With social media being the most popular form of online activity (1 in 5 minutes online is being spent using social media), one can argue that your voice online is becoming the most important facet of your hotel's online communication strategy. Gone are the days where push marketing is king. It's all about the one-to-one dialog, personal relationships, and the way you are represented online. Providing guests with an authentic representative as community manager to give them the answers they are looking for in real-time is the new king. READ MORE

Stories are for sharing, as is social media, making a branded online community the ideal channel for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to highlight its storied history and unrivalled collection of luxury hotels. Hayley Mitchell, Social Media and Community Manager for Fairmont shares the reasoning behind the creation of Everyonesanorioginal.com and how the online portal has provided a major international hotel brand with an intimate way to hear from brand advocates and share unique information and stories in a more casual environment than traditional websites. READ MORE

Today, it's clear that consumers are not only embracing, but engaging with new technologies in ways that are changing the face of travel. The challenge that comes with digital innovations is deciding which to lev¬erage, and how to leverage them effectively. Instead of launching one-off initiatives, the most successful brands are developing digital media programs that are holistic, integrated and strategic. 'Going digital' really means authentically interacting with an audience through all of the platforms that make sense, in order to reach the consumer in a way that is seam¬less, intuitive, enhances brand identity and adds value to the customer experience. READ MORE

Without a sale there is no profit, without a person that is no communication and without features and benefits there is no sale. How does your art balance the components of people, progress and profit as we creatively brush at the colors of communication and passion that a hotel artist may use today. The success of each piece is through the canvas, color and palette that YOU bring to your audiences by and for the people through progress in a finished product and the profit of a sale. Balance of these components in a defined manner will without question lead to undiscovered revenues and thus increased profitability whether today or in the future. READ MORE

Hotels no longer face the choice of whether or not to go mobile, as the necessity to implement a mobile strategy is well established. Now the question is what platform to develop on. There are many options, each posing unique advantages and disadvantages. We'll identify and address some key factors to help you decide which options best satisfy your unique needs, both short and long-term. Properties should consider several factors when determining what ecosystem will provide the desired results. Some key elements include: cost, maintenance, functionality, exposure, distribution, and sustainability. READ MORE