At our May meeting, our speaker re-iterated the importance of having a mission statement that we could remember (even quote!) and that it had relevance to all our members.
HSMAI (headquarters) recently changed its mission statement. It was:
“The mission of HSMAI is to be the leading source for sales and marketing information, knowledge, business development, and networking for professionals in tourism, travel, and hospitality”.
It now has a “Statement of Purpose” which says:
“HSMAI is the hospitality industry’s source for knowledge, community, and recognition for leaders committed to professional development, sales growth, revenue optimization, marketing, and branding.”
I was curious about the new statement and asked Bob Gilbert, President of HSMAI to comment on the recent change. He told me that: “the primary reason was to expand the scope to include stakeholders of our growing special interest groups – specifically revenue managers. Plus, the board thought that revenue management or revenue generation belonged in our mission – ALL sales and marketing people – and (even) GM’s can relate to that.”
So, now that our organization has a more inclusive, more relevant message, all we have to do is to get busy memorizing! Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
HSMAI-South Florida donates to Women In Distress – May 2009
As part of our on-going efforts for community service, the South Florida Chapter of HSMAI recently held an amenities/toiletries drive on behalf of “Women In Distress” (WID). This organization has approximately 30 women in their shelter setting at any given time. They also have about 150-200 participants that come to their Family Center on a weekly basis where they provide Advocacy and Group Counseling.
We contributed collected samples of shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, and the like to donate to the women and their families. Attendees at our May lunch meeting at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina brought bags, boxes, and baskets of items. A portion of our name badge desk was manned by Donna McCarthy (Jungle Queen) who is our chapter’s Director of Community Service this year along with Jennifer Stewart from Women In Distress.
In thanking our HSMAI members and attendees for their generosity, Jennifer Stewart, Director of Development with WID, stated: “Women In Distress values our relationship with HSMAI. Your support through the years, most recently through this drive, directly benefits the women and children living in our emergency shelter.”
Thanks to everyone who came and donated and hope you’ll participate in our community service efforts again in the future. Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider.
We contributed collected samples of shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, and the like to donate to the women and their families. Attendees at our May lunch meeting at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina brought bags, boxes, and baskets of items. A portion of our name badge desk was manned by Donna McCarthy (Jungle Queen) who is our chapter’s Director of Community Service this year along with Jennifer Stewart from Women In Distress.
In thanking our HSMAI members and attendees for their generosity, Jennifer Stewart, Director of Development with WID, stated: “Women In Distress values our relationship with HSMAI. Your support through the years, most recently through this drive, directly benefits the women and children living in our emergency shelter.”
Thanks to everyone who came and donated and hope you’ll participate in our community service efforts again in the future. Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider.
Friday, May 22, 2009
The Senior Citizen Market
We know that everyone is being affected by the tough economic times, but there are still people who travel -- who can take the discretionary time to travel and yes, who even have the money to travel.
We all know that "Boomers" (age 41-60) are the fastest growing market segment. In addition, the Boomers are now aging (eek!) and becoming part of the "Matures" (age 61 and older). So this is a huge pool of people from which to draw. Tapping into even a small percentage of these two groups can be rewarding. Like all marketing, to be successful you must target these segments in a relevant, meaningful manner. The usual: "identifying what these customers want and then giving it to them". Not to be simplistic, but all I'm saying is: don't overlook the "Senior Citizen" market -- just don't call them that!
AARP recently announced a new Travel Center powered by Expedia. It's a custom website including vacation packages, cruises, flights, hotels and rental cards. Members get discounts with most of the providers and extra onboard cruise credits, as well at not having to pay any airline or cruise booking fees.
(See www.expedia-aarp.com)
And here’s something else I found interesting: AARP THE MAGAZINE commissioned a survey of retired married (or living-as-married) couples ages 55 through 75. The survey was originally done to find out if American husbands and wives have the "retired-husband syndrome" which is affecting Japanese wives. This genuine disorder is one in which the retired Japanese husbands start hanging around the house and drive their spouses (literally) crazy. Turns out that the majority of Americans (77 percent) say they really don't mind having their spouses around more. In fact 47% of retired couples say they engage more in TRAVEL activities now than when they were working. Travel was the largest percentage listed. (Other "more time for fun” areas were: eating out 40%, hobbies 38%, Exercise 37% on down the line).
