Even on our worst days, we can all wholeheartedly admit: we’ve got it good; we work in the most pleasant, most exciting and most alluring industry around, we get to travel, we get to meet people from all around the world ad we get to work in historic inns, cosmopolitan skyscrapers and sprawling island resorts.
Best of all " we get to help people make memories. Whether with their family, their spouse, their friends or with business colleagues.
But, there are always two sides of every coin, and no matter how amazing our industry is, a hotel marketing professional will eventually have a love/hate relationship with their job.
So, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we decided to ask hotel marketers what they love and hate about their jobs.
Here’s what you had to say:
What You Love:
The Variety
The hotel industry is a whirlwind of change. No two days, seasons or years are the same. Guests check in, guests check out. There are new group business accounts to go after, a constant stream of new technology to master, and new promos and packages to promote. This list goes on and on. If there is one thing a hotel marketer will never encounter in their career, it’s boredom. Hotel marketers are used to being dealt with new challenges and new situations everyday, and because of that, there is…
A Constant Need for Creativity
According to one hotel marketer who answered our survey, “My job makes my brain work, requires me to be more creative and allows me to always be learning new stuff.” Because of the constantly changing landscape and fresh challenges that greet hotel marketers on a daily basis, we’re forced to be innovative and to stretch our creative muscles. We’re never satisfied with doing things “the way they’ve always been done.” And, we’re always looking for ways to delight our marketing audiences and our guests.
Meeting People
Oh, and what people you’ll meet!
Business travelers from Korea. A family from France. A honeymooning couple from Canada. Or, perhaps even guests from your own backyard who are wanting a local getaway. Whoever they may be, the roster of people checking in and out of your hotel is in constant flux. And, don’t forget your online relationships. The endless Instagrammers, Tweeters and Facebook followers who you interact with guarantee that you’ll always be socializing.
READ: Are You A Hotel Marketing Groundhog?
What You Hate:
Irrational Guests/Guests Who Lie
Bad guests are your biggest pains. Every hotelier and hotel marketer has a story of a nightmare guest, maybe even several. It’s one thing to have a guest who will point out a rightful flaw. We value those and love the feedback they offer us. But, it’s a vastly different situation dealing with a guest who constantly makes mountains out of molehills or who belittles your staff.
The guest that hoteliers most despise is someone who fibs and makes up problems in hopes of getting back some type of compensation or a comped room. Good news is that our extremely satisfied and happy guests outnumber the wacky and awful ones. And, that the disgruntled guest will eventually check out.
Never-ending Deadlines
The dreaded “D” word. Hotel marketers are always chasing deadlines. In spring, you’re working on summer promotions. In summer, you’re dreaming up ways to package autumn’s changing leaves. In fall, you’re working on filling your holiday slump. And, round and round it goes. Not to mention, working around the calendar of events happening in your city and building campaigns with new audiences and new partnerships. The deadlines never stop, and neither do you.
Drowning in Details
Hotels have often been compared to a miniature city. And, that means a LOT has to happen to keep the city running. The list of details that hoteliers have to oversee is a long and tiring one, crowded with tasks that have an equal amount of urgency. And many hotel marketers complained about not having enough hours in the day or enough staff and resources to do everything they want to do.
Like any industry, hotel marketing has its share of the good, the bad and the awesome. But, at the end of the day, the pros outweigh the cons. Ninety percent of the hotel marketers who took our short survey shared that they loved their job, rating their satisfaction with a score of 7 out of 10 or higher. So, celebrate your everyday successes and let’s help each other get through the rough spots.
About Tambourine
Tambourine uses technology and creativity to increase revenue for hotels and destinations worldwide. The firm, now in its 30th year, is located in New York City and Fort Lauderdale. Please visit: www.Tambourine.com
