When it comes to identifying a brand advocate, nothing can rival the passion and loyalty of a sports fan. While it is highly unlikely that we will ever witness a colleague walking into the office sporting a Marriott™ logo on their t-shirt while shouting, "Guess where I'm going tonight?", hoteliers are striving to capture that same level of enthusiasm with their guests. Social media has forever changed the way consumers interacts with brands. Static, points based loyalty programs may encourage repeat business, however, they fall short in converting guests into true advocates. Has the traditional loyalty model become ineffective? What is the difference between loyalty and advocacy? How to create a compelling advocate marketing plan? Most importantly, can we measure an ROI on advocacy? READ MORE

Hotels of all sizes are finding success using social media to drive their rewards program. The challenges you face as you build your hotel reward program - establishing great perks, creating an easy path to earn extra reward points, and introducing your program to guests - can all be achieved using the right social media strategies. Learn how to employ the best social media strategies to drive engagement and increase enrollment in your hotel's loyalty rewards program, from setting up a social media-powered referral program to establishing VIP social media accounts, using social concierge accounts to improve your hotel's reputation, and more. READ MORE

Live video streaming is not necessarily a new technology, but it has recently experienced quite the rise in popularity. A generation filled with "cord-cutters" has turned Internet video into the new cable TV. As hoteliers, we know that marketing is no longer a straight path, but rather a box of tools for us to utilize given our property's needs. Live video streaming is marketing's shiny new tool that is loved by the millennial market and what might be better termed the "millennial mindset" market. Clearly, other generations love technology just as much and not all millennials love it, so the hype is not necessarily geared solely to the 20-35 year old market. So let's take a look at how live video streaming began, what caused its recent emergence and what the future holds for this rapidly developing technology. READ MORE

Employee appreciation programs are critical in retaining top talent and maintaining morale. While it's easy to dismiss “perks” as something only millennials care about, it's important to note that 1) it isn't just millennials who like to feel appreciated, it's everyone; 2) employee appreciation programs have been around since far before anyone who fits into the 'millennial' demographic was born, and; 3) even if it was just a millennial issue, most organizations in hospitality are hiring millennials, after all, where else are hotels recruiting their next workforce generation? READ MORE

Data and social media are the twin forces of change within the hospitality industry. Maximizing the power of these tools - for the good of workers and guests alike - is (or must be) a hotel executive's principal responsibility. Of equal importance is the democratization of these commodities: The accessibility, and increased affordability, of online marketing and promotions to a diversity of travelers. With the help of the right experts, and with an uncompromising eye toward quality and excellence, hotel executives can benefit from the application of data and social media. Now is the time to seize this opportunity of technological significance and business success. READ MORE