GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLO. � APRIL 16, 2003 � Blizzard Internet Marketing Inc., the industry�s premier provider of Web site design, hosting and promotional services to hotels, has retained PRPRO, a hospitality-specific public relations firm based in Cleveland, to manage its expanding marketing communications effort. Blizzard has assisted more than 2,000 independent lodging properties in building traffic to their Web sites through specialized Internet marketing plans and strategies. �PRPRO came highly recommended to Blizzard by our business partner, Sceptre (a SWAN solution),� said Trent Blizzard, Blizzard Internet Marketing President. �Sceptre has worked with PRPRO for the past three years, and told us that they are continually pleased with both the tangible and intangible results generated by this team of high-profile industry journalists. From our initial introduction, we found PRPRO to be true professionals that understand the hospitality industry and the intricacies of technology. Believe me, this is a hard combination to find in a PR firm--and the fact that they get results is even harder to find.� The PRPRO team, representing more than 40 years of combined hospitality industry experience, is comprised of former full-time staff editors of Hotel & Motel Management magazine. Founded in February 2001 by Barb Worcester, former H&MM senior editor/technology editor, the company grew quickly because of its �editors perspective� on news value and its ability to open doors to the hospitality trade press and to those in executive positions at the chains and management companies. Joining the PRPRO team are Robert Nozar (former H&MM editor in chief), Bill Gillette (former H&MM managing editor) and Marty Whitford (former H&MM senior editor). �As former hospitality trade magazine editors, PRPRO�s contacts within the industry can�t be beat,� Blizzard said. �These relationships will help us to open doors to new customers and new business partnerships. Because PRPRO understands and has written about hotel technology for more than a decade, they will play a key role in explaining in laymen�s terms through press releases, case studies, advertorials and guest editorials the value our services bring to hotels of all sizes, and across all segments.� Building blocks toward success Blizzard began building Web site programs specifically for the Bed & Breakfast industry in 1997. Based on proven results and customer demand, their expertise was quickly coveted by properties outside of B&Bs. Today, 85 percent of Blizzard clients are independent lodging properties, including bed and breakfasts, hotels, country inns, motels, vacation rentals, cottages and spas. �What drives online bookings today is promotion,� Worcester said. �A lot of Web masters can design a site, but if the promotional effort is lacking, they won�t get qualified visitors. Because travelers have become more sophisticated in their online booking habits, they will make a purchasing decision based on the attractiveness of a site, its functionality and its flexibility to book a reservation. Hotels that need to upgrade their Web site to increase online bookings need to call Blizzard today.� Worcester said designing a Web site, optimizing it for search engines and orchestrating a marketing strategy is a very specialized skill set which very few properties can effectively accomplish with in-house expertise or with Internet professionals who are not well-versed in the lodging industry�s needs. The same holds true when building a public relations campaign, she said. Outsourcing to public relations agencies with minimal or no hospitality experience, or using internal staff who don�t have the needed writing skills and coveted relationships that are required to execute a successful PR campaign, is not a smart business move in today�s challenging economy. She said PRPRO has been the eyes and ears of hospitality for more than a decade. �If you want to get great results from your Internet marketing effort, you need skilled people managing the process,� Worcester said. �Just like PRPRO, Blizzard has spent years making the hotel business their business by specializing in the hospitality market. They understand the needs of their customers, they are committed to providing the ultimate in customer service, and they provide the best in content, contacts and costs that can�t be beat. �We are proud to be associated with such a dynamic, growing Internet marketing company,� she said. �Our goal is to make Blizzard the hospitality source for all Web site design, programming and promotion.� About Blizzard Internet Marketing
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