TripAdvisor launches direct bookings, The Sukhothai joins GHA, turn need periods into brand-enhancing opportunities and why your hotel just lost over $1 million.

TripAdvisor launches new direct booking feature
Friday, 25th October 2019

Feature allows travelers to seamlessly click through to the hotels' own booking page from a sponsored listing on the TripAdvisor platform.

This new direct booking enhancement offers travelers a prominent link to book directly with the property. At the same time, it may help the business avoid costly commissions from online travel agencies (OTAs), which can be up to 25% of a booking >>

The Sukhothai Hotels & Resorts joins Global Hotel Alliance
24 Oct 2019 : The Sukhothai Hotels & Resorts has joined GHA’s growing portfolio of over 30 independent brands and 550 hotels in 75 countries and their award-winning, multi-brand loyalty programme >>

INSTO Observatories advancing tourism impact
25 Oct 2019 : Observatories and industry experts shared latest techniques and experiences with the measurement of the mandatory issue areas (local satisfaction with tourism, destination economic benefits, employment, tourism seasonality, energy and water management, sewage & solid waste management) as well as the measurement of CO2 emissions at destination level >>

Buyers facing challenges on journey towards end-to-end travel management
25 Oct 2019 : End-to-end travel management, where every step – from booking to payments, expense management and reporting – is integrated into a single seamless process, has long been a goal for corporate travel buyers, but a new report finds a large majority (72%) saying their programmes are only somewhat integrated >>

HIGHLIGHT ARTICLE

Turn Need Periods Into Brand-Enhancing Opportunities
Friday, 25th October 2019

Luxury properties all struggle with a common dilemma: How to create promotions to fill room nights and need periods that don’t work against the property’s status as a luxury brand?

On the one hand, you may feel that running too many price-driven special offers and discounts in a row will begin to erode the brand’s carefully crafted and curated identity. On the other hand, those need periods need to be filled >>

Travelers Off the Beaten Track
A report from Ctrip about National Day holidays 2019, which happened at the beginning of this month, confirms the trend further.

Instead of settling for the most popular destinations, Chinese travelers of all ages are now more willing to explore less-visited destinations for a 'sense of uniqueness' >>

Why Your Hotel Just Lost Over $1 Million
Studies show that within a year of being hired, 80 percent of new hires do not live up to expectations and a bad hiring decision can be one of the most expensive mistakes you can make >>

In case you've missed it: Global eNews of October 24, 2019
Hong Kong initiates tourism revival, Kimpton launches 'Stay Human Project', China’s live commerce and bad timing or bad decision >>