Hotel Insights by eHotelier

In this episode, we delve into the dynamic world of Hotel B2B distribution. Join us as we explore the future of this ever-evolving industry with Chinmai Sharma, SVP and Global Head of Lodging, Ground, and Sea at Sabre Corporation. With extensive experience in the global travel and hospitality sector, Chinmai shares his insights on the significant shifts shaping the industry, the role of technology and AI in enhancing personalization, and the strategies hotels can adopt to maximize their visibility and success. We discuss: Why it is crucial to shift this mindset and attach hotels earlier in the booking journey.The impact of AI on personalisation distribution so far.How AI will further transform hotel distribution and personalization for travellers.How Sabre is responding to the requirement to deliver a more consumer-trade experience for B2B buyers.How sponsored and promotional advertising spots influence hotel bookings, what’s driving their increasing importance and how hoteliers can leverage these tools to maximise visibility effectively. Click here to learn more about Sabre.

In this episode, Jennifer Klar discusses Six Senses’ industry-leading approach to wellness and sustainability. Jennifer and I discuss the following: How Six Senses incorporate sustainability practices into their wellness offerings, and how these initiatives contribute to the overall well-being of their guests, team members and local communities.How to ensure that the resources you use align with sustainable practices and the steps to take to minimise the environmental and social impact.How to create opportunities for cultural exchange and experiences for guests while respecting and preserving local heritage and the environment. How to measure the impact of sustainability initiatives on guest satisfaction and overall sustainability goals.The role of technology in sustainability initiatives.What is holding the tourism industry back from doing more for sustainability. 

In this episode, we discuss using personalisation on your website to increase direct booking conversion. My guest is Juanjo Rodriguez, founder and CEO of technology company The Hotels Network. Juanjo and I discuss the following: The biggest challenges hoteliers are currently facing and how technology can help.Extending personal service to deliver online personalisation.The latest machine learning and how AI can bring value to hoteliers.How ChatGPT and generative AI can be used to create personalisation online. About The Hotels Network: We are an innovative technology company that believes in the power of extreme personalization. Based around the globe, we’ve brought together an awesome team with deep expertise in hospitality, product design and consumer marketing. Learn more at https://www.thehotelsnetwork.com/

In this episode, we discuss the latest trends in wine and how to profit from wine sales in your hotel or restaurant. My guest is Adam Mogelonsky, Partner at Hotel Mogel Consulting, renowned speaker, traveller and one of the industry’s most prolific researchers and writers. Adam and I discuss the following: The impact of the pandemic on the restaurant industry and the new trends today.Why restauranteurs and hoteliers should focus on wine in 2023.The psychology of selling wine!How wine list layout and structure affect the guest’s propensity to buy.The role of technology in increasing wine sales and profitability.How hoteliers can use wine to enhance TRevPAR.The emergence of LoCal/LoCarb and organic wine. Learn more about Hotel Mogel Consulting here.

In this episode, we explore the the latest trends and developments in spa and wellness with Tammy Pahel, Chief Wellness Officer for Alchemy Wellness Resorts and VP of Spa & Wellness Operations for Carillon Miami Wellness Resorts. Tammy and I discuss the following: The latest trends in Nordic spas.What makes a successful wellness retreat, and how can wellness be introduced into an existing hotel or resort?What’s new in anti-aging, and are these therapies at home in a hotel or destination spa?How spas coped, survived and modified their operations and product offerings to cope with physical distancing during COVID.Are touchless treatments a short-term solution, or are they here to stay? About Alchemy Wellness Resorts: Alchemy Wellness Resorts offers a highly specialized and pioneering approach to management services, prioritizing innovative wellness programs, strategic development and sustainable financial growth while significantly enhancing the guest experience. Website: https://alchemywellnessresorts.com/

In this episode, we explore the development and launch of Appellation, a revolutionary new culinary-first hospitality-concept, with Ed Skapinok, Chief Commercial Officer. The brainchild of celebrated Masterchef Charlie Palmer, CEO and former Four Seasons President of the Americas Christopher Hunsberger, COO, Appellation is defining a new form of culinary hospitality through its innovative experiential resorts. Ed and I discuss the following: Why the name Appellation, and what is your purpose?How has Appellation achieved an immersive experience in the local environment?Pivoting the traditional hotel model to a culinary experience has attracted new markets.How technology plays a crucial role in enhancing the guest experience.Big plans for the Appellation group. Visit eHotelier.com Learn more about Appellation.

