Archive for the ‘Archives’ Category
March 19th, 2018 by Eben Viens
Wellness tourism is a 500-billion-dollar segment of the travel industry. Looks like something innkeepers should consider integrating into their business plan. Don’t leave a piece of that 500-billion-dollar pie on the plate! AIHP Knowledge Sharing Summit and Marketplace, day two. I attended Julie Pankey’s session, Top Trends in Wellness Tourism, The Guest Experience. After many […]
March 7th, 2018 by Eben Viens
One of the first sessions I attended at last week’s AIHP Knowledge Sharing Summit and Marketplace was presented by David Mayfield from ResNexus. Effective time Management. Some do it well, others not so much. But everyone can learn new techniques. In business and daily private life, time is precious, and worth the time to explore […]
February 22nd, 2018 by Eben Viens
Online marketing made simple? I think this is an oxymoron (a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction). Any moron knows online marketing/social media is NOT simple, but I got your attention, right? In a recent article by Steve Olenski in Marketing Insider Group, ‘4 Online Marketing Tips That May Sound […]
January 19th, 2018 by Eben Viens
What is an Algorithm? Nothing to do with Al Gore and whether he has rhythm or not. But all to do with the internet (didn’t Al invent that?) Definition from Whatis.com: “An algorithm (pronounced AL-go-rith-um) is a procedure or formula for solving a problem, based on conducting a sequence of specified actions. A computer program can be […]
December 6th, 2017 by Eben Viens
As the year winds to a close I thought I would compile a recap of top 10 lodging trends 2017. Some of these come from blogs I have written this year and others from a quick Google search of hotel/lodging trend articles. 1. In-room technology. The two items that stood out were: High-definition flat screen […]
November 30th, 2017 by Eben Viens
We have all heard about how important curb appeal is to properties. There is also the ongoing trend and need to create bathroom appeal. I would like to share some highlights from a recent article titled, ‘Hotels upgrade bathrooms for more demanding guests’. From the article, here is what the vice president of Marriott global […]
November 16th, 2017 by Eben Viens
Memories of our childhood Thanksgivings feasts, fond or quirky, we all have them. I asked our team if they would share with me their most memorable Thanksgiving F&B (that’s food & beverage) traditions. Humorous Highlights 1. Paris Peas by Eliot Dalton “Somehow when my Mom came back from going to a fancy cooking school in […]
January 13th, 2016 by Eben Viens
Over the last few years much has been written about the travelling public’s changing wants and needs. There was and is much talk about “experiential travel,” “live like a local” and other catching phrases that target today’s travelling public. Who better to deliver a local experience than our industry’s independent innkeeper? My last blog boldly stated […]
December 29th, 2015 by Eben Viens
The phone rings, and we answer… How may I help you? “Well…I would like some information on the So ‘n So Inn you have listed on The B&B Team website”. Thus the conversation starts and the journey begins. “For would-be entrepreneurs, sometimes the hardest part about starting a business is taking that first step.” […]
November 16th, 2015 by Eben Viens
In the beginning there was Trip Advisor, the review site. A hate/love relationship flourished within the lodging industry including bed and breakfasts. No big news here. ‘Slowly I turned…step by step..inch by inch’… and Trip Advisor became the largest travel related website in the world. For those who could see into the future it became inevitable […]
September 22nd, 2015 by Eben Viens
As innkeepers, your job, and the job of the marketing firm or marketing association you have hired or joined, is to connect people with your Inn, your brand message. The path of connectivity in marketing your inn has evolved since the emergence of the internet so many years ago. It is hard to even remember marketing without […]
May 18th, 2015 by Eben Viens
Another mega company, Amazon, (which means big anyway), has moved into the travel industry with a new direction. It is now connected to Amazon Local but will soon be on its own. Here is Amazon Destination’s brand focus. Created to solve problem-“How to easily plan and book a local getaway trip.” Weekend getaway within driving […]