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The leading UK short break online agent Superbreak (part of the group Holidaybreak plc) has recently changed its logo and brand identity. This niche operator in the travel industry has been trading for the past 20 years and drives around 1.5 million
customers travellers every year. This logo gives a bit of freshness in the image of this important operator.
ReviewAnalyst is a new tool that lets hotels take a proactive approach to consumer-generated hotel reviews, videos & images. The system aggregates user generated content via portals like TripAdvisor, Expedia or Yahoo Travel. With ReviewAnalyst, you can track, analyze and react to what people are saying about your hotel on the major travel and social media sites. The website advertises a start price at $99 per month.
This interesting service was developed by Standing Dog, a full service internet marketing agency in Dallas, Texas specializing in online travel and hospitality. Standing Dog is founded by the veteran hotelier Mike Wylie who stopped his blog in 2007.
With the partnership agreement signed up recently between the CRS Pegasus and the rich media company VRX, consumers will be able to reach more multimedia to help them make a better choice when it comes to pick a hotel. But what rich media means? It covers 360 virtual tours, stilll images and interactives maps. To me there is nothing new under the sun. These forms of media already exist in various websites:
- Booking.com for example with the interactive map from Google Maps
- Online Travel Agents and hoteliers' website already display 360 virtual tours and even a company has been created to look after this media (http://www.hotelvirtualtours.co.uk/). I still have doubts about the usage of this media. Usually, you need to download a plugin or software which consumers in general rather try to avoid.
- every decent OTA or hoteliers' website has images for all their hotels offers
I believe what's missing is the video bit.
In a world where I hear the brand "YouTube" at least 3 or 4 times a week, hoteliers should really look at videos and distribute them to YouTube, DailyMotion, Metacafe and so on. Or alternatively why not work with Trivop who has been created for that purpose. (you can contact Trivop here).
American Express has launched a unique online travel community website called Members Know for their Cardmembers. Members will be able to share their personal travel experiences and exchange tips about destinations. The community will also be enriched and moderated with the editors from the Travel + Leisure magazine, a publication owned by American Express Publishing. From time to time, topics around destinations will be suggested to the community.
In a nutshell, members will be able to see with their peers where are the most popular restaurants, hotels (from economy to luxury) by region / city / district.
I wonder how much adding value this community will get in comparison to search similar information on Tripadvisor or WAYN? How long will it take to have sufficient information to make this community website a trusted source of useful information? Time will tell.
In the time where corporations try to minimize the cost of travel and save on hotel spendings, Premier Inn decides to reinforce their image of being a "low cost" hotel chain by investing in a £9M advertising campaign.
The advertisements will feature Lenny Henry, a famous British writer, comedian and actor.
With 500 hotels across Great Britain, Premier Inn features among the top hotel chains in the UK and has been persistent in their strategy to deliver a best for value product. I still haven't slept in one their properties yet. I might give it a try one day.
Whilst taking The Tube (London Underground) this morning, I have taken a quick picture of the new ad from HotelClub, the online booking agent specialist. I couldn't help noticing that the logo has changed a bit as well.
The new strapline is "We are very competitive in beds".
My feedback: it's clever, funny and a bit audacious. Maybe the TV ad will be more suggestive. I haven't seen any yet.
Technorati Tags: hotelclub, hotelclub.co.uk, advertising
I am always looking for typical examples of how hotels have integrated web 2.0 tools in their B2C websites to disclose a bit more about what their hotel is a about.
The luxury hotel in London (a real 5 stars hotel!) The Milestone Hotel has added RSS feeds on its press section in order to get updates from the hotel and the hotel group Red Carnation. The site also explains very simply how to use RSS what is it for. Another step forward web 2.0 is the inclusion of podcasts with interviews from the general manager, the Food & Beverages manager or the hotel's butler. Quality of the podcasts is really good and the timing not too short and not too long. You could see that this hotel has really thought this through.
Did I tell you that the Milestone has one of the most exquisite tea time brunch in the city. in the winter, I enjoy spending a couple of hours with friends by the chimney on a Sunday afternoon in their library room.
Technorati Tags: milestones hotel, red carnation, travel 2.0, web 2.0, podcasts
Sofitel - part of the Accor group - aims to be a leading luxury brand by 2010. Part of the branding exercise is to categorize 3 kinds of Sofitel within their portfolio of hotels:
- Sofitel Legend represents prestigious and legendary hotels across the world (like the Old Cataract in Aswan, Egypt or the Metropole in Hanoi, Vietnam)
- So by Sofitel integrate design and contempary hotels (to maybe compete with W from Starwood or Indigo from IHG). The first property will be located in Paris replacing the current Sofitel Arc de Triomphe and plans to open its new doors in 2009
- Sofitel hotels are world class hotels to please both Business and Leisure customers aorund the world
The website has also been revamped and a marketing campaign will follow in 2008.
Sofitel was created in 1964 (before the creation of the Accor group in 1983) with the first property in Strasbourg, France.
Did you know that you could purchase different elements of the Sofitel room on the SoBoutique online site.
Technorati Tags: sofitel, accor, so by sofitel, sofitel legends, sofitel hotels
Nomadsphere, the social networking site created for SuiteHotel - an Accor Hotels brand - has launched a competition where you can win an iPhone and free stays at one of their properties. Have a look at their promo site by clicking on the banner.
Update: so far 126 have played the game and guessed the first clue...
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