Hospitality eBusiness Strategies Announces the Fourth Annual Benchmark Survey

Hospitality eBusiness Strategies (HeBS) today announced the launch of the 2010 Benchmark Survey on Hotel Internet Marketing Strategies, Budget Planning and Best Practices. The 2010 survey, following the 2007, 2008 and 2009 editions, asks hoteliers which Internet formats and methods they use to reach potential and current guests, which Internet marketing practices generate the highest ROI, how they choose to allocate marketing dollars to certain mediums over others, and more. The 2010 survey also includes new questions concerning Social Media and Mobile Marketing – two of the most progressive initiatives of 2010.

Important Industry Insights from the 2009 Benchmark Survey:

• Hoteliers strongly believe that Internet marketing produces the best results in terms of revenue, buzz, and awareness. We asked hoteliers if they thought Internet marketing, traditional marketing, or a mix of both produces better results; 55.7% said Internet marketing (up from 49.2% in the 2008 survey and 37.7% in the 2007 survey).
  
  
• Even in 2009’s economic environment, 63% planned to increase their Internet marketing budgets in 2009 - with a majority of hoteliers planning to raise online budgets more than 15%.
  
  
• Almost half of all respondents believed their properties did NOT conform to industry’s best practices in terms of Internet marketing.
  
  
• The types of Web 2.0 marketing initiatives planned for in 2009 varied greatly from 2007 and 2008. In previous years, hoteliers selected Surveys and Comment cards as the Web 2.0 initiatives they were planning on implementing. In 2009, hoteliers selected advertising on Social Media sites (i.e. TripAdvisor), creating profiles on social networks and blogs on the hotel website .

The goal of the 2010 Benchmark survey is to assess hoteliers’ 2010 Internet marketing priorities, provide the industry with insights into the evolution of Internet marketing strategies for the hospitality industry, and enable hoteliers to build ROI-centric, cost-effective Internet marketing strategies to accomplish their goals.

According to Max Starkov, Chief eBusiness Strategist at Hospitality eBusiness Strategies, “HeBS has revised and distributed this survey over the past four years as a tool to identify trends and reveal insights within the hospitality industry. We want participating hoteliers to know that we truly value their contributions to the survey, and that we look forward to providing them with results that will optimize their Internet marketing budgets and strategies in 2010. “

General managers, revenue managers, sales and marketing managers, e-commerce managers and professionals at hotels, resorts, hotel management companies and hotel chains are invited to participate in the 2010 Benchmark Survey on Hotel Internet Marketing Strategies, Budget Planning and Best Practices. The results of the survey will be distributed to all survey respondents at no cost, and participants will be entered to win one of three free Website Best Practices Utilization Audits (valued at $500 each) and two iPod Touches (valued at up to $250 each).

Please click here to participate in the survey.

About HeBS: Hospitality eBusiness Strategies (HeBS), the industry’s leading Internet marketing strategy consulting firm for the hospitality vertical, is based in New York City. HeBS has pioneered many of the "best practices" in hotel Internet marketing and direct online distribution. The firm specializes in helping hoteliers build their direct Internet marketing and distribution strategies, boost their hotels’ Internet marketing presence, establish interactive relationships with their customers, and significantly increase direct online bookings and ROIs. A diverse client portfolio of over 500 top tier major hotel brands, luxury and boutique hotel companies, hotel management and representation companies, franchisees and independents, resorts, casinos and CVBs has sought and successfully taken advantage of HeBS’ hospitality Internet marketing expertise. Contact HeBS consultants at (212)752-8186 or info@hospitalityebusiness.com.