The following is a reprint from the monthly newsletter of HSMAI’s Resort Marketing Special Interest Group. As you know, every member of HSMAI can join any of the SIG’s at no additional cost. One of the features of the Resort Marketing SIG is: Ask Dr. Resort -- an “Ask the Expert Service” available to members for advice and counsel from the Resort Marketing Advisory Board.
THE DOCTOR IS IN - drresort@gmail.com
As we move through the difficulties of the great recession, everyone has thoughts and ideas on what is happening. But what does it all mean and what should you be considering in your business plan. Below is a sample of what the Dr. is talking about and helping professionals like you get a fresh perspective on current events.
Inconspicuous Consumption…or is it stealth indulgence On one hand you have those who believe that people are readily willing to return to their old spending habits. On the other is the belief that we have become, once again, a nation of savers. While this is a valid conversation on the future of our guests, it doesn't help resorts that need to fill the occupancy void. However there is a group out there, and they are bigger than what you think, that still have money to spend on vacations but are hesitant….
The Resort Fee Outcry Resort fees have become common throughout our industry. From offsetting the costs of providing pool towels to maintain the beach, these have become part of the industry's landscape. Unfortunately, other lodging types have followed suite in adding their own version of fees (whether appropriate or not) and consumers now perceive these as part of a larger problem where companies are 'extracting every last cent from them'. So what happens when competitors lower their fees to attract guests…
If you would like to take full advantage of your HSMAI and Resort Marketing Special Interest Group membership, learn more about these topics or get your question answered by a panel of industry executives that know exactly what you are going through, please email the Dr. at drresort@gmail.com.
Note: You can explore this SIG, and several others at the main hsmai.org website.
You can join them all or select just the groups that apply to you and your company.
Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
“Around Town” Column – February-March 2010
Here’s a collection of newsworthy items happening recently “Around Town” from our industry members and South Florida community.
Southeast Florida:
REVPAR Guru CEO Jean Francois Mourier was recently interviewed on NPR radio: http://204.13.1.19:81/ Just scroll to January 2010, then select Tuesday January 26th, South Florida hotel industry and economic impacts, to hear his interview.
The "Award Winning" Hampton Inn Plantation, for the second year in a row has won the prestigious Lighthouse Award for service and accommodations. This was awarded in 2008 and now for 2009. They are ranked #20 out of over 1700 Hampton Inns Worldwide.
Pri-Med, a brand owned and operated by M/C Communications LLC, the leading provider of professional education solutions to a community of over 220,000 physicians held it’s 12th consecutive meeting, their 2010 Conference & Exhibition at the Broward County Convention Center on February 11 - 14, 2010.
Pri-Med South had contracted room blocks with Bahia Mar Beach Resort, Embassy Suites 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale Hilton Marina, Hyatt Regency Pier 66, and Renaissance Fort Lauderdale. Greater Fort Lauderdale expected an estimated economic impact of $5.4 million from hosting this meeting.
Southwest Florida:
“The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel” report that 36 area accommodations have been named to the Florida Green Lodging Program. These “green” accommodations are –
Fort Myers Beach: DiamondHead Beach Resort, Hampton Inn & Suites, Mango Street Inn, Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa, and The Riviera Villas.
Sanibel Island: Blue Dolphin Cottages, Blue Dolphin Cottages, Castaways Beach & Bay Cottages, Ocean’s Reach Condominium Resort, Sanibel Inn, Seaside Inn, Song of the Sea, Sundial Beach & Golf Resort, and, The Sunset Beach Resort.
Fort Myers: Best Western Fort Myers Inn & Suites, The Crown Plaza, Comfort Inn & Suites Airport , Country Inn & Suites Sanibel Gateway, Courtyard by Marriott Fort Myers at I-75/Gulf Coast Town Center, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Downtown Historic District, Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Myers, Hotel Indigo, La Quinta Inn & Suites Airport Residence Inn by Marriott, Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa, Shell Point Guest House, Spring Hill Suites by Marriott, the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel.
Bonita Springs: Holiday Inn Express, Hyatt Coconut Plantation, The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, The Inn at the Springs. Estero: Hampton Inn & Suites; Pine Island: Bokeelia Tarpon Inn, Bridgewater Inn, Matlacha.
