, Hits 94.9 Percent Growth in July
Knowland | August 21st, 2024
Knowland Wins 2023 Skift IDEA Award
Knowland | August 10, 2023
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Are Group Sales at Your Hotel Slipping Through the Cracks? Here’s Why.
Shift Digital | August 9, 2023
The right information and extra support can help your hotel avoid missing out on group sales revenue. There’s no question—when it comes to returning to “normal,” group business and sales have been the most challenging for many hotels. Continued skepticism around when conferences and events will return to pre-pandemic levels, coupled with an influx of unqualified leads and skeletal sales teams, have resulted in hotels missing out on lucrative group business—simply because they couldn’t manage the incoming inquiries. So, as in-person conferences and events (and their revenue) finally resurface, what can hotels hamstrung by li...
Having a Nash Bash: How Your Hotel Can Capitalize on Events To Increase Direct Bookings
Stephen Fitzgerald | August 8, 2023
By: Stephen Fitzgerald, Vice President, Hotels, at Sojern From bachelorette parties to concerts, Nashville is an increasingly-popular destination for events–and these events are selling out hotel rooms well in advance. Recently, the Music City hosted concerts from artists like Taylor Swift to George Strait, both of which drove a sharp spike in hotel bookings. In fact, room rates at mid-range hotels during the Taylor Swift concert weekend ran upwards of $1150 per night. And it’s not just concerts driving bookings: Nashville is becoming a bachelor and bachelorette party mecca, and many of these parties take place during weekends without ...
Navigating Traveler Behaviors: Key Insights for Hotel Marketing Pros
Stephanie Sparks Smith | August 7, 2023
By Stephanie Sparks Smith Recently Expedia Group released their 2023 Q1 Traveler Insights Report. I brought this interesting piece of research to the great minds at the HSMAI Marketing Advisory Board to discuss the trends and explore if they align with what we are seeing in the industry. Booking Window Patterns While short-term bookings were common during the pandemic, many in the group have noticed a shift towards longer-term bookings. Some noted that leisure travelers are booking closer to 60 days out for some of their properties. One interesting point was that hotel bookings are being made further in advance compared to flights, indi...
What Your Hotel Needs to Know About FTC’s Stand Against Fake AI Generated Reviews
Lodging Interactive | August 3, 2023
The FTC acknowledges the emergence of generative AI and its potential impact on creating fake hotel guest reviews. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking a stand against deceptive practices in online reviews and social media metrics. With a proposed formal ban, the FTC intends to crack down on fake reviews, testimonials, and the use of phony followers and views to artificially inflate social media metrics. This means we’ll see a lot more hotels and travel businesses get authentic reviews and followers in the future! This latest move by the FTC builds upon previous actions targeting fake reviews. In 2019, the agency fined a third-p...
Doug Kennedy Announces Next Topic in His Webcast Training Series: Reservations Sales: Remember, Ring-Ring Means Cha-Ching!
Doug Kennedy | August 3, 2023
Complimentary Registration Sponsored by Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Kennedy Training Network Inc. (KTN) announced today the topic for Doug Kennedy’s next training webcast: Reservations Sales: Remember, Ring-Ring Means Cha-Ching!, scheduled for Friday, August 18 from Noon – 12:40 pm. REGISTER HERE According to Doug, “Smart revenue and marketing leaders know that the voice reservations channel is alive and thriving. Of course, resorts, luxury properties, vacation rental agencies, and boutique hotels all know this. Even at branded, select-service hotels, front desk associates regularly field calls fro...
Flip.to Joins Choice Hotels as a Qualified Vendor (QV) To Directly Help Franchises Accelerate Growth and Drive Profitability
Flip.to | August 3, 2023
Choice Hotels brings access to the Flip.to marketing platform to its U.S. hotels across 13 brands Orlando, FL and Rockville, MD | August 3, 2023 — Flip.to, the marketing platform that helps reach, inspire, and win over travelers, is excited to announce it is now a Choice Hotels® Qualified Vendor (QV). The development lets Choice’s portfolio of legacy brands in the U.S. tap Flip.to to drive direct channel growth and convert LTR to revenue growth with impact tracked to reservations and in real-time. “We’re aimed at reimagining travel marketing. Inspiration is at the core of everything we build, and that’s something that resona...
Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index From Knowland and Amadeus Shows Q2 2023 Group Revenue Recovery in Fourteen of Top Twenty-Five US Mark
Knowland | August 1, 2023
Group business shows most significant improvement at 102 percent of the same period in 2019 ARLINGTON, Va. — Aug. 1, 2023 — Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, and Amadeus, a global leader in hospitality technology, today present the metrics from the companies’ Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index, for the second quarter of this year. The Index, which combines event data from Knowland with hotel booking data from Amadeus to give both individual and aggregate views of the key drivers of hotel performance, was first launched in June and is updated...
