If you want more eyeballs looking at your property, give them more eye candy.   Pinterest is the place to be for marketing a hotel, expanding its social media presence and increasing brand awareness and engagement.   Not sure what to pin? The hotels that are most successful on Pinterest are pinning...read more

What do you do if you budget thousands of dollars to invest in a trade show and the few visitors to your booth are not generating enough business to do the trade show justice? If you are Ray Bloom, founder and director for IMEX Group, you design a program that attracts serious buyers, invite them...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

Do you ever feel like you are just going through the motions with online RFP channels?  Do you even know if you are taking advantage of the technology in front of you? Now you can be sure by taking advantage of the helpful guidance in the Venues Overview section. This five-paned window will help you...read more

Mother's Day on the horizon reminds me of those 'momisms' that sit on the shoulder of our conscience every day and influence our actions. From relationships to increasing group sales, some 'momisms' really hit the mark. Here is a tickler that will set you on a course to grow your business. 1. "Do...read more

Your former hotel guests are talking about you. And, future guests are listening in. Travelers love writing reviews for two reasons. One, it allows them to feel influential, as they  know their words have impact on future guests’ decisions. Two, because they genuinely want to offer feedback to...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

Since the "GSA Scandal" and "AIG Effect" prompted a media frenzy a few years ago, it seems as if most of the meeting industry has continued to shy away from resort hotels and conference centers because they might appear as opulent or over-the-top. While these two meetings were egregious examples of...read more

One of the best ways to market a meeting venue is to share your story through digital and print magazines. For a larger brand, a media team exists at the corporate level/home office, but for hoteliers without these resources, what can be done? In an interview with Randy Hennen, Publisher for Midwest...read more

The European Commission's New Media Trend Watch reveals that 234 million Americans used mobile devices for a three month average period in 2012. There was a 6% increase of smartphone users in that same time period from January 2012 (according to comScore, Inc.). No wonder Online Travel Agencies...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

You may have seen competitors marketing their properties using social media and said to yourself, 'we should do that.' Then your next thoughts are all the seemingly impossible reasons why you can't. Not only are resources slim, but the choices are overwhelming, with more popping up nearly...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

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

A key to repeat business is pleasing the business traveler. As a frequent traveler myself, I like to select my seat on an airplane. I prefer more legroom and an aisle seat. I will even pay a little extra for that comfort. When I take a cruise, I'll pay a little more to select the cabin I prefer,...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

In her article, Social Media Serves Up Sales, Francine Cohen, the Associate Editor of Hotel Interactive Editorial Division, points out that social media is driving business to hotels by highlighting their  excellent food and beverage offerings. The hotels that reach out using high tech social media,...read more

Watkins Research Group, a business-to-business research organization, published its  2012 Meeting and Convention Planners Survey where they polled 730 veteran planners about their love/hate relationship with CVBs and DMOs. Below is a synopsis of the research as presented in the January edition of...read more

Hotels offer points for guests who book and complete a stay at one of their locations. And in general, people feel accomplished and satisfied when they’re striving towards something that will offer a return. Think about the sandwich shop you visit at lunch - it’s all about getting another stamp for...read more

Remember when Grandma's telephone was a shared line with the neighbors (a party line) and the only computers were in big hidden rooms in banks and other businesses? Remember when you got your first cell phone and it stayed in the car because it was larger than a bread box? Remember your first...read more