Hospitality Expos - Madigan Pratt News

Email marketing, when executed well, is one of the most powerful sales media a small luxury hotel has in its marketing toolbox. The problem is, not that many hotels do it well and as a result fail to realize its full revenue generating potential.

No one can guarantee your hotel will show up on the first page of a Google search for hotels in your destination, but that’s the goal every hotel must strive for. Why? Because research shows that if your hotel doesn’t appear on page 1 or 2, it is practically invisible. Few people look beyond the first two pages when doing a search.

Over the past few weeks Joe Buhler and I have been having numerous Google+ conversations concerning the effectiveness of social media. Joe is a principal of buhlerworks, an expert in development and execution of social web marketing strategies. Several conversations dealt with the many myths surrounding social media so I asked Joe to write a guest column on the subject for Hospitality Marketing Blog. For hoteliers simply dabbling in social media, here is your wake-up call.

Social media is becoming increasingly important in the hospitality industry. All the thought leaders in Internet marketing are pushing it and hotels are scrambling to adapt to the new social reality. Hoteliers need to step up social media efforts to master at least the key media – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and now Google+.

Starting now smart hoteliers need to begin embracing Google+ as a major component of their Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Those who move quickly will have a significant competitive advantage over the laggards.

So what exactly is a U.S.P.? In reality it is a way to get leverage for your hotel over competition and to let targeted consumers know you represent the superior choice. A strong and clearly articulated U.S.P. well executed throughout all aspects of marketing and communications will lead to above average occupancy and revenue.

Earlier this summer when Google launched Google+, its social networking site, it was only open to individuals. Last month Google+ announced it was available to businesses and brands are beginning to embrace it.

You have probably read countless blogs, attended numerous conferences and listened to endless sales pitches where Deal Sites explain their business models and the benefits they offer hotels. I have too. So what’s the bottom line – what’s the deal?

The Interactive Advertising Bureau has released the results of First Half 2011 industry performance report for the US market. The research was conducted by PwC. I’d like to share some highlights.

I just finished reading the funniest article in Travel Weekly, of all places. 'Group Deals Soar Amid Online Debate' is a report on a recent Traveltech conference session about travel deal and group buying sites. And I just had to share it