Cautious optimism for Chinese outbound tourism, Japan's tourism hits record, how music affects the taste of food in restaurants and marketing metrics that lie.

Cautious optimism for Chinese outbound tourism
Thursday, 9th January 2020

June 2011 was the only month in the first decade of the 21st century when Hong Kong registered less than two million arrivals from Mainland China – until November 2019, when less than 1.93 million border crossings by Mainlanders resulted in a further deepening of the crisis of Hong Kong’s tourism and hospitality industry.

Unfortunately, the non-Mainland market did not help, with some source markets like Singapore, South Korea and Thailand seeing even bigger losses with more than 60% fewer arrivals in November 2019 compared to November 2018 >>

2020 Workforce-Workplace forecast
9 Jan 2020 : Every year at about this time, the annual workforce-workplace forecast is issued and is intended to provide employers with insights about what to expect in the coming years, so that they may position themselves for success >>

Japan's tourism hits record numbers in 2019
9 Jan 2020 : In 2019, Japan enjoyed its highest foreign visitor numbers on record, rounding off a ten year period of growth in the nation's tourism sector, with more international travelers using Japanese railways than any other year throughout the decade >>

Rosewood Little Dix Bay re-opens
9 Jan 2020 : Following a four-year closure and comprehensive renovation, Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands debuts today, marking one of the year’s most highly anticipated openings >>

HIGHLIGHT ARTICLE

How Music Affects the Taste of Food in Restaurants
Thursday, 9th January 2020

Most people are well aware of the link between taste and smell. This is why food tastes dull when we pinch our noses. Interestingly, taste does not come about solely in the mouth. Our tastebuds only collect a part of the image that is created within the brain. That’s right, taste is an image created in the brain.

Did you know, for instance, that it matters how we serve our food? A heavier cup or plate actually boosts the perceived quality of the drink or food that is served in or on it >>

The Hotel Marketing Metrics That Lie, A Lot!
Metrics are like best friends, there to guide you and support your instincts in times of uncertainty, but, like BFFs, metrics can occasionally throw you a curve and – let’s be honest — nothing can make your stomach drop faster than a negative stat >>

Smile and the World Smiles With You - Unless It’s Fake
One of our faithful subscribers emailed me a story: He was at a store, and the employee was friendly and engaging, but when he saw her later—when she was off duty—she acted indifferent toward him, almost rude, she wouldn’t even smile, which made him wonder >>

In case you've missed it: Global eNews of January 08, 2020
Asia dominates passport power in 2020, Hilton joins 'Street Feeders', industry needs to make mobiles a priority and ways hotels can aggressively acquire new emails >>