What does SMERF mean for hotels and the hospitality industry?
The guide explains how hotels can tap into Social, Military, Educational, Religious, and Fraternal groups to boost off-season occupancy through targeted marketing and group rates.
Supplier News
Hotels Can Win Visibility with Agent Engine Optimization (AEO)
The article explains how AI systems like ChatGPT now limit hotel recommendations to fewer than five options, requiring structured data and consistent information across all channels for visibility.
What Can Wood Do? Continue the Journey with GCSTIMES Wooden Bookmarks
GCSTIMES promotes wooden bookmarks as sustainable hotel amenities that enhance literary-themed guest experiences while reinforcing eco-conscious branding.
The Suite Spot Podcast Powered by Travel Media Group Celebrates Milestone 200th Episode
The hospitality podcast reaches 200 episodes after eight years, adding co-host Cassady Quintana to focus on social media strategy.
HCN to Spotlight the Future of Hotel Commerce Media at POSSIBLE Miami 2026; CEO Kevin Bidner to Present on the Industry’s Next Ad Frontier
HCN's commerce media network transforms hotel room tablets into advertising platforms, claiming 90%+ engagement rates and targeting affluent travelers when they're most receptive.
Direct Booking Summit 2026: Dedicated AI Training Sessions Added to Agenda
The event in Mexico City features four AI training sessions covering search optimization, automation, tool selection, and no-code development for hotel teams.
Spin Into Memory: Meet GCSTIMES Panda Keychain
GCSTIMES' plant-based leather panda keychain features dual-sided design with customizable elements for seasonal themes and property branding.
Rethinking value creation in travel through the perspective of Mauricio Prieto
eDreams co-founder argues travel companies overinvest in features while underinvesting in reducing customer risk and executing after acquisition.
Lodging Interactive Unveils New Brand Identity: “Smarter Marketing. Better Results.”
The agency rebranded with a new marketing ecosystem emphasizing human-led strategy and synchronized digital services including AI optimization.
OOH Connect and HCN Announce Strategic Partnership to Expand Programmatic and Direct Demand for Hotel Room Tablet Screens
The partnership will make HCN's in-room tablet inventory available through programmatic platforms and direct sales to reach travelers in hotel rooms.
RBC and HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions) Come Together to Elevate the Travel Booking Experience for Canadians
RBC partners with Hopper Technology Solutions to upgrade Canada's largest loyalty program with enhanced booking features and price insights.
Hotels risk losing visibility as search behaviour rapidly evolves with the rise of AI & social search
Study finds 47,300 monthly TikTok searches and 28,100 Perplexity searches for "hotels in London" alongside 74,000 Google searches, prompting new optimization strategies.
Catching Flights and Feelings? Travel’s Pivot from Finding Yourself to Finding Each Other
Hotels are redesigning common spaces and programming to facilitate connections among solo travelers seeking social experiences, not just solitude.
Tambourine Reimagines Nevis for a New Era of Luxury Travel, Honored with 2025 Adrian Award
Tambourine's Nevis rebrand drove mobile engagement up 84%, hotel leads up 75%, and restaurant leads up 2,281%.
Your stay, saved. Engraved in a bookmark.
The concept proposes engraved wooden bookmarks and key cards featuring mountain contours to create memorable guest touchpoints at resort properties.
TrustYou and HSMAI Europe Celebrate Strategic Partnership at Berlin Industry Gathering
TrustYou presented its data-driven Excellence Award to Hotel Maistra 160 for achieving a 98.75 guest satisfaction score based on verified feedback.
Emerging Travel Group strengthens its global offering though new partnership with Meliá Hotels International
The partnership adds over 400 Meliá properties across 40 countries to ETG's RateHawk platform, connecting with nearly 120,000 B2B travel professionals.
SOCIETIES Q1 2026 Spotlights Google AI Travel Planning, Guerlain’s Waldorf Astoria Spa, and the Rise of Design-Driven Hospitality
Influence Society's Q1 2026 brief examines Google's AI travel tools, Guerlain's new Waldorf Astoria spa, and design-driven independents reshaping luxury hospitality.
When Four Paws Check In: Sustainable Pet-Friendly Touchpoints for Hotels & Resorts
GCSTIMES offers eco-conscious pet amenities including wood key cards, detachable pet tags, and branded door hangers to enhance pet-friendly hospitality experiences.
Welcoming Every Guest, Including the Ones with Paws: GCSTIMES Pet-Themed Wooden Key Cards and Paper Card Holders for Hotels & Resorts
GCSTIMES offers wooden key cards with detachable pet tags for hotels, targeting the growing pet travel market.