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April 8, 2009 - 2009 � Listings on online travel agencies (OTAs) and third-party travel websites present hoteliers with opportunities to engage travel consumers at every step in the travel shopping process, from research and comparison through to booking. Many hoteliers aren�t getting the maximum value from their hotel listings because they aren�t leveraging the power of online merchandising strategies. According to Hospitality Net, 39% of online travel sales are now made directly at online travel agencies (OTAs). Yet, 71% of bookers visit OTAs during the travel planning process (Travel Industry Association�s Travelers Use of the Internet 2008). This means that travelers are shopping around during the planning process. One of the secrets to extracting more value from online hotel listings is by ensuring that the hotel is presented in an engaging and consistent way at each step of the travel planning process. Extracting more value from hotel listings is based on the principles of online merchandising. Online merchandising is an ROI-centric strategy that enables hoteliers to extract more value from their online hotel listings. Basically, better merchandised hotels get more bookings because they tell engaging, consistent stories to online travel shoppers wherever and whenever they�re shopping for hotels online. In a complimentary Webinar, Joe Humphry, Founder & CEO of Humphry Services Corporation and travel industry expert, David C. Attardi, Director of E-Commerce at B. F. Saul Company Hotel Division drives top-line revenue through all electronic distribution channels and John McAuliffe, Chief Marketing Officer and online merchandising expert at VFM Leonardo will explore the secrets to extracting more value from hotel listings on OTAs and third-party travel sites. This webinar should be attended by E-marketing Executives, General Managers and Directors of Sales & Marketing at Hotel Management Companies, Individually Branded or Un-aligned Hotels or anyone that wants to understand the value of online hotel merchandising. The webinar is approximately one hour in duration and is at 2:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 a.m. Pacific, April 14th, 2009. Attend the webinar and learn:
For more information about this webinar or to learn more about VFM Leonardo�s Online Merchandising Solutions for hotels, please contact VFM Leonardo. About
VFM Leonardo
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Julie Vieth
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