In my opinion, Smith Travel Research has a genuine tradeshow on their hands with the 5th Annual Hotel Data Conference in Nashville last month.
The highest ever attendance, with 355+ top hoteliers, was impressive. Even better, I was amazed at the increase in A-list technology suppliers – more than 25 companies with tabletop displays – that crowded the corridor outside our plenary sessions. The word is out.
Are you curious about what else was said? Here are my Top 10 quotes:
“The U.S. energy boom will drive growth 5.5% through 2016. We have unprecedented corporate growth. Household debt has come down a lot as a share of GDP. We are paying more in taxes than a year ago. Room demand is lagging GDP.”
– Adam Sacks, Tourism Economics, opening day panel.
“60% of online search growth year-over-year was in mobile hotel terms. 35% of all Google searches come from mobile.”
– Val Bauduin, Deloitte
“Personalization and relevancy are key.”
– Rob Torres, Google Inc.
“The life cycle of data, live data is key.”
- Val Bauduin, Deloitte
Best practices for social media engagement:
“Be interesting, kind, consistent. Invest in high-end photography and good video.”
-Edward Perry, WorldHotels
Multi-screen Marketplace: How does your hotel look on mobile, PC, iPad?
“Check your website in http://www.mattkersley.com/responsive/. ”
“Do a browser-based mobile site.”
-Robert Cole, RockCheetah
“What to worry about?
-The lack of ADR growth.
-Big box group demand has not recovered.
-There is huge transient demand
-New hotels with 50,000 square feet of meeting space are a dying breed.
-The lack of government group demand.”
– Adam Sacks, Tourism Economics, opening day panel.
What not to worry about?
Rooms under construction. In 2012, we saw a +23% increase to 61K rooms. In contrast, in 2007 we saw 211K new rooms.
- Adam Sacks, Tourism Economics, opening day panel
“Mobile may be like the OTAs. Our philosophy is not to discount mobile.”
- Nolan Wrentmore, Aimbridge Hospitality
“Forget the past. Interpret data real-time for the ‘new reality.’ ”
– Jan Freitag, Smith Travel Research
Do you have questions about how to market to the hotel industry?
Give me a shout now.
