ITB Berlin’s Cancellation Had Only a Mild Impact on Short-Term Rental Owners
You might think that the managers of short-term rental properties in Berlin faced sharp pain when ITB Berlin canceled its early March event, Europe's biggest travel fair.
Sales & Marketing
New itb.com platform launches today: Networking, industry news and the ITB Virtual Convention
Despite its cancellation this year, ITB is offering digital services 365 days a year by launching itb.com (www.bit.ly/2IkpHrB). The World's Leading Travel Trade Show is establishing a completely new networking platform for the world's travel industry. This global website spans a bridge between real-life meetings and digital networking, and features innovative tools for business, networking and exclusive content. "In these very difficult times the tourism industry needs ITB more than ever", said Dr. Martin Buck, Senior Vice President, Travel+Logistics, Messe Berlin GmbH. That is why, at the forward-looking events of the ITB Virtual Convention, leading speakers from ITB will be discussing how the world's travel industry can harness intelligent strategies to make sure it remains future-proof even in a challenging environment. In the wake of the latest developments, discussions on how the industry can deal with the coronavirus will play a key role. Between 5 and 11 March 2020 viewers can follow more than 20 exclusive live streams and videos in English and German, some in real time, some time-shifted, on itb.com. Afterwards, they will be made available as videos on demand.
Despite ITB cancellation: Kempinski Hotels holds exceptional events and meetings in Berlin
Although ITB and IHIF Berlin have been cancelled at short notice, Kempinski Hotels is holding its planned events and meetings in Berlin through the entire week. Martin R. Smura, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board of Kempinski Hotels as well as all members of the Management Board are present in Berlin despite the cancellations due to the corona virus, thus expressing the importance and appreciation of customers and partners.
ITB Berlin publicises travel industry events in Berlin
Despite the cancellation of ITB exhibitors at ITB Berlin 2020 can publicise and promote their travel industry events in Berlin at www.itb-berlin.de/events free of charge or share information on social media under the hashtag #whatwewantedtosayatITBBerlin20
Questex Postpones the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF); Event Rescheduled for May 2020 in Berlin
Due to the global concern regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, Questex today announces it will postpone the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF), the world's largest and most influential hospitality investment event, and its co-located event Adjacent Spaces@IHIF. The shows were set to take place next week - 2nd - 4th March 2020 - in Berlin Germany and will be moved to the 4th - 6th of May at the InterContinental Hotel and Pullman hotel respectively.
ITB Berlin 2020 Canceled
ITB Berlin 2020 will not take place. Due to the rapid spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Economics have stated their opinion that ITB Berlin be cancelled. This evening at 1827 hrs, the responsible health authority of the district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf in Berlin imposed significantly tighter restrictions on holding the event. Among its requirements the authority stipulated that each participant would need to prove to Messe Berlin that they were not from a designated risk area or had not been in contact with a person or persons from a risk area. It is not possible for Messe Berlin to satisfy these requirements overall.
The Start-Up Travel Tech MarComs Agency Taking The Sector By Storm
Haynes MarComs, a specialist technology marketing and PR consultancy, recently celebrated its first birthday with six client acquisitions and team expansion. With the birth of a new decade, it aims to become a market leader with its own unique personality providing boutique services to scaling tech and service companies.
ITB Berlin Convention: Answers to urgent questions about the future
The list of high-ranking speakers at the industry's leading think tank continues to grow - Big names and leading international companies with information on the most important questions about the future: shift in customer expectations and luxury travel - Exclusive survey by Travelzoo and ITB Berlin with information on the latest developments and trends - New panels on the coronavirus in response to the latest developments and new requirements for exhibitors
In Search of Hotel Excellence: The Merrion Hotel
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.
By Larry Mogelonsky, Partner, Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited
Some Notes on Crafting the Perfect Hotel Event
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.
By Larry Mogelonsky, Partner, Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited
Bavaria Boutique Hotel in Munich Is First to Benefit from Optimized Pricing Through Infor HPO
Infor, a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry, today announced it is providing the family-run Bavaria Boutique Hotel located in the heart of Munich, Germany, with the new cloud solution Infor Hospitality Price Optimizer (HPO). Bavaria Boutique is the first hotel to benefit from the optimized pricing offered by Infor HPO.
IHG® Hotels & Resorts Featured in Modern Family Episode during Farewell Season
IHG® Hotels & Resorts (IHG®), one of the world's leading hotel companies, recently hosted the hit television show "Modern Family" in the "City of Love" while filming on-location in Paris for the show's farewell season. Crowne Plaza® Paris - République, a global flagship hotel showcasing a host of distinctive brand features, served as a key filming location for the special Valentine's Day episode, entitled "Paris," which included scenes with many of the series' principal characters.
