The international hotel group introduces an "industry first" as part of its IMPACT 2009 Strategy to help combat challenging environment.

More than 350 hoteliers and industry experts gathered at this year's WORLDHOTELS Annual Conference at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel in Monaco, on 17th and 18th January. Under the banner "IMPACT 2009", the global group for independent hotels launched a number of initiatives designed to combat the economic downturn and to grow revenue and market share across a number of markets, business segments and channels.

A key component of this strategy is the introduction of the "Unlimited Training" programme. Under this programme, WORLDHOTELS' properties can send an unlimited number of staff on an unlimited number of up to 120 training courses offered by the WORLDHOTELS.academy in 2009 for a one-off nominal fee. The courses are being conducted in seven languages including English, Spanish, German and Chinese and are being held in 14 international destinations.

The courses range from yield, revenue and front office management to sales, international marketing and distribution, and traditional hotel operations.

Michael Ball, CEO of WORLDHOTELS, commented: "Especially in challenging times like these, the importance of well trained staff to a hotel's success cannot be underestimated. To ease pressure on hotel budgets, we decided to introduce this bold move to assist both the hotels and their staff. The initiative has been very well received by our hoteliers".

Another element of the IMPACT 2009 Strategy is the new state-of-the-art booking engine, WORLDHOTELS.resmaster, which was unveiled at the conference and is being implemented globally with immediate effect and throughout the first
quarter 2009.

"Together with a new suite of performance measuring tools and targeted promotions, the company is determined to take the initiative to expand, rather than wait for a change in the general climate," said Rob Hornman, Vice President EMEA & Global Sales and Distribution at WORLDHOTELS. "Now more than ever, it is crucial to target every business segment with a vertical approach and a tailormade strategy in order to generate hotel revenue growth."

During the conference, the participants were able to attend exchange sessions and key note speeches with leading industry representatives, including Futurist and Strategist Tom Cullen and the Managing Partner of China Opportunity Partners, Donald A. R. Birch.

Established in 1971, the WORLDHOTELS Annual Conference has become invaluable to the affiliate hotels in not only providing local and global market travel industry updates and insights into market trends, but also through offering
opportunities and solutions.