Carol Verret Consulting and Training Consulting Training Seminars |
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. . The Reset Button --- Innovation for Hotel Sales in 2010! . |
February 2, 2010 - While demand probably isn�t coming roaring back in 2010 it is returning. It�s time to shake off the �battle fatigue� of 2009 and hit the �reset� button for 2010 to take advantage of the positive opportunities that present themselves going forward. �In a recent AP-GFK poll, 72% of Americans said they�re optimistic about what 2010 will bring for the country. That�s a dramatic difference from their same poll answer where almost 75% of them thought 2009 was a bad year for the country.� (Margie Fisher, Small Business Trends, 01/02/10) At the same time, many business thought leaders believe that innovation will be key to plugging into this sense of optimism and converting it to business success. There are good reasons to feel positive this year. �� according to latest Pegasus View report. 2009 actually ended with more net bookings made from global distribution systems and alternative distribution systems than in December 2008 �.� (HotelNewsNow, 29/01/10) United Airlines on Wednesday said it sees a definite improvement in demand for business and premium travel. (Washington Post, 01/27/10) Even hotel industry leaders were feeling positive at the ALIS conference last week. �I am shocked at the last eight to nine weeks that I have had no bad news, and I�m seeing an increasing amount of good news,� said Laurence Geller, president and CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts. �� I am astonished at the level of business and the level of spending that�s coming back. I�m pleased with what I�m seeing in group pace for the entire portfolio.� (Hotel News Now, 01/28/10) Innovation isn�t about sweeping change. It can be series of small initiatives that enhance the sales effort. A few positive innovations can add up to a big difference in how you locate and develop new business � how you attract and engage them. Develop a Strategy for Innovation: Don�t� get too hung up on the plan and develop analysis paralysis. A bad plan well executed trumps a good plan that never gets off the ground. What kind of prospects are you looking for? Who are your current �great� customers and develop a strategy to find more like them. How many large accounts or �whales� are you working � what is the mix of smaller accounts or �tunas� that you can locate and get to close faster than the �whales�? How do you attract them in innovative ways � what�s the �bait�?We have entered the �culture of engagement� � prospects look to engage with hotels and sales people that set themselves apart from the other 100+ hotels that approach them every day. The innovation challenge � what five small innovations can your team think of to engage new business prospects? Join me and the i-Meet team for a FREE webinar sponsored by i-Meet on
social networks -- "Attracting Customers not Pushing Product � The Role
of Social Networks" on Friday Feb. 5. Click on the link below for
more info.
Carol Verret Consulting and Training delivers sales training with an edge and measurable results as well as revenue management training that drives incremental revenue and market share. She also provides consulting services in these areas. She has provided keynotes and seminars both nationally and internationally to hotels, management companies and related associations as well as having articles published in national and international publications. Check her out on the web site www.carolverret.net, the www.hotelsalesblog and on LinkedIn and Twitter. She can be reached at (303) 618-4065 or at [email protected]. |
Carol Verret 5910 S. University #C-18, PMB 374 Greenwood Village, CO 80121 Telephone: (303) 618-4065 [email protected] Web Site: http://www.carolverret.com/ Email: [email protected] |