For almost a year, the pandemic has impacted travel. We have seen plans in a state of flux, not just for the young, but for every generation. With the travel corridor list everchanging and the UK infection rate rising again, the travel industry's need to adopt flexible policies and take proper health and safety precautions is more important than ever.
Online Travel Agencies have always been a subject for debates among hoteliers. Should we reinforce our direct channels of distribution or rely on intermediaries? In general, there is no universal answer to that question. But when the pandemic struck the hospitality industry, many hotels started to get together to oppose the OTAs.
As we get to grips with the "new normal", traveling outside the city may not be for everyone just yet. But what if I told you that you don't need to travel far to enjoy culture, history and make great memories? To make the best out of our summer, use this guide to get to know (or rediscover) the lovely lake-side city of Lausanne.
The crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic has had dramatic effects on many sectors, including the wine industry. The OIV (International Wine Organization) anticipates a 35% drop in sales volume and a 50% drop in value in 2020 in Europe. In Switzerland, the figures are not much better. According to the ASCV (Swiss Wine Trade Association), the industry's turnover has already fallen by 35% during the "semi-lockdown" period. Economic activity has now picked up again, but the outlook remains bleak. The pandemic has wiped out many of the summer events that usually generate high sales. As for restaurateurs, they have not sold any wine during the last few months and therefore have neither the need nor the financial means to build up stocks at the moment.
The five-star Hayfield Manor in the city of Cork is the epitome of the classic Irish, mansion-style hotel - friendly staff, comfortable surroundings and an incredible sense of hospitality. Located within a walled garden on the edge of University College Cork, the property's 88 rooms offer guests a quiet respite from the narrow-clogged roads of the nation's second largest city. In its ornate tearoom, I had an opportunity to sit down with T.J. Mulcahy, Hayfield Manor's General Manager, to discuss what makes the property so special.
Venice is widely known for the crushing crowds of tourists. The seasonal events that take place on this historical city, such as the Venice Architecture Biennale or the Venice Carnival, have placed it to one of the most sought-after destinations. However, its tourism industry has significantly suffered over the past 3 months. The exceptionally high tides, which further resulted in the flooding in November, led to mass reservation cancellations dropping significantly the anticipated average daily rate as well as the occupancy rate on the hotels.
Latest update on Expedia's controversial (and, so far, unilateral) cancellation policies due to coronavirus pandemic. As per today, all bookings for hotels in Italy will be refunded, even the non-refundable ones. A full refund, so far, will only be guaranteed for bookings made before March, the 10th 2020 and with stay date between today and the 3rd of April, 2020.
The Merrion Hotel in Dublin comprises four adjoined-terrace houses originally built around 1760 for wealthy Irish nobility. But nowadays you don't have to be nobility to be a guest here, nor particularly wealthy, as nightly rates range from a few hundred to well over a thousand Euros nightly depending upon room type selected. Regardless of the room selected, you'll be treated to perhaps the finest guest service you can find in Ireland's charming capital.
Is there really such a thing as a perfect event that's held at a hotel? You know, the one that brides dream of or the one that corporate meeting planners hoping to make their mark lust after? For the past few years, I've been following numerous properties on LinkedIn, and standing out from the pack is Forbes five-star, The Lanesborough in London, England, a member of the Oetker Collection.
If you're up for the excursion, Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland is well worth it. Situated near the western coast of the island, the property is about a three-hour drive along the highway from Dublin Airport. My advice is to take the journey through the illustrious countryside to visit this simply spectacular National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World.
Those who live there today continue to enjoy lodgings and dining that belong to a centuries-old tradition. It was the beginning of hospitality in Europe. Later, with the development of economic exchanges throughout the old continent, inns and hotels flourished.
After months of anticipation, the Direct Booking Summit EMEA opened its doors this morning - and if the first day is anything to go by, this could very well be the best event yet. Hundreds of innovation leaders gathered in the heart of Paris for the biggest event in hospitality, with 25 influential figures within the industry presenting keynotes, panels and debates across a wide range of fascinating topics. With many common themes including cultivating brand loyalty, optimizing the customer experience and the importance of prioritizing long-term success, there was an abundance of valuable, engaging and practical advice for hoteliers to apply to their own organizations.
Despite a mostly conservative vision concerning their experience at a restaurant for 2030, Swiss consumers do want to see drastic changes in some areas, mainly related to customization. Are restaurateurs aware and ready to respond to their clients' expectations? A new study provides insights and recommendations for restaurateurs and F&B professionals.
Below you'll find insights from Bill van der Valk from Van der Valk hotel Schiphol; Dita Guth, the founder & owner Salotto Rosso; Kristel Dom, hotel manager at Canal House Amsterdam and Anne Gorthmanns owner and manager of Strandhotel at Cadzand Bad.
It's almost impossible to read through a hospitality or travel publication these days and not find the latest jaw-dropping statistic on the Chinese traveller market. Here's one: according to The China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI), the number of overseas trips made within a year by Chinese tourists will exceed 400 million by 2030. And, another: in 2017, China led the world in its investments toward travel abroad, investing a total of US$258,000 million, according to the UNWTO.
This week's Opportunity 2019 conference provided plenty of food for thought for the UK's revenue management community, as industry professionals, hoteliers, students and solutions providers came together to discuss 'Revenue Management and the Connected Customer.'
France's tourism performances are mostly positive, and so much the better! After many lean months, tourism and hotel professionals are back to smiling. Driven by ever-increasing international demand, tourist arrivals are on the rise and remain strong. Let's ride the wave and acquire market shares. Because while France has a long tradition of hospitality with an attractive cultural and geographical heritage, many destinations have followed in the same path. European performances are also positive and France is not alone in boasting results that are more than encouraging.
Only few islands can match the spectacular experiences available on a visit to Tenerife and the other popular islands of Spain. In Tenerife, for example, you can find a combination of beaches, gastronomy, architecture, volcanoes, and culture. It is the most visited island in the Canaries and the largest in the archipelago. Furthermore, it is the most populated island in Spain. The best hotels in Tenerife for families offer various packages to meet your specific need all year round. At Iberostar hotels, you can have weekend breaks, spa breaks, and also enjoy family holidays in Tenerife.
The neologism brandjacking was coined over a decade ago, by astutely combining the words branding and hijacking. In our industry, when we talk about brandjacking, we usually refer to all those activities whose lowest common denominator is the exploitation of another company brand's equity, such as the creation of fake social network profiles or mirror-websites. The most frequent use of brandjacking is, however, is the one that goes under the name of Affiliate Brand Bidding. This mischievous tactic consists in investing in search engines advertising campaigns and bidding on terms that are related targeted company. Ever googled your hotel's name and found Booking.com, Expedia, trivago and TripAdvisor before your official website? Well, that's ABB.
Last week, the small world of French hospitality was the scene of a truly extraordinary earthquake: Booking decided to charge its commission on the crumbs that represent noshows and cancellations, and only when the hotel has indeed cashed. As nearly said Corneille in Le Cid "N'avons-nous donc tant vécu que pour cette infamie ? "