If content is king, then strategy is his queen. It’s tempting to just simply post to your hotel's or destination's Facebook page, or shoot out an email here and there, without having clear and focused goals in mind. But by doing so, you could easily be wasting your hard-pressed time and energy on...read more

In the April 2013 edition of PCMA Convene magazine, Michael Gehrisch, President & CEO at DMAI summed up the future of DMOs the following way: "We're really committed, from a DMO standpoint, to help shape services that we provide to meeting planners so that they are planner-focused and relevant for...read more

A blog is one of the most captivating, and one of my favorite, hospitality marketing strategies.  With a blog you can share information about your destination that your stagnant website can’t, while keeping your site fresh and frequently updated. However,  marketing a hotel with your blog can get...read more

In the 1992 movie Glengarry Glen Ross -- a display of the goings on in a real estate office -- Alec Baldwin played an over-the-top aggressive sales representative named Blake. He has a famous line in the movie which was:  "A-B-C. A-Always, B-Be, C-Closing. Always be closing, always be closing." For...read more

Whether you’re planning a familiarization (FAM) tour or marketing an event, there can be a lot of gray area for a non-traditional public relations team at a CVB or hotel. For instance: How far in advance should you send an event press release? Should a release be sent after the event as well? Who...read more

For your hotel to be successful in Google’s world, you have to play by Google’s rules. This means an integral part of your hotel marketing strategy should include high-quality, FRESH and unique online content that authentically drives people to your Web site. But, what would you update on your...read more

In this three-part series I am discussing the most important spaces of real estate on a LinkedIn profile. Part I – LinkedIn Profile Photo and What It Says About You. LinkedIn Headline: Entice Prospective Clients to “Read All About It” Other than the photo, the LinkedIn headline is the most widely...read more

“This business is all about being seen, and the more people see you the better.” - actress Debra Wilson   Exhibiting at trade shows is one of the many ways hotel sales teams can meet new prospective clients and increase group business. But you shouldn’t exhibit at just any trade show. You’ll want to...read more

Technology solutions such as the Cvent Supplier Network have made it easier than ever before for planners to research destinations, find venues and send electronic RFPs (eRFPs). Prior to the existence of eRFPs, it was difficult for planners to identify ALL of the possibilities for their upcoming...read more

Short and sweet. That’s how Twitter, with its famous 140-character limit, won over social media users ever since its inception. By forcing brevity, Twitter has made both brands and customers throw out the fluff and ‘get to the point.’ Tweets have become storytelling in its simplest form. In January,...read more

RedRocketMedia recently produced an infographic detailing how travelers make hotel buying decisions. Even though this research is tied to the travel industry as a whole, I believe the information can be applied to business travelers, as well as, group business decision makers. Below, are four of the...read more

If we knew what makes a meeting planner “tick”, then overall our sales teams, hotel marketing and delivery of services are improved.    For instance, last month USA Today’s Hotel Columnist, Barbara De Lollis revealed what women want from hotels; the list included items that women would rather leave...read more

When trying to understand a meeting planner’s needs for their upcoming event; the facts are essential, but understanding the demographics is beneficial too.    Have you ever made an assumption about the preferences of the planner or the attendees based on their age(s)? Maybe you assumed Gen Y places...read more

While living in metro Detroit for over thirty years, I have experienced the highs and lows of the great Motor City. What is happening now is so exciting that talking about it with you brings me chills! The media has provided the nation with a plethora of perceptions, focusing on the darkest days for...read more

This week marks the anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell sending the message, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you" to his assistant using electricity to transmit speech for the very first time. I often wonder what he would think of the developments his ingenuity influenced. The article, "The...read more

It seems just as I have come to like and become acquainted with the total functionality of Facebook, they change it. And this time I am on the fence as to why...other than to try to smack their nemesis (Google) in the head and say "We are a search engine too -- so there!"  All that being said,...read more

If you want a full house at your hotel, there are tactics and strategies to dominate your city’s market and sell out for events.   Once you capture the market, there are hotel marketing strategies to increase group revenue in various departments. To boost sales in a tactful way, focus on the needs...read more

Like a chalkboard, incentive travel was erased from hotels. In 2006 before the recession, more than $13.4 billion was spent on incentive travel. Since then, there has been a tremendous decrease in incentive travel. The average per-person expenditures have decreased, but overall group incentive...read more

When destination events are popular enough to result in hotels selling-out, hoteliers can relish it. Events like the Presidential Inauguration and Jazz Fest in New Orleans are popular events where most hotels sell out. But, what if your tentative bookings aren’t resembling a “sell out?" You'll need...read more

Speed-dating a potential client isn’t a bad idea, is it? Especially when it guarantees you’ll be able to talk and make a one-on-one connection. Reverse trade shows where suppliers meet buyers for seven-minute appointments has skyrocketed. Where traditional trade shows were the original format,...read more