HSMAI Curacao » Uncategorized

Presentation ‘Using Social Media to Improve your Business’ November 26

bo — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:06:46 +0000

Today’s digitally driven consumers now broadcast their experiences directly online via Social Media. The reality is that consumers are using social media to speak up, regardless of whether or not you are participating in the conversation.

In a 45 minute interactive presentation we touch several social media (platforms) such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and uncover the various benefits for your business, demonstrating its critical place in your overall internet marketing strategy.

The time to get involved is now, so please join us for this highly interesting event!

Date: Thursday November 26, 2009
Time: 5.30 – 7.30 PM, including snacks, drinks & networking opportunities
Speakers: Dragonfly Media
Venue: Amalia Room, Floris Suite Hotel Curacao
Price: HSMAI Members FREE, non-members Nafl. 45.00

Who should attend: if you are involved in any way in sales and marketing, this presentation is a must-see.

Please confirm your attendance by e-mail to info@hsmaicuracao.org or by calling CHATA at 465-1005.

Presentation ‘Using Social Media to Improve your Business’ November 26

bo — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:26:27 +0000

In a 45 minute interactive presentation we touch several social media such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and uncover the various benefits, demonstrating its critical place in your overall internet marketing strategy. digitally driven consumers now broadcast their experiences directly online via Social Media. The reality is that consumers are using social media to speak up, regardless of whether or not you are participating in the conversation. The time to get involved is now.

Date             : November 26 2009
Venue          : Floris Suite Hotel – Amalia Room
Time             : 17:30 – 18:30
                          18:30 – 19:30 Drinks and networking possibilities
Speaker       : Dragonfly Media
Price            : HSMAI members free, non members Naf 45,00

Confidence in Tourism Sector Gradually picking Up | UNWTO reports

bo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:25:57 +0000

The decline in international tourism may have started to bottom out, according to the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Worldwide, international tourist arrivals declined by 7% between January and August 2009, but the rate of decline has eased in the past few months. These results, as well as the most recent economic data, confirm UNWTO’s initial forecast of a 5% decline in international tourist arrivals for the full year 2009. For 2010, UNWTO expects a moderate growth. Read more

Curacao Under Construction Tour by Land & Sea Nov 13 2009

bo — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:26:16 +0000

Start: 12:45 pm at Marichi

End: 6:30 pm at Marichi

Price: ANG 100,– non HSMAI members
ANG 50,– HSMAI members

Limited seats: 50!

Guided tour by coach from Marichi, through Pietermaai, Penstraat, Bapor Kibra and Jan Thiel area to Santa Barbara Plantation, and by sea back to Marichi. See all the properties under development en route.
Drinks and snack will be served at each property as well as on the boat.

We will visit:

· the quaint business hotel Hotel ‘t Klooster (formerly Augustinus Boekhandel),

· the exclusive Baoase (Pen), and

· Morena Resort, the first Gold certified Green Key resort in the Caribbean and a drive-thru Boca Gentil,

· Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina.

Leisurely 1 hour boat ride back to Marichi, so you can observe the construction from the sea.
The boat ride is downwind, with little risk for seasickness.

Register and pay in advance. info@hsmaicuracao.org or confirm attendance on Facebook page Curacao Under Construction Tour ‘By Land & Sea’

Pay online (and send receipt) via MCB acct #: 1981 7508 (HSMAI Curacao, Kaya Junior Salas 1, Curacao)

First paid, first served.

2nd Curacao Under Construction Tour by bus & boat november 13 2009.

bo — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:18:55 +0000

Curacao Curacao Under Construction Tour ‘By Land & Sea’ November 13 2009 SAVE THE DATE

Tour the new & existing properties by bus and by boat! Save the date for this interesting & entertaining event! You will have the unique opportunity to see the properties on route from Pietermaai to Hyatt and a great networking opportunity.

More information (price, route etc) will be coming your way………..

Small Hotels Retreat September 30

steven — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:18:52 +0000

Please consider visiting the CHTA’s Small Hotels Retreat September 30 through October 2 in St. Thomas.

There will be a special “marketing day”, organized by HSMAI, on October 2nd.

This, in lieu of the previous HSMAI Caribbean Strategy Conference.

Warm Bodies in Beds thru Twitter?

steven — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:23:55 +0000

A new Twitter application invites users to publicly request hotels for specific dates and locations, giving hoteliers a chance to grab business. Users input their request parameters on TwiHotels.com, and the site then tweets the room requests. Several hoteliers are already monitoring the twihotels feed and would theoretically respond to the requesting person with relevant offers.

Click here to read more.

The Recession and the bottom lines of Caribbean hotels

steven — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:21:12 +0000

On and off we hear rumors about the current hotel industry. Figures from CTO and CHTA also show how the Caribbean region is performing compared to last year. PFK shows in the article below on hotels’ net results trend, their occupancies , revenue and comparisons with the US market hotels.

What do YOU think as hotel in Curacao or somewhere else in the Caribbean? Did these turbulent times deal a big blow to bottom lines of Caribbean hotels? Is it only branded hotels, big hotels, smaller hotels or all together? Read and comment!

Hotel marketers need to build digital relationships with customers

bo — Tue, 08 May 2007 13:51:40 +0000

Source: hotelmarketing.com

For anyone in the lodging business, it won’t come as a surprise that consumers crave researching and purchasing travel online. The online revolution has been afoot for some time now, but the ballyhoo surrounding the so-called Web 2.0 is changing everything. From the dynamic of how consumers interact with the internet while making travel purchase decisions to the way hospitality professionals must market their products. Today’s leaders in online travel sales may be tomorrow’s also-rans, while emerging sites have the potential to dominate the landscape. Already travel is the monster force in electronic commerce. In fact according to Terry Jones, the founder and former CEO of Travelocity, it’s larger than the next four categories of electronic commerce combined. That’s some serious numbers.