In Search of Hotel Excellence: Ashford Castle
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.
By Larry Mogelonsky, Partner, Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited
ITB Berlin Convention: Digitalisation and sustainability are decisive for the industry’s future
Digitalisation and sustainability are two topics that are currently of decisive importance in the global tourism industry. They are key for tourism professionals everywhere, regardless which market they represent. Without an elaborate digitalisation plan and a far-reaching sustainability strategy it will be impossible to ensure solid progress and long-term opportunities for the future. These are the aspects and topics that participants will address at the ITB Berlin Convention 2020 as part of the outstanding programme of events at the CityCube Berlin. Experts, researchers, industry executives as well as policymakers will provide information in their keynote speeches - with numerous discussions and interviews also on the agenda. Admission to the ITB Berlin Convention (4 to 7 March 2020) is free for trade visitors, the media and exhibitors at the World's Largest Travel Trade Show. The programme is available online at www.itb-berlin.com. For the first time all events contain keywords to make it easier to search for formats by topics such as 'business travel' or 'destination marketing'.
HSMAI Europe Announces the First Annual Fabian Specht Revenue Optimization Professional of the Year Award
The new award is named after the late area vice president of IDeaS Revenue Solutions, who passed away unexpectedly in December 2019 and was a dedicated supporter and friend of HSMAI Europe. It will be given to one hospitality professional every year in recognition of their individual contributions to revenue optimisation in the industry.
Expert Views (9)
Martin Soler, Partner, Soler & Associates
Nothing will mark the end of paid search marketing on Google, quite the contrary, they are doing everything to increase the ad-spend. It will change the way websites are indexed and I think it will affect hotel branding. However, changes like this are more about indexing the content in ways that all replies can be given through simple requests to Google Assistant.
Remy Merckx, Vice President Operations, WiZiU
I would never have a black or white statement like this. Digital Marketing capabilities and Search in particular are very complex and cannot be isolated to all other digital marketing levers. Saying that Hotel Paid Search Marketing is changing, this is the right statement.
Max Starkov, Hospitality & travel technologist and digital strategist, Hospitality Net
Google has become the greediest toll taker in online travel and wants to make money - in the form of referral fees and advertising revenue - at every stage of the online travel consumer's Digital Journey and its Dreaming, Planning, Booking, Experiencing and Sharing Phases.
VisitEngland and SiteMinder to Boost England’s International Appeal With Tourism Exchange Great Britain
VisitEngland has partnered with SiteMinder, the global hotel industry's leading guest acquisition platform, as part of its effort to boost domestic and international numbers across England. The tourism board has established Tourism Exchange Great Britain (TXGB), an online resource designed to align local tourism suppliers of all sizes with a range of English and global distributors, and now accessible to all SiteMinder hotel customers.
Unpredictability For Hotels In Advance Of Brexit
Duetto sits down with Jonathan Liu of GLH Hotels, Neetu Mistry of Cycas Hospitality and Joe Pettigrew of Starwood Capital Group to discuss how hotels can prepare amid Brexit uncertainty.
Brits Call Time on Unrealistic Holiday Pictures
The aftermath of Sunshine Saturday's* traditional holiday booking rush sees social media feeds flooded with unrealistic, over-filtered images of idyllic far flung destinations. However, as many Brits face their first week back at work, new research by hotel brand Hampton by Hilton reveals that 28 per cent find these unrealistic and picture-perfect travel images annoying, with holiday 'hot dog' legs topping the charts as the worst offender. More than one in twenty (six per cent) have even unfollowed someone because they were posting too many filtered images of exotic destinations in the winter.
Expert Views (12)
Erik Muñoz, Business Development Director EMEA, TrustYou
Personalisation isn't dead, but its evolution is far from its final form. There are pockets of personalisation occurring today during the customer experience, such as; pre-arrival upselling offers; geo-location and guest segmented pricing strategies, to name a couple of popular trends.
Max Starkov, Hospitality & travel technologist and digital strategist, Hospitality Net
Personalization in hospitality is not only here to stay, but it will become ubiquitous and indivisible part of the guest acquisition, guest services and guest retention. AI and ML powered technologies have already accelerated the adoption of personalization techniques across many industries and are making serious strides in hospitality: guest acquisition, revenue management, CRM, guest services, loyalty marketing, etc.
Peter O’Connor, Professor of Strategy, University of South Australia
Notwithstanding media hype, no hotel company has ever truly committed to personalization. Despite the vast amounts of data that we collect and the potential this represents, we as a sector have largely failed to put appropriate systems in place to do anything above mass customization (if even that) of either marketing or customer experience.