Have a great holiday weekend. Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider
We all know that "Boomers" (age 41-60) are the fastest growing market segment. In addition, the Boomers are now aging (eek!) and becoming part of the "Matures" (age 61 and older). So this is a huge pool of people from which to draw. Tapping into even a small percentage of these two groups can be rewarding. Like all marketing, to be successful you must target these segments in a relevant, meaningful manner. The usual: "identifying what these customers want and then giving it to them". Not to be simplistic, but all I'm saying is: don't overlook the "Senior Citizen" market -- just don't call them that!
AARP recently announced a new Travel Center powered by Expedia. It's a custom website including vacation packages, cruises, flights, hotels and rental cards. Members get discounts with most of the providers and extra onboard cruise credits, as well at not having to pay any airline or cruise booking fees.
(See www.expedia-aarp.com)
And here’s something else I found interesting: AARP THE MAGAZINE commissioned a survey of retired married (or living-as-married) couples ages 55 through 75. The survey was originally done to find out if American husbands and wives have the "retired-husband syndrome" which is affecting Japanese wives. This genuine disorder is one in which the retired Japanese husbands start hanging around the house and drive their spouses (literally) crazy. Turns out that the majority of Americans (77 percent) say they really don't mind having their spouses around more. In fact 47% of retired couples say they engage more in TRAVEL activities now than when they were working. Travel was the largest percentage listed. (Other "more time for fun” areas were: eating out 40%, hobbies 38%, Exercise 37% on down the line).
Have a great holiday weekend. Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider
Thursday, May 21, 2009
“Table of Eight” – May 2009 HSMAI-South Florida Lunch Meeting
It was wonderful to see a sell-our crowd at our luncheon meeting at the newly re-branded Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina yesterday. We were pleased to see a nice mix of our local hospitality industry as well as some of our General Managers in attendance.
Our speaker, Carlos Molinet, General Manager of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, was his usual brilliant self in his presentation on “World Class Customer Service”. Many of us in the audience were taking notes. And the great program was immediately twittered, commented on, and quoted in both Twitter and Linked-in. Kudos to Carlos for an enjoyable and educational experience. Who knew that our attendees could stand, clap, laugh, and even sing?! (The song was “Proud”. Lyrics included: “I step out of the ordinary…And you can do the same” “What have you done today to make you feel proud? It’s never too late to try…”)
Carlos reviewed the components of the three keys to World Class Customer Service: Communications, Teamwork, and Loyalty. (Stacie Faulds, our Chapter President, put it in an acronym: TLC – making it easy to remember.) As Carlos said, (great) customer service is recession proof – it’s what we have to deliver to make the difference -- and there’s no better time for (great) customer service than now in these tough economic times.
Coming Up: We’re over in Ft. Myers/Estero on June 5th for an evening networker. Details are posted on our website under chapter events. So register now for that one. Our July 22nd lunch meeting should also be a sell out so please, please register early for this one as soon as it’s posted. Bruce Turkel, CEO of Turkel Advertising-Miami, will be speaking on Branding. The venue is the new W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. Also: Save the date for our August 19th meeting – it’s a panel of experts on Revenue Management to be held in Miami/Dade County. Our new-this-year Revenue Management Committee (under the direction of Chris Crenshaw, Director, Revenue Management) has put this event together and it looks to be an awesome, talented, informative program. Hope to see you soon, Julie Wernick, Managing Director.
Our speaker, Carlos Molinet, General Manager of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, was his usual brilliant self in his presentation on “World Class Customer Service”. Many of us in the audience were taking notes. And the great program was immediately twittered, commented on, and quoted in both Twitter and Linked-in. Kudos to Carlos for an enjoyable and educational experience. Who knew that our attendees could stand, clap, laugh, and even sing?! (The song was “Proud”. Lyrics included: “I step out of the ordinary…And you can do the same” “What have you done today to make you feel proud? It’s never too late to try…”)
Carlos reviewed the components of the three keys to World Class Customer Service: Communications, Teamwork, and Loyalty. (Stacie Faulds, our Chapter President, put it in an acronym: TLC – making it easy to remember.) As Carlos said, (great) customer service is recession proof – it’s what we have to deliver to make the difference -- and there’s no better time for (great) customer service than now in these tough economic times.
Coming Up: We’re over in Ft. Myers/Estero on June 5th for an evening networker. Details are posted on our website under chapter events. So register now for that one. Our July 22nd lunch meeting should also be a