As we move happily (or glumly, depending on how you feel about beaches versus sweaters) into the autumn, we’re taking a look at August – it’s been a busy month and the industry has had its fair share of ups and downs.
What are the biggest stories from the month? With so much to do and so little time, it’s easy to miss out on what’s happened. We’re here to catch you up. Without further ado:
Hotel Data and Analytics News – August 2016
More data, less time. It applies to news as well. With so much to read and so little time it’s helpful to have a recap of the best content from the past month or so. In this Slideshare we summarize the most relevant, important, and interesting news so hoteliers can swipe through and pick the most important articles to read. More info, less time.
Industry Stats You Might Have Missed In August
Which travel-related terms are now exclusively searched for on a mobile device? What did Ctrip’s CEO say about the prospect of the online travel agent entering the US market? How will London’s new Night Tube impact hospitality workers?
Why have contactless payments in the UK increased so much? How is the Airbnb of China performing? How many cancellations are hoteliers handling on a daily basis? Where will the world’s first beer-themed hotel open? And what is Airbnb on course to achieve?
All these questions are answered below:
Hotelier Outrage Over Rate Parity Agreement With Booking.com and Expedia
Australian hoteliers have blown up over the “secret” agreement between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the online travel agent duopoly of Booking.com and Expedia, which allows the global retail duopoly to prevent hoteliers offering cheaper prices than them online.
Hotels Offering Loyalty Programmes on OTAs: The Dark Side
Expedia is now very kindly allowing hotels to offer their normally closed user group member-only rates publicly on Expedia. Red Lion Hotel Group (RLHG), a brand that operates in the US and Canada with 114 properties, is the first to participate in Expedia’s latest initiative.
Expedia appears to be solving the puzzle of how to grow a loyalty programme quickly, and are in talks with other chains to feature more member-only rates – but have they really just exploited a pain point for their own long-term gain?
Our Top 10 Articles from 2016 – The Story So Far
We’re a little over halfway through 2016, and we thought we’d take a look back at some of our favourite pieces from the year so far. These are pieces that have generated the most conversations, turned the most heads and inspired us to look at issues affecting independent hotels from new and interesting angles.
Individually, these articles give insights into the nitty-gritty details of revenue management, digital marketing and driving direct bookings. Together, though, they’re a great look at which topics are resonating with the industry as a whole.
