Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 267 – The Hospitality Show Wrap Up

Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 267 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. The Boomsquad just returned from the 2024 Hospitality Show in San Antonio, TX with some big news, and breaking trends.


TravelBoom Newsaroos

Today’s news shaping tomorrow’s hotel marketing trends.

  • November Core Update: 
  • Apple’s Latest iOS Update and What it Means for Email Marketing
    • The travel sector experienced a notable surge in AI Overviews (AIO) presence, increasing by 700% from September to October
    • This surge suggests a growing interest in travel content, likely driven by users planning holiday trips
    • Travel brands should focus on creating content around seasonal travel, local events, and specific activities to capture AIO visibility
    • The trend towards more localized and activity-specific travel queries presents an opportunity for travel brands to create content that aligns with users’ refined search intent5. Optimizing for queries related to local events, neighborhood attractions, and seasonal activities can improve relevance as AIOs focus on detailed, location-specific travel information.

TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures

TravelBoom’s Room For Improvement uncovers the tough questions guests and hoteliers face every day and shares insights into how staff can connect and improve guest relations.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromTheFrontDe`sk/comments/1h24ajs/influencers/

The Main Topic: Key Takeaways From the 2024 Hospitality Show

The information and strategies hoteliers need to succeed in today’s competitive market.

Today we are taking experts from a recent article on TravelBoomMarketing.com at https://www.travelboommarketing.com/blog/12-hotel-marketing-trends-to-watch-in-2025-elevate-your-strategy.

1. SoARR (OTA Revenue Recovery)
https://www.soarrservices.com/ 

What They Do: Each year, OTAs like Expedia, Booking.com, and Agoda make millions from unclaimed funds on prepaid bookings. Cancellations and early check-outs can cause this, and it’s easy for hotels to miss.

SoARR helps hotels catch these missed payments by reviewing every OTA reservation four times a year, ensuring you get every dollar you’re owed.

How SoARR Can Help Hotels: 

  • Risk-Free Pricing Model: No setup fees; Commission-based pricing
  • Effortlessly Boost Revenue: SoARR claims that $15,276 is the average amount recovered within the 1st year of OTA audits.
  • 100% Accuracy: Everything from disputing refunds on non-refundable reservations, re-activating virtual credit cards and double-checking the math of EACH reservation, is handled internally by hand.

2. ResortPass
https://www.resortpass.com/ 

What They Do: ResortPass offers day-use access to luxury hotel amenities, enabling non-staying guests to access pools, spas, private beaches, fitness centers, and other hotel facilities. This creates a new revenue stream for hotels by attracting locals and travelers who may not be staying overnight but want access to premium services.

Resortpass partners with more than 1,800+ leading hotels and resorts including Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Westin, and Fairmont. They’ve connected over 5 million locals and visitors to resort amenities since their founding in 2016.

How ResortPass Can Help Hotels:

  • Additional Revenue Stream: Hotels can generate extra income by allowing locals and tourists to enjoy their amenities, even without booking an overnight stay.
  • USP through Unique Experiences: Hotels can offer exclusive day passes for experiences such as spa days, pool access, or fitness amenities, creating a unique offering for guests.
  • Increased Foot Traffic: ResortPass can bring new visitors into the property, potentially converting them into future overnight guests or promoting F&B and retail sales.
  • Enhanced Brand Exposure: Partnering with ResortPass increases visibility, especially with local markets who may not have considered staying at the hotel initially.

3. Relay Robotics
https://relayrobotics.com/ 

What They Do: Relay Robotics develops autonomous delivery robots designed to enhance operational efficiency and improve guest experience. These robots autonomously deliver amenities, food, and other items to guest rooms or common areas, reducing labor costs and improving service speed.

How Relay Robotics Can Help Hotels:

  • Operational Efficiency: Robots can handle routine deliveries (e.g., towels, amenities, room service), freeing up staff to focus on more complex guest requests.
  • Improved Guest Experience: Guests enjoy quicker delivery times and a futuristic touch that enhances the overall guest experience.
  • Labor Cost Savings: By automating deliveries, hotels can reduce labor costs while maintaining high-quality service, particularly useful in high-demand periods.
  • Tech-Savvy USP: Using cutting-edge technology like robots can help hotels differentiate themselves as innovative and forward-thinking, appealing to tech-savvy travelers.

Bonus: Fill it Forward
https://fillitforward.com/ 

What They Do: Fill it Forward is a sustainability-driven company that offers reusable, branded cups, bottles, and other containers. Guests can fill their containers at various refill stations within hotels, promoting eco-friendly habits and reducing single-use plastic waste. Their platform also tracks and rewards guests for their participation in sustainability efforts.

How Fill it Forward Can Help Hotels:

Unique Guest Experience: Integrating sustainability into the guest experience—through rewards programs or branded reusable products—creates a memorable, socially responsible USP.

Sustainability Branding: By adopting Fill it Forward’s eco-friendly products and initiatives, hotels can position themselves as environmentally responsible, a growing value for guests.

Attract Eco-Conscious Travelers: Sustainability is a key deciding factor for many travelers. Offering refillable containers and promoting sustainability efforts can appeal to the eco-conscious market.

Reduce Operational Costs: By reducing the use of single-use plastics (e.g., water bottles, cups), hotels can save money on disposables and waste management.


Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to @_travelboom or info@travelboommarketing.com.

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