According to eMarketer, online consumer travel sales hit $79 billion in 2006 and will grow at a 17 percent annual rate before reaching $146 billion in 2010. From 2002 – 2006 annual growth rate averaged 28 percent. Thirty seven million households booked travel online last year and by 2010 its expected 51.1 million households will book travel online.

“The internet changed how travel product was priced and distributed, and distribution costs [changed too],” said Jones. “People will take chances on other brands because they can search and see themselves.”

Jones said the world of advertising is being dramatically reshaped and competition is only a mouse click away. And since it only takes a fraction of a second to get another company’s price on a similar product, that makes the market “hyper competitive.” “The balance of power is shifting. We have a much more powerful buyer and now [marketers] need to build digital relationships with customers,” said Jones.

That’s making it tougher for marketers to not only cut through competitive clutter, but also makes it harder to achieve pricing premiums. The good news for consumers and innovation too, is this marketing metamorphosis is forcing lodging executives to rethink their products. Those that depend on getting the edge through pricing alone are in danger of losing competitive advantage. To be successful going forward it’s all about creating value through having very specific points of differentiation.

“There is a tsunami of change going on in the media and marketing world,” said Geoff Ramsey, CEO of eMarketer, a firm that provides market research and trend analysis on internet, e-business, online marketing, media and emerging technologies. “It is getting rough out there for marketers.”

But don’t expect any incredible single leaps forward said Henry Harteveldt, VP, Forrester Research. Instead, expect a constant series of tweaks and changes that will eventually change everything travel distributors currently do.

“The future of travel and hotel distribution will most likely be marked by a constant state of evolution rather than a few major revolutions,” said Harteveldt earlier this year. “By 2021 what passed as merchandising in 2006 will look prehistoric.”

Additionally, meta-search travel engines – those that aggregate prices from a variety of sources — will increase their importance. According to Forrester Research, they now account for 13 percent of sites used to browse travel products, up from 8 percent just last year. Seventy-four percent of hotel guests who research travel on a meta-search site purchase from a travel agency site and 60% use a supplier site.

Within the hotel industry, booking online has become the most popular way to reserve a room behind calling the property directly, according to DK Shiflet & Associates. In 2004, internet booking surpassed the 800 number and has been ahead of travel agents and corporate travel planners since 2000.

Jones said travel industry suppliers have been gaining strength against online travel agencies, successfully capturing the majority of bookings. He said 54 percent of online shoppers start with an online agency, but half book with a travel brand’s site. Of those that book at major brands, 71 percent are seeing to a best rate guarantee. Anecdotally, he said people want to be able to easily make reservation changes, something online travel agencies cannot provide.

Conversion rates of lookers to bookers remains flat as well, Jones said. In 2006 Expedia saw five percent of its potential customers book travel, while Orbitz achieved a four percent conversion rate. “Travel sites share is continuing to decline, people want to book direct.”

Finally Jones noted that putting up reviews on proprietary travel sites not only engages the consumer but it creates a new level of trust. He said 21% of online traveler buyers look at reviews which influences travel decisions. “You have to communicate their way. There is no was you can predict which door they will enter through, they all have to be open and work the same way,” said Jones.

Hilton gives breakfast a color-coded makeover

bo — Wed, 02 May 2007 16:29:39 +0000

Source: hotelmarketing.com

To help ensure that travelers remain faithful to their health and dietary routines, Hilton Hotels is introducing the Hilton Breakfast Program featuring a color-coded system that allows guests more choice and control over the first meal of the day.

It’s widely believed that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” and Americans are taking heed to the old adage. A 2006 report on breakfast conducted by Mintel Research revealed that 72 percent of all respondents typically eat breakfast on both weekends and weekdays. To help ensure that travelers remain faithful to their health and dietary routines, Hilton Hotels is introducing the Hilton Breakfast Program featuring a color-coded system that allows guests more choice and control over the first meal of the day. Following the successful launch of the program internationally in 2002, the Hilton Breakfast will be available at all Hilton properties in North America by summer.

Choosing the proper option for breakfast is easier for travelers now thanks to the hotelier’s new concept, which includes color-coded labels displayed on the breakfast buffet and on menus to assist guests visually in managing their dietary needs. The labels denote whether the menu item is low-cholesterol, low-fat, high-fiber, low-calorie, high-energy or an indulgence. Guests will enjoy a variety of quality food and beverage items, as well as local specialties, offered on the more than 80-item breakfast buffet and in á la carte menu selections.

Prior to its official launch in North America, Hilton Hotels conducted additional research, and beta-testing at nine U.S. properties to better understand guest breakfast preferences and further develop a program that would best meet their needs. Hilton conducted interviews with both business and leisure travelers.

“Since everyone’s idea of the perfect breakfast differs, offering a wide array of food choices is an important way that we continue to focus on helping our guests personalize their journeys,” said Jeff Diskin, senior vice president of Brand Marketing, Hilton Hotels. “Our goal remains to anticipate the diverse needs of our guests and to consistently deliver innovative and high-quality options during their stay at Hilton.”

Additionally, Hilton encourages its younger guests to develop a healthy breakfast routine by offering complimentary breakfast for children ages five and under with each paid adult. Kids can also choose from a variety of tasty treats in the breakfast buffet or on the special kid-friendly á la carte menu.

Hilton Breakfast is just one way that Hilton is enhancing the wellness and vitality experience for its guests. Recently, the hotelier announced a new partnership with Precor to launch dynamic Fitness by Precor facilities at full-service locations nationwide.

Implementation of all of the hotel fitness facilities will be completed by December 2007. Hilton also recently announced details of its partnership with the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, as part of the brand’s broader strategy to promote wellness through its products and partnerships