HSMAI Washington DC Chapter Announces State of the Industry Program
HSMAI Washington DC Chapter | July 31, 2023
WASHINGTON (July 31, 2023) – The Washington, D.C., chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International today invited hospitality professionals from throughout the metropolitan area to attend its annual State of the Industry program Aug. 24 at the Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf. The program is designed to help area hospitality sales, marketing and revenue-management professionals prepare their plans and budgets for 2024. Moderator will be Jennifer Hill, Kalibri Labs vice president of commercial strategy. The panel will include Robin McClain, Destination DC chief marketing officer; John Hach, Amadeus seni...
Travelers Spend Over 5 Hours Researching Trips On Average – Longer Than Flying From Los Angeles to Washington DC
Expedia Group | July 25, 2023
Research from Expedia Group uncovers how and where travelers plan and book travel, revealing the growing role of social media and advertising influence, top online resources, and the new online path to purchase. SEATTLE, July 25, 2023 - Expedia Group’s Path to Purchase research has revealed the travel content consumption habits of travelers as they seek inspiration and plan their trip, spending 303 minutes or over 5 hours on average with travel content in the 45 days prior to booking. The research, conducted by Expedia Group and Luth Research, sheds light on traveler preferences and behaviors throughout the online shopping journey a...
Hotel Omnichannel Marketing vs. Multichannel Marketing Explained
Lodging Interactive | July 19, 2023
When done properly, Omnichannel marketing can be very effective in driving direct revenue to hotels. Read more about it. The many ways consumers interact with hotels today are vast and diverse. From browsing social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook on smartphones to watching captivating YouTube videos on tablets, or even stumbling upon a hotel’s website through a search engine query on a desktop computer, the avenues for hotel discovery are ever-expanding. In this landscape, cultivating a consistent and seamless user experience across all channels has become paramount. Enter omnichannel marketing, a strategic approach that c...
CoMMingle Launches Review Management and Social Media Services for Restaurants
Lodging Interactive | July 19, 2023
CoMMingle:Engage not only monitors customer restaurant review websites 24/7 but also has its team of professional analysts write direct responses to each review on behalf of the restaurant. Lodging Interactive, an award-winning digital marketing, reputation management, and social media engagement agency exclusively serving the hospitality industry since 2001, is excited to announce the expansion of its flagship product, CoMMingle:Engage, to cater specifically to the restaurant industry. CoMMingle:Engage, the preferred solution for hotel customer review response and social media marketing, now off...
Mailbox Providers Retiring Inactive Accounts and What It Means for Hotel Marketers
Cendyn | July 12, 2023
By Haydee Fernandez Mailbox providers (MBP) such as Google, Yahoo, and others are retiring inactive accounts, a move that benefits them by reducing storage costs and freeing up desirable accounts and email addresses. Google recently made headlines with its announcement that accounts inactive for 2 years will be retired, starting as early as December 2023. Yahoo, on the other hand, has been retiring inactive accounts after just 12 months since 2013. When a MBP retires an inactive account, it is deleted. All emails sent to the associated email address will hard bounce. Then, in as little as 30 days, accounts can be made available aga...
Knowland Reports Meetings and Events Growth for June at 30.3 Percent
Knowland | July 12, 2023
Austin and Nashville performances shine brightly ARLINGTON, Va. — July 12, 2023 — Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, reports June meeting and event volume is up 30.3 percent over June 2022. This data is sourced from Knowland’s sales intelligence platform designed to help hoteliers build and protect a hotel’s revenue base. The top 25 markets in the U.S. are 90 percent recovered for year-to-date June 2023 performance compared to 2019. Austin, TX, and Nashville, TN, were the stars, with growth topping 74 percent and 42 percent, respectively. This reflect...
Instagram: The Rising Phoenix of Social Media Marketing?
Lodging Interactive | July 11, 2023
In a recent article, we discussed numerous inaccurate predictions of Facebook's downfall by many self-proclaimed "experts." In a similar vein, we now consider how Instagram offers savvy hotel marketers a true business advantage. The phrase "Instagram is dead" echoes through digital corridors, causing concern among hotel marketers. If I were to collect a penny for every time this is stated, the scent of the Caribbean's salty sea breeze would gently blow through the shutters of my private island. Yet, I understand this sentiment, as Instagram’s ever-changing landscape seems to be creating insurmountable roadblocks to follower growth and en...
Mobius Vendor Partners President Bob Kobek Reacts to BBB Report on Timeshare and Vacation Club Sales
Mobius Vendor Partners | July 10, 2023
Indianapolis, IN (July 10, 2023) – Bob Kobek, President of Indianapolis-based Mobius Vendor Partners, who also serves on the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau (BBB)® Serving Central Indiana, has shared his reactions to a recent study from the Better Business Bureau entitled Unpacking timeshare and vacation club sales, by Brian Edwards, BBB International Investigations Specialist. “The BBB mission is to promote trust and business integrity. While its latest study does give a thorough overview of timeshares, the various timeshare structures, and the pros and cons of ownership, its perspective doesn’t consider that times...
