I've been reading a lot of threads regarding sales & marketing but haven't seen much about the hospitality industry. Is anyone in this industry, and if so what aspect?

I am hoping someone can bring up some new marketing and sales ideas. Here's what I have tried so far to increase occupancy:

1. Used the franchise database to send targeted emails and postcards advertising our hotel.
2. Marketed towards local churches and schools.
3. Bartered our rooms for advertising at large local events.
4. Partnered with several internet sites to take reservations on our behalf.

Our hotel is priced below the other area hotels that offer more services and amenities, but we are priced slightly higher than the "bottom dollar" franchises....so adjusting the price is not going to be the answer.

I know we could stand to benefit from some additional "guerilla marketing" but it has been hard to find the time for that. Can anyone think of more ideas that can help me in marketing my hotel?

Hello,

You have some good ideas there. Even though I am not a marketing executive of a hotel, I believe I can add to your list... because I've dealt a lot with marketing executives at our local hotel and I attended every marketing / strategy meeting.

1. Establish a partnership with local tourist clubs or buy an advertisment in their local semi-annual publications.
2. You can advertise in your local airport or airlines where they have a promotinal brochures, catalogs on every flight / plane and some people would need a hotel room to crash at.
3. Investigate and then join local Chamber of Commerce. Chamber of commerce has many events and they have a network of businesses / executives who often need to use a hotel conference room. Or better yet, invite your local Chamber of Commerce to host their monthly meeting at your hotel. Our chamber of commerce has a Power Networking meetings (every month), and every month it's in a different business and in differnet location. Many companies welcome Chamber of Commerce to host their meeting in their facility because it gives them good publicity and advertisment and exposure! Recently they've held their meetings in large hotels such as Hilton, Radisson and others. In our town (Indianapolis) usually around 750 business people attend power networking meetings held by Chamber of Commerce. So it's another way for you to get exposure.
4. If you have any hospitals, businesses near by, approach them and set up a refferal program or work with them some sort of deal that they'd send their visiting business people to your hotel. Here in Indy, the hotel with whom I'd worked is located near by a hospital. Many people come to this hospital from other states and relatives of those patience need a room. So the hospital was sending patients directly to that hotel.
5. Attend any local networking meetings.
6. Establish a partnership with local small travel agencies.

That's all I can think of right now. If I'll get any more ideas, I'll post them.
Good luck advertising!

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Good to see your post and another lodging forum member! Hope the poor response to your post hasn't run you off!

I too am in the hospitality field as an absentee owner of a property in Taos, NM. Market is and has been at about 50% occupancy for 5+ years. Market has sold same number of rooms since early 1990's +/- 6% 1 standard deviation. We do have our challenges. In other words, I too am focused and interested in any and all sales ideas.

To your list you might add or look at the following:
1. Solicit any area construction projects that may have out of town workers.
2. Work any nearby trucking companies who might have transient drivers needing an overnighter.
3. Build a data base of the corporate offices within a certain distance of your property and market to them.
4. Begin an ezine for your property that Guests can opt in for further information on your motel and local activities or specials.

We use ReservProperty for our GDS connection. I assume you are connected via Ramada. If other readers need GDS, email or post and I'll forward the contact data and answer any questions I can.

Thru our state lodging association, we use WorldRes for our property web site direct bookings. They charge 7% retail but thru the association deal our cost is only 4% for our site business. They also forward a little other outside biz.

We do biz with Lodging.com directly to save the GDS base and % costs. They're AKA resobase.

We also use a couple local res agents but results are dismal. We used to be a brand name member but they did NOT generate business for us - only 3% of total GDS/ADS res. were from their 800 or web site. They claim to be the "best value" and did not react well to our questioning the veracity of their claims.

Hope you and I can find a few other lodging folks and others who will join us in marketing and increasing our sales. I look forward to continuing this conversation!

Looks like we're the only two interested in the lodging and hospitality industry.

The 2005 outlook seems positive with the majority of growth in the upscale/luxury and midscale/limited service hotel sectors. As far as sales and marketing goes, I have started sending out informational packets to local businesses showing them what we can offer and how we can benefit their businesses. I have gotten a positive response through RFPs.

Have you tried any new ideas lately? This is most likely your busiest time of the year..

Very Poor Choice Of Words!

I was looking around the web for free scripts for online reservations. I have not found any yet there are many who offer shopping carts. Does anyone know of any...i recently visited the Niagara Falls Motel They are a small motel in Niagara Falls new york and seem to have a good online reservation system. its simple and i would like something like this...does anybody have any ideas...cheers!

Your hotel should first be hooked up to an Global Distribution System (GDS) so that travel agents around the world will be able to book your hotel. Also sign up with hotel room wholesalers and inbound tour operators so that they can increase your sales network.