howard hian
Revenue Management: A Brief History
Howard Hian | September 26, 2016
By Howard Hian When I began in the hotel business in the early 1970s in San Diego, revenue management wasn't even a phrase. In its primitive state, it was a loose practice. When more tourists visited, a hotel would simply raise room rates. In summer how we loved the people from Arizona! Then there were weekends and special events (anyone remember the Cool Jazz Festival?). Sometimes minimum stays were even required over holidays. Wow! Someone much earlier in the history of economic theory called it "supply and demand". Then about 15 years ago or so, some suit dreamed up the position of Revenue Manager. Usually, the front desk or re...
Fam Tours - Doing Them Right
Howard Hian | June 30, 2016
By Howard Hian I have been fortunate enough to be on both sides of the fam tour equation. My CV includes a 10 year stint working in sales/marketing in San Diego for the Hyatt Islandia, the Rancho Bernardo Inn and Paradise Point (then Vacation Village). It was followed by a thirty year run with my hotel consulting business. Now, I've transitioned into full-time travel writing. In late 2015, I was asked to arrange a fam trip to Mexico for a European based resort company. I vetted and handpicked seven travel writers. The fam was well received and all the journalists delivered stories as promised. Given my hands-on experience and backgr...