The Crowne Plaza Fort Myers has received the "Meeting Excellence" Award for the 3rd quarter. It is also the 3rd quarter in a row that they have received this award. The award is based on responses to the meeting survey sent to all meeting planners that have held meetings at the hotel asking for them to rank their service, and food quality. The hotel is also offering a "10% discount off the Master" promotion for any meetings booked and held before June 30, 2010. Meeting Planners will receive a 10% discount off their total master bill, PC rewards points for all attendees and Bonus PCMR points for the meeting planner.
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, Bonita Springs, has been honored as one of “2009’s Top 50 Resorts in the U.S. and Canada” in Travel + Leisure magazine’s 14th annual readers’ survey. The resort was one of only two Hyatt’s selected in the prestigious listing.
The Resort at MarinaVillage at the Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral is scheduled to open Nov. 1. A SunStream Hotels & Resort property, the resort is the first luxury resort in Cape Coral and offers guests 19 stories of views of the Caloosahatchee River, San Carlos Bay and the Gulf of Mexico
Residence Inn Fort Myers-Sanibel in Fort Myers has opened its all-suite, extended-stay property. Breakfast is included daily and pets are welcome.
Hotel Indigo, the Fort Myers River District’s first boutique hotel opened with 60 oversized guest rooms and seven condo-style suites, as well as a rooftop pool, lounge, spa and fitness center, valet parking, cocktail lounge and two restaurants. It is located at 2115 Main Street, Fort Myers.
Hyatt Place Fort Myers at the Forum plans a mid-October opening. The full service property includes flexible meeting space and will offer guests complimentary breakfast each day.
Gasparilla Inn & Cottages in Boca Grande has hired Chef Peter Timmons, former executive chef of the award-winning restaurant at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV.
The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB Annual Tourism Workshop with the Collier County Board of Commissioners and the Tourist Development Council takes place Monday, March 15 from 1 to 3 pm in County Commission Chambers at the Collier County government administration complex. The main topic for discussion will be how to allocate funding for year-round destination marketing campaigns in the future. For more information on the workshop, please e-mail Jack Wert.
Frontier Airlines Extends Service -- The Lee County Port Authority is pleased to announce that Frontier Airlines' seasonal nonstop flights to Denver International Airport (DEN) have been extended to year-round service.
Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club has received the prestigious "2009 Planners' Choice Award" from MeetingNews magazine. The award will be presented to Jim Gunderson, general manager of the newly renovated 319-room resort.
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples promoted Darryl Adams to the position of Hotel Manager. Adams was previously the Executive Assistant Manager, Rooms Division for The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples, overseeing operations for both the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples and The Ritz-Carlton, Naples.
Visitors TV Network welcomes new, local representation in the Naples/Marco Island area. Larry and Cecily Lancit are the official representatives for this service, free to area hotels.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To submit items for future editions, send to jwfranklin1@gmail.com
Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider
Southeast Florida:
REVPAR Guru CEO Jean Francois Mourier was recently interviewed on NPR radio: http://204.13.1.19:81/ Just scroll to January 2010, then select Tuesday January 26th, South Florida hotel industry and economic impacts, to hear his interview.
The "Award Winning" Hampton Inn Plantation, for the second year in a row has won the prestigious Lighthouse Award for service and accommodations. This was awarded in 2008 and now for 2009. They are ranked #20 out of over 1700 Hampton Inns Worldwide.
Pri-Med, a brand owned and operated by M/C Communications LLC, the leading provider of professional education solutions to a community of over 220,000 physicians held it’s 12th consecutive meeting, their 2010 Conference & Exhibition at the Broward County Convention Center on February 11 - 14, 2010.
Pri-Med South had contracted room blocks with Bahia Mar Beach Resort, Embassy Suites 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale Hilton Marina, Hyatt Regency Pier 66, and Renaissance Fort Lauderdale. Greater Fort Lauderdale expected an estimated economic impact of $5.4 million from hosting this meeting.