5 Ways to Boost Your Hotel Sales Productivity With a B2B CRM
Cendyn | July 10, 2023
The saying “change is the only constant” is a maxim that applies to the hotel industry. Yet it’s not entirely accurate for our industry, as there’s another constant that’s equally impactful to hoteliers: competition. No matter what’s going on in your local market, or in the macro-economic environment, the hotel industry will always be competitive – especially when it comes to corporate business. For some hotels, beating the competition can be quite challenging in both good times and bad. To be well-positioned for success, hoteliers need to find ways to increase sales and productivity to stay ahead of the competition. One e...
Hoteliers Guide to First-Party Data Marketing
Lodging Interactive | June 27, 2023
In the world of hospitality marketing, data is an invaluable asset. It provides insights into customer behavior, preferences, and interactions, allowing marketers to deliver personalized experiences. One type of data that holds immense potential is first-party data. In this post, we will explore what first-party data is, its benefits, and how hotel marketers can leverage it to create exceptional customer experiences. Exploring Different Types of Data Before delving into first-party data, it's essential to understand the various types of data marketers commonly use. First-Party Data - Think Hotel PMS or CRM First-party data refers to t...
Hospitality Technology Innovator Agilysys Demonstrates How Hotels and Resorts Are Using Technology to Elevate Return on Experience (ROE) Across Six Ke
Agilysys | June 27, 2023
– Demonstrations and eBook available in Agilysys Booth #1039 at AHLA’s The Hospitality Show – ALPHARETTA, GA — JUNE 27, 2023 — Despite rising economic headwinds from elevated inflation in 2023, a 2023 EY report Hospitality Industry Looks Strong for 2023 – Despite Recession Fears predicts continued strong performance for the hospitality industry throughout 2023 while also cautioning, “The industry should continue to focus on efficiencies at the hotel and corporate levels, prioritizing customer experience, analytics and automation.” In booth #1309 at the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA’s) The Hospitalit...
Beyond Programmatic: Why Hotels Need End-to-End Marketing to Drive Direct Bookings
Stephen Fitzgerald, Vice President, Hotels | June 22, 2023
By Stephen Fitzgerald After a strong recovery in 2022, the hotel market is continuing to climb. The U.S. hotel market is projected to rise by 7% this year and summer travel is off to a strong start. In spite of inflation and economic concerns, leisure travel is bucking the trend–at least for now. Recent earnings reports suggest that demand is strong, and is projected to continue throughout the year. However, hotel bookings are cyclical, and hotel marketers must find new ways to bolster bookings in the future, which means wooing travelers with the right message, the right deal, in the right place, and at the right time–which is no small...
New Hotel SERP Feature Alert: Google Property Promotion Ads Carousel Is Live/ GCommerce Solutions
GCommerce | June 21, 2023
At the end of 2022, Google announced that a new Property Promotion Ads carousel was coming to it’s mobile search results. Previously out in beta, the new Google Property Promotion Ads carousel is now live in the mobile and desktop search results. Are you seeing this in your hotel google searches yet? You can see the new feature in the below screenshot. What are Property Promotion Ads? Property Promoted Ads are a campaign type available within the Google Hotel Ads inventory space. It is a separate campaign type from standard Google Hotel Ads and does require a separate campaign type in order to run. These ads appear at the ...
Tripadvisor Reveals Best Travel Experiences in the World for 2023
Tripadvisor | June 20, 2023
Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards continue with Best of the Best "Things to Do" - a definitive guide to unforgettable bookable travel activities and excursions NEEDHAM, Mass., June 20, 2023 -- Today Tripadvisor®, the world's largest travel guidance platform, announced the winners of its 2023 Travelers' Choice® Best of the Best "Things to Do" Awards. As the summer travel season gets into full swing, these are Tripadvisor reviewers' favorite activities from across the world that will turn any vacation into a trip to remember. Analyzing 12 months of Tripadvisor review data (May 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023) from millions of travelers ...
The Hotel Guest Experience Starts With Customer Reviews and UGC
Lodging Interactive | June 15, 2023
Some may say the headline has it backward, but today's modern travelers would agree, and in fact, they go out of their way to research the hotel guest experience before they even begin their travels. Recent trends support the idea that today's travelers rely on user-generated content and guest reviews to research their hotel stays before they book. Consider these trends: • Social media: Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have made it easier than ever for travelers to share their experiences with others. This has led to a growing reliance on user-generated content (UGC) as a source of information about hotels and other ...
Knowland Now Available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace
Knowland | June 15, 2023
OPERA Sales and Event Management integrates with the Knowland Platform, boosting data access and sales efficiency for global customers ARLINGTON, Va. — June 15, 2023— Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality and a member of the Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN), today announced the Knowland platform is available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace and will enable integration with the Oracle Hospitality OPERA Sales and Event Management sales and catering management application. Oracle Cloud Marketplace is a centralized repository of enterprise applications offered by Oracle and Orac...
