doug kennedy
How To Train Your Staff To Meet Luxury Service Standards Without Sounding Scripted and Insincere
Doug Kennedy | November 14, 2023
By Doug Kennedy Hoteliers in the upscale, luxury, and ultra-luxury segments of the lodging industry not only have to be concerned with the preferences of their actual guests, but also with the sometimes-ambiguous standards imposed on them by their brand, soft-brand, membership/affiliation, or by third party luxury hotel rating services. Indeed, achieving and maintaining those stars, diamonds or other merit-based symbols has never been easy and always represents a significant accomplishment. Surely, meeting these standards is important, and therefore it is essential that all staff are well-versed in the requirements. However, too many ho...
Doug Kennedy Announces Next Topic in His Webcast Training Series: Reservations and Group/Event Sales – Use Storytelling Selling
Doug Kennedy | November 6, 2023
Complimentary Registration Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Kennedy Training Network Inc. (KTN) announced today the topic for Doug Kennedy’s next training webcast: Use Storytelling Selling – Narrate The Pictures They Already Viewed Online scheduled for Monday, November 13, from Noon – 12:40pm EDT. REGISTER HERE “Years ago, all that guests had to research options were a few pictures displayed on a fuzzy, low-resolution monitor. Now, prior to calling or emailing about booking an event or important stay, those who inquire have already seen extensive photo galleries and probably a...
Do Your Hotel Leaders Truly Understand the Difference Between “Hospitality” and “Guest Service?”
Doug Kennedy | October 11, 2023
By Doug Kennedy My job as a hospitality industry conference speaker and training facilitator affords opportunities to speak with lodging industry leaders from a broad spectrum of management companies, brands, and independents. Based on my observations, I think there are a lot of leaders, including some with decades of experience who work at top-tier companies, who do not fully understand the difference between “hospitality” and “guest service.” I often hear these terms used interchangeably, yet while they are related, and while guest satisfaction requires both, they are fundamentally different concepts. Understanding the differe...
Doug Kennedy Announces Next Topic in His Webcast Training Series: Proactive Prospecting: Meet Your Hotel’s 2024 Sales Goals by Transitioning to
Doug Kennedy | October 5, 2023
Complimentary Registration Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Kennedy Training Network Inc. (KTN) announced today the topic for Doug Kennedy’s next training webcast: Proactive Prospecting: Meet Your Hotel’s 2024 Sales Goals By Transitioning to “Sales Hunting” scheduled for Friday, October 20 from Noon – 12:40pm EDT. REGISTER HERE Is netting “fair share” going to be enough to meet your hotel’s 2024 sales goal? Given an uncertain economic climate, is your sales team being challenged to do more prospecting? KTN’s next webcast covers realistic, actionable, daily sales habits that help...
Doug Kennedy Announces Next Topic in His Webcast Training Series: Train Your Team to Use the Language of Hospitality
Doug Kennedy | September 6, 2023
Complimentary Registration Sponsored By Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Kennedy Training Network Inc. (KTN) announced today the topic for Doug Kennedy’s next training webcast, which this month features a hospitality theme: Train Your Team To Use The Language of Hospitality, scheduled for Monday, September 11 from Noon – 12:40pm. REGISTER HERE According to Doug, “Interpersonal communication is always a challenge, especially in the lodging industry where we are dealing with different dialects and cultural differences. Plus, since the product is an emotionally based experience, language can sometimes tr...
Missionize Your Mission Statement
Doug Kennedy | August 23, 2023
By Doug Kennedy Turn your mission statement into meaningful daily actions that touch the hearts and minds of both staff and guests. For decades now, it has been fashionable for companies from all industries to craft a mission statement to not only summarize its purpose, but also to give work more purpose. Over the years, the original concept has evolved into creating “values” or “vision” statements. In my job as a hospitality industry trainer, I familiarize myself with what each client’s company culture involves, among other things, and determine what, if any, statement of mission, values, or vision they have in place. As one m...
Doug Kennedy Announces Next Topic in His Webcast Training Series: Reservations Sales: Remember, Ring-Ring Means Cha-Ching!
Doug Kennedy | August 3, 2023
Complimentary Registration Sponsored by Travel Outlook, Better Talent, and Track Hospitality Software Kennedy Training Network Inc. (KTN) announced today the topic for Doug Kennedy’s next training webcast: Reservations Sales: Remember, Ring-Ring Means Cha-Ching!, scheduled for Friday, August 18 from Noon – 12:40 pm. REGISTER HERE According to Doug, “Smart revenue and marketing leaders know that the voice reservations channel is alive and thriving. Of course, resorts, luxury properties, vacation rental agencies, and boutique hotels all know this. Even at branded, select-service hotels, front desk associates regularly field calls fro...
Does Your Reservations Call Scoring Criteria Need To Be Updated?
Doug Kennedy | July 25, 2023
By Doug Kennedy When our KTN team onboards clients for either traditional mystery shopping or for call scoring of actual recordings (as captured in our clients’ various cloud-based platforms), part of our process is reviewing their existing call criteria. As a result, I get to peek behind the scenes and see what their reservations, front desk, and/or contact center staff are being trained to say. What I find is that most organizations are still using the same reservations call handling criteria as they did long ago, despite the fact that so much has changed on the caller’s side of the conversation. When it comes to information, t...
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