Southwest Florida:
“The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel” report that 36 area accommodations have been named to the Florida Green Lodging Program. These “green” accommodations are –
Fort Myers Beach: DiamondHead Beach Resort, Hampton Inn & Suites, Mango Street Inn, Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa, and The Riviera Villas.
Sanibel Island: Blue Dolphin Cottages, Blue Dolphin Cottages, Castaways Beach & Bay Cottages, Ocean’s Reach Condominium Resort, Sanibel Inn, Seaside Inn, Song of the Sea, Sundial Beach & Golf Resort, and, The Sunset Beach Resort.
Fort Myers: Best Western Fort Myers Inn & Suites, The Crown Plaza, Comfort Inn & Suites Airport , Country Inn & Suites Sanibel Gateway, Courtyard by Marriott Fort Myers at I-75/Gulf Coast Town Center, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Downtown Historic District, Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Myers, Hotel Indigo, La Quinta Inn & Suites Airport Residence Inn by Marriott, Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa, Shell Point Guest House, Spring Hill Suites by Marriott, the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel.
Bonita Springs: Holiday Inn Express, Hyatt Coconut Plantation, The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, The Inn at the Springs. Estero: Hampton Inn & Suites; Pine Island: Bokeelia Tarpon Inn, Bridgewater Inn, Matlacha.
The Crowne Plaza Fort Myers has received the "Meeting Excellence" Award for the 3rd quarter. It is also the 3rd quarter in a row that they have received this award. The award is based on responses to the meeting survey sent to all meeting planners that have held meetings at the hotel asking for them to rank their service, and food quality. The hotel is also offering a "10% discount off the Master" promotion for any meetings booked and held before June 30, 2010. Meeting Planners will receive a 10% discount off their total master bill, PC rewards points for all attendees and Bonus PCMR points for the meeting planner.
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, Bonita Springs, has been honored as one of “2009’s Top 50 Resorts in the U.S. and Canada” in Travel + Leisure magazine’s 14th annual readers’ survey. The resort was one of only two Hyatt’s selected in the prestigious listing.
The Resort at MarinaVillage at the Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral is scheduled to open Nov. 1. A SunStream Hotels & Resort property, the resort is the first luxury resort in Cape Coral and offers guests 19 stories of views of the Caloosahatchee River, San Carlos Bay and the Gulf of Mexico
Residence Inn Fort Myers-Sanibel in Fort Myers has opened its all-suite, extended-stay property. Breakfast is included daily and pets are welcome.
Hotel Indigo, the Fort Myers River District’s first boutique hotel opened with 60 oversized guest rooms and seven condo-style suites, as well as a rooftop pool, lounge, spa and fitness center, valet parking, cocktail lounge and two restaurants. It is located at 2115 Main Street, Fort Myers.
Hyatt Place Fort Myers at the Forum plans a mid-October opening. The full service property includes flexible meeting space and will offer guests complimentary breakfast each day.
Gasparilla Inn & Cottages in Boca Grande has hired Chef Peter Timmons, former executive chef of the award-winning restaurant at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV.
The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB Annual Tourism Workshop with the Collier County Board of Commissioners and the Tourist Development Council takes place Monday, March 15 from 1 to 3 pm in County Commission Chambers at the Collier County government administration complex. The main topic for discussion will be how to allocate funding for year-round destination marketing campaigns in the future. For more information on the workshop, please e-mail Jack Wert.
Frontier Airlines Extends Service -- The Lee County Port Authority is pleased to announce that Frontier Airlines' seasonal nonstop flights to Denver International Airport (DEN) have been extended to year-round service.
Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club has received the prestigious "2009 Planners' Choice Award" from MeetingNews magazine. The award will be presented to Jim Gunderson, general manager of the newly renovated 319-room resort.
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples promoted Darryl Adams to the position of Hotel Manager. Adams was previously the Executive Assistant Manager, Rooms Division for The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples, overseeing operations for both the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples and The Ritz-Carlton, Naples.
Visitors TV Network welcomes new, local representation in the Naples/Marco Island area. Larry and Cecily Lancit are the official representatives for this service, free to area hotels.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To submit items for future editions, send to jwfranklin1@gmail.com
Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider
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