Week posting for friday 1st december 06

Article selected : Versace plans luxury hotels to woo the wealthy 20.11. 06

It is a "trendy" article which presents the project of building 15 Versace Hotels' : luxury 7 star Resorts offering the highest level of amenities, services, activities and naturally design by Versace stylist.

Personnaly, for me it's a relevant project which show us the evolution of the expectation in hospitality industry : now the guest is more looking for a moment, an atmosphere, an "exceptional experience" rather than a simple stay; and so "Concept Hotels" are booming even if it could be risky and fleeting.

eg. of Concept Hotels :

Burj al Arab Hotel in Dubai

IceHotel in Jukkasjärvi

Pet Hotel in US

Link :

http://www.hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/

061120_versace_to_build_15_luxury_resorts/

Week posting for friday 24th november 06

Article selected : Edmonton Tourism Launches Winter Attraction Campaign

By Edmonton Tourism , 13.11. 06

This article presents a relevant alliance between some regionwith the Edmonton Tourism group in order to improve and develop the tourism during the slake season (winter) through a multi-layered media campaign. Guest targeted : in-province travellers in the first time, than key market segment.

My Opinion

It's a really good idea : the slake period is currently one of the main issue in hospitality industry and so this kind of partnership would be developed in the future especially for lonely regions. Others solutions could be for instance :

• make an alliance between the region and an airplane company
• increase the incentive group segment
• develop week-end package....

Link :

http://www.wiredhotelier.com/news/4029385.html

Week posting for friday 17th november 06

Article selected : Forgetr mints on the pillow, try a pet goldfish

By Jessica Dickler, 09.11.06

This article sheeds light on a new type of personnal attention (such as warm cookies with milk served in the evening, pet goldfish during the stay) offered in few Americans small hotels'.

My Opinion

I think that nowadays it is very hard for the hotels and especially for small unit to develop customers loyalties cause the clients chase off the routine and are thirsty about unic moments. This leads to the development of personalized service and accomodation in the hotels (with the light for instance) : the time of standardization is now passed and even if it is more easy for small establishment to propose this, the big chain are too currently moving on that to respond to the demand. So, in conclusion it is a very relevant idea to develop especially in big chain of hotels which leave place to the imagination..

Link :

http://www.hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/

061113_forget_mints_on_the_pillow_try_a_pet_goldfish/

Week posting for friday 10th november 06

Article selected :
European hotel guests get room keys on mobile phones thanks to NFC
By Andy Williams, 05.10.06

This article is about a new and a revolutionary tecnology for the hotel's check -in & check-out : the opportunity for the guest to go directly to his room when he arrived and so don't stop and wait at the reception, and this thanks to his mobil phone NFC (Near Field Communications) compatible : he makes his booking and will be proposed to receive an NFC room key, then he will get his room number througt an sms with the hotel address. So very simple and usefull for the guest (win time) and for the hotel too (less work and shambles at the front office, better security). This system in addition to the NFC moblie phone can function with contacless cards, wristbands, key fobs and paper tickets.

This service is now developped in Europe and will arrive soon in America. Finally, even if for the moment only new monile phone have the NFC technology, for 2010 the half of the mobile phone will have this function so it's a very interesting new service.

Link :

http://www.hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/

061011_mobile_phones_as_hotel_room_keys/