Recovery is well underway, with destinations opening worldwide, making substantial inroads back to consistent and reliable levels. In this episode, Liz Ortiguera provides an update on the region’s recovery, the challenges facing travel, tourism and hospitality businesses and how the Asia Pacific region is the one to watch in the future. We discuss: The current state of the industry’s return in the Asia Pacific region.The pace of the return of international leisure business.How business and mice segments are recovering and how these segments will continue to build.The impact and longevity of airline disruptions.How the lack of talent is affecting travel businesses.What we must do as a collective, and the focus to maximise opportunities.How to harness changing consumer sentiment.How to rebuild a better industry, particularly with a focus on regenerative travel? About PATA: PATA is a non-profit public/private sector organization acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. In partnership with PATA’s private and public sector members, the organization enhances the sustainable growth, value, and quality of travel and tourism to, from, and within the region.

The tourism and hospitality industry constantly evolves with new technologies, trends, and customer demands. Hotels have had to adapt to compete with online travel agencies to attract future guests to book direct. As hotels experiment with retail-hospitality convergence, they are learning how to create unique customer experiences through new products and services that will grow revenues and keep guests returning. In this episode, Frank Trampert, Senior Vice President and Global Managing Director of Community Sales at Sabre Hospitality Solutions, and I explore the latest trends in the hotel and retail convergence and discuss how it changes the guest experience and the whole proposition of accommodation-centric operations. We discuss the opportunities for owners and managers who want to leverage retail convergence and the opportunities this emerging evolution provides. We discuss: The ongoing challenges and opportunities hoteliers are facing? Attribute-based selling and why we now need to move away from the ABS model in the futureLeveraging lessons from retail to deliver future benefits to hotels through technologyEarly hotel adoption and the results they are seeingThe benefits from the convergence of retail and hospitality for operations, guests, and shareholders About Sabre Corporation Sabre Corporation is a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, serving various travel companies, including airlines, hoteliers, travel agencies and other suppliers. The Company provides retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveller experiences. Through its leading travel marketplace, Sabre connects travel suppliers with buyers from around the globe. Sabre’s technology platform manages more than $260 Billion of global travel spending annually. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries worldwide. For more information visit www.sabre.com.

June is World Ocean Month and we’re talking with Theresa van Greunen, about the ways in which Aqua Aston Hospitality are integrating the expertise of local destinations while holding community and environmental stewardship as priority brand pillars. We discuss: How Aqua-Aston Hospitality protects the surrounding natural environment and beauty of the destinations it operates in.Some simple ways that the hospitality industry can operate more sustainably and minimize its overall impact.Measures that Aqua-Aston’s properties have taken to be more eco-friendly.The one thing brands forget about when it comes to being green!The short and long-term commercial benefits.Environmental targets and how to measure their achievement.The benefits to staff and guests of taking a proactive stance on the environment. About Aqua-Aston Hospitality: Founded in 1948, Aqua-Aston Hospitality provides management, marketing, and communications services to an array of hotel, resort and condo-resort brands in Hawaii, continental United States and Central America. Based in Honolulu Hawaii the company prides itself on understanding today’s traveller by integrating its expertise in local destinations where each of its properties reside while holding community and environmental stewardship as priority brand pillars.

Professor Kimes is considered to be one of the top thought-leaders and experts in Revenue Management in the world. Sherri has been working in Revenue Management since 1988 and has had the privilege of helping to educate some of the top leaders in Revenue Management. We discuss: How room revenue management impacts F&B revenue management and how the two should work together.How F&B revenue management can positively impact the customer experience.How General Managers might approach F&B revenue management.The importance of managing conference and banqueting space in the overall F&B revenue management process.The importance of F&B revenue management to leisure resorts, such as ski resorts, golf resorts and cruise lines.How to revenue manage leased F&B outlets.The principles of F&B revenue management, including market segmentation, forecasting, pricing and distribution channel management.The importance of F&B revenue management to hotel owners in the optimization of the asset. Learn more about Sherri's work at https://sherrikimes.com.

At The Red Sea Development Company and AMA.ALA, John is leveraging his 38 years of international experience in delivering large scale multi-billion-dollar developments. Since 2018, John has led The Red Sea Development Company's growth from the ground up and is creating a unique eco-luxury, sustainable, regenerative tourist destination that will contribute to transforming the global tourism industry and to the diversification of the Saudi Arabian economy. We discuss: The key considerations in the design of resort developments in different ecological locations.How to approach sustainability when developing in environmentally precious locations.How are guests’ expectations changing regarding the desire for transformative experiences.The placement and integration of the property within its localityHow to approach the appointment and development of team members who may also be transitioning from alternative industries.

