Final - Online hotel distribution

Can eBay become the ultimate travel distribution channel?

I've chosen this article after having subcribed to google alerts. The title of this article caught my attention mainly because of the words "eBay" and "travel". The information in the article is very interesting as we know that eBay is the world's most popular online shopping website where people can trade anything they want; eBay have more than a hundred million members registered from all around the world and on an average day, there are millions of items listed such as cars, CDs, DVDs, clothes, toys etc...so why not flight tickets or hotel rooms?

And even if it is said that travel sales figures on eBay are still small and most of the products are short break auctions, the Great Hotels Organization (GHO) has signed a distribution deal with Cultuzz available on eBay mostly in European countries. Furthermore, people spend more time on eBay than any other online site including Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels, Lastminute and Orbitz.

How does it work? GHO members simply set a minimum package or room night price (not visible to the consumer) and sell to the highest bidder.

In my opinion, eBay is already becoming an very important competitor to other online distribution channels and it could become the ultimate travel distribution channel; as previously said, eBay is the world's most popular online shooping website and moreover, there are now systems that can link PMS and CRS systems directly into eBay. Therefore, this distribution channel system through eBay could help hoteliers manage and sale their vacant room capacity more easily and increase room revenue.

However, one could wonder what would be the impact(s) on hotel brands, online channels like Expedia, Lastminute..., and eBay itself, etc.

Hotel Marketing

Tipping is part of travel, so what about the maid?

I've chosen this article because what is said is true and people don't always think about it. Indeed, when staying at a hotel or going to a restaurant, generally most people tend to tip the waiter, the bellman, the parking valet, etc, but what about the maid? She is the one who makes the bed, cleans the room, changes towels but guests are likely to forget about her. Why? Because they don't see her? And in a restaurant, what about the cooks? They are the ones to prepare meals but still, we don't see them. This situation could be considered as unfair, that is why, I think, it is not unuseful sometimes to remind how this works so people don't forget...

Hotel Marketing

Hotels play peek-a-boo with bathrooms

I've chosen this article because I've found its subject very original. Those boutique hotels designers have transformed the bathroom place in a way that bathers can be seen from the bedroom and vice versa. Generally, we tend to see the bathroom as a private, intimate place. It is a very odd and original idea, however I may not be sure that guests would like their room arranged in such a way but which can be very aesthetic.

Please, have a look:

Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Sofitel in Los Angeles (photo gallery)

New York’s Hotel on Rivington

Brand Erosion

This is my answer.

Hotel Marketing

Spain has become a destination role model

I've chosen this article about tourism in Spain because first of all, it's our neighbor country and I used to live at 40 minutes from the Spanish border, in the south of France. Therefore, I myself used to travel often to Spain and I don't find it surprising that this country is the second most popular destination in the world. Also, this became true with the increasing cheap cost of flight tickets with online websites such as expedia, lastminute, opodo, etc, and with easyjet: nowadays, you can find very cheap tickets so people can afford to travel more. Moreover, today's world is connected online and the possibility of buying tickets online have become for customers faster and more simple. Finally, the "Spanish way of life" keeps on attracting foreign people as we could say that it is not an ordinary country. And life is Spain is cheap too!

Is Your Hotel's Web Site the Ultimate Distribution Machine?

1. I've chosen the Martinez Hotel (Cannes) website for an example of having an excellent content. Indeed, I've noticed that on the website, instead of puting words like "rooms", "restaurant", "spa", "conferences", etc, there are other words that are catching the customer's attention such as "metamorphosis", "sensuality", "temptation", "serenity", etc, and that's what is getting the customer to click on more pages. Even for "reservations", the word replacing it is "freedom". Moreover, the music is really nice and matches well with the ambiance that the website gives.

2. For good use of visual images, I've chosen the Atlantis Resort (the Bahamas) website. There is more pictures than text but it doesn't bother because they are incredible! Sometimes, you don't need words to describe what you see...it's just the way it is...

3. And I've have chosen the Sentosa Resort & Spa (Singapore) website for a good example of interactive reservation. You can have the necessary information if you want to book by email, telephone and fax. And you can also make an online reservation. I find it very clear for customers and they don't get confused.

Wired Hotelier

IMAP Enterprises Inc. provides the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino with a State-Of-The-Art, 3D Interactive Hotel and Conference Facility Floor Plan & Mapping Solution

I think what the State-Of-The-Art Application IMAP has done for the MGM Grand is at the advantage of the hotel: now they are able to promote conference facilities, hotel services and casino areas. It is very interactive and creative as it provides direct information and serves as a unique sales tool. I find this application of online mapping very interesting and powerful when targeting potential customers. Furthermore, it permits customers not be lost in all the information as the MGM Grand is the largest casino and the largest hotel in the world.