DECIDE 3rd PARTY SITE

Type of Hotel: Design Hotel

3rd Party Site selected:
http://avantgardehotels.com/

Description of the site:
The first impression is design, simplicity and practice. Very good conception eg Hotel of the month (for the new entry...) 3 categories of hotels:
- Avantgarde Luxury
- Avantgarde Superior
- Avangarde Confort
A lot of photos for each hotel + the presentation of the city very nice....
They already have a brochure easy to dowmload which gather all the hotels + explain the concept.....
They have a "brother" site for hotel with character:
http://www.epoquehotels.com/

Negative point: both don't appear on the first page of the research when you type design hotel or epoque hotel. Thus even if it's a very relevant and innovative site I won't join it. Probably I will change my oppinion if they improve this issue....

Commentary for the 30th March 07

Post selected : " Hospitality Design Group Expands Magazine to Asia Pacific & Middle East " by Olga Smuniova

Link :

http://smuniova.blogspot.com/

It is a very interesting new and trendy magazine which shows us the growing of the Asia Pacific and Middle East hospitality and tourism industry. Olga has perfectly and briefly explained the concept & the contain of the magazine. A photo could be a plus but it was a relevant article. Good blog…

Week posting for friday 30th March 07

Article selected : Seven Habits of Highly Effective Hotel Sales People By Brenda Fields, 27.03.07

Nowadays the role of the sales department is becoming one of the main important, strategic and complex in a hotel; it can make the difference with the competitors and has a direct impact on the turnover. Thus, to improve and optimize the sales actors could be relevant and beneficial.

To reach this goal, 7 actions can be taken by the sales person:

1: Know your product and know your competition. To sell better and most professionally. Knowing the competitors can help to better position your product and sheds light on your strength.

2: Know who your customer is. In order to respond to their need and anticipate their request.

3: Listen to your customers. Understand their needs. To develop customer loyalty.

4: Balance good customer relations with fiscal responsibility to the owner. Thus, you can instars respect and confidence with the guest.

5: Develop great administration skills. It is now important to be organized and and meticulous.

6: Be reliable and consistent. Because the communication has became essential.

7: Continue to grow and develop. In order to be up to date and precursory.

As far as I am concerned I believe that these 7 actions are very useful to improve the hotel sales department efficiency. An other aspect that I think important is the communication between the different services or departments which is actually one of the main successes of an establishment and can be as the same time the main weaknesses and for this point, the sales department is one of the worst in the hotel and need to change.

Link :

http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4030790.html

Hotel Use of Viral Mobil

As it is now available in Belgium the hotel can instaure a mobile phone direct reservation because our mobile will be our main technology in the future. In addition to that, the phone will serve as the key to open the room. The Hotel will put on its website every day a new phone bell and so each visitor could get it. To finish with, the hotel could propose a tourism phone service: the client will can download on his mobil the more interesting places and tourism interest (restaurants, museums..) and of course a GPS system.

Commentary for the 22nd March 07

Post selected : "The seven kind of spas" by Annaïk Simon

Link :

http://annaiksimon.blogspot.com/

Spas are very “Trendy” especially on metropolis and after reading her posting I have learned something interesting so it was a relevant reading. Maybe it could be now interesting to think about the development of Spas in the future or imagine new concept including them…

Week posting for friday 22nd March 07

Article selected : Great Hotels Organisation launches its new and exciting ‘Eco Collection’, 26.02.07 Observing that the guests are more and more “Eco-oriented”, The Great Hotels Organisation (GHO) is launching now, in March 2007 a new and precursory label called “Eco Collection”.

To get this distinction, the establishments will follow a range of “Eco-action” such as:
- Use “Eco Energies”
- Conserve a local biological and cultural diversity through protection of ecosystems
- Promote the sustainable use of biodiversity by providing jobs to local populations
- Increasing environmental and cultural knowledge among staff
- Minimising tourism’s own environmental impact
- Showcasing local culture, flora and fauna as the hotel’s main attractions
- Organize “Eco-Conferences” with the guests

In addition of that, the members will be classified into 3 different levels according to their “Eco Investment”.

For my part, I think that the 21st century is the “well being” century where the ecology-conscious will be a major preoccupation and I am sure that the Eco Hotel concept with a 100% Eco material and functioning will be a fantastic and interesting idea to develop even on urban zones.

Link :

http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000378/4030431.html

Difference between 3rd Party / Hotel BRG Strategy

BRG

A 3rd Party site such as Expedia give your money back when you find a better price for the same product and so you change your seller.

Compared to it a hotel site like Mariott focus on the loyalty: when you book trough a Marriot chanel (internet, phone, travel agency...) for a brand of the group (Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, Springhill Suites...) you have 24 hours to search if you find a better price for:

- the same room category

- the same hotel

- the same dates

When you get a lower privce first you fill in a claim form and then, Marriot engage itself to pratice the lower rate and give you a 25% discount. Thus, Marriot develop its customer loyalty and encourage the Hotel's GM to check, control the rate chanels.

3 Reseller Sites:

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