What do the next 5-10 years look like? The Hospitality industry is in need of an upgrade to a new version. ‘Hospitality 2.0’ is a call to action for proactive change that will help hoteliers compete against the growing challenges presented by alternative accommodations, technological advancement, the COVID pandemic and labour constraints. It outlines a path forward for the digital transformation of our industry. Author of “Hospitality Revenue Management Made Easy”, “Hospitality 2.0” is Ira’s second book, focused on defining what we can expect in the future, the trends, consumer and industry changes. We discuss: The most influential recent disruptions that have shaped the industry.The most prominent industry trends for the future.The main opportunities that lie ahead for the industry.What is Hospitality 2.0?How the book will help hospitality academia become more relevant and students to be more prepared for the new hospitality world. Get the book today to learn how to succeed in Hospitality 2.0.

We reflect on the impact of the pandemic, how it has led us to where we are today and the new crisis facing the hotel industry in the future. We discuss: The principal impacts for Best Western and the wider hospitality industry.How domestic tourism has profited from border closures.How guest expectations have altered and how hoteliers need to think differently about the delivery of their services in the future.How the commercial functions of marketing and revenue management changed now and into the future.How these factors have impacted the organizational structure and management.How hotels are managing the current staff shortage the opportunities for aspiring professionals at Best Western Hotels. About BWH Group: BWH Hotel Group is a leading, global hospitality network comprising: Best Western Hotels & Resorts, WorldHotels Collection, and SureStay® Hotel Group. Built on the foundation of Best Western Hotels & Resorts, BWH Hotel Group was formed following Best Western’s acquisition of WorldHotels Collection a collection of hotels and resorts in the upper-upscale and luxury segments. Together with SureStay Hotel Group in the economy segment BWH covers hotel options in every market segment – from economy to luxury, a global network of approximately 4,700 hotels, in nearly 100 countries and territories worldwide.

Prior to COVID, revenue management systems primarily relied on historical data together with movement in forecasts to aid revenue management decision making. However, with changing guest booking patterns as well as external influences such as border closures, historical data may not be the most reliable basis for revenue management in the future. We discuss: How revenue managers and hoteliers need to adjust to the new demand landscape.What is forward-looking data?How a hotel can leverage forward-looking demand data as part of its revenue management and distribution strategy.How hoteliers can get the most out of forward-looking data in their RMS. Download “The Ultimate Guide to Using Forward-Looking Demand Data to Maximize Revenue”

Now that restrictions are easing and travel is beginning to return we discuss the opportunities for hotels to rethink their marketing, revenue management and sales. We discuss: Will price will play a key role in the future.Will the loyalty programs of the future be vastly different to those of the past?How can hotels encourage guests to book direct in the future?How can a hotel use TikTok as a marketing channel?How is storytelling in Instagram different to Facebook and how will it surpass Facebook and other social channels in the future? How can hoteliers leverage email in the future and why is it so powerful?How can hotels ensure they rank on search engines in the future and convert search traffic into bookings? Download the whitepaper and learn more about Frederic and Gonzo marketing here.

We say we are in the hospitality industry. We say we care about service, but our conversations spin around investing, real estate and interior design. We discuss: What exactly is the paradox of hotel marketing.The importance of marketing in today’s competitive industryHow to communicate the quality of your service through your marketing channels.What a good hotel website looks like in order to drive direct bookings.Do you need to invest heavily in marketing and hire a top-tier agency to compete?

Nicki Graham, Vice President of Marketing at Cendyn, and Robert Schimmel, Vice President of Product Management at Cendyn, detailed the impact of these privacy changes and how hotels can prepare for the challenges ahead so they can get back to the core of hospitality — creating meaningful relationships with their guests. This is an audio recording of the webinar, in which we discuss: • What’s next for email marketing following Apple’s Privacy update • The Apple Privacy changes your hotel needs to know about right now • How privacy protection is changing email marketing

As President, Sabre Hospitality Solutions, Scott Wilson has a global perspective of industry recovery, including how many hotels are thriving. Scott shares his insight including lessons to be learned from his experience in the retail and airline industries, to assist hoteliers to maximise opportunities through recovery and beyond. Learn more about Sabre.

The pandemic has changed the way we live, and the way consumers purchase, moving everything even further online, including hotel bookings. So, it is more important than ever to ensure your web presence is working hard for you. Learn why copy is important and how to ensure your digital voice communicates your service. We discuss: The importance of your voice in the customer journeyHow to know if your audience is actually listening and making an impressionWhen text is your friend - and when it isn'tThe most important elements of creating effective communication, cutting through the noiseThe importance of tone, how to make it positive to create the action you wantTop 3 tips to make the customer journey great

Exploring the evolution of revenue management due to the impacts of the pandemic. Changes to the operations, the management and the systems. We discuss: How the revenue management function is changingThe impact on the requirements of revenue management systemsWhether there is still a requirement for a dedicated revenue manager, and if so, how their role will change in the futureThe benefits for hoteliers and hotel groups through these changes.What’s next on the horizon for revenue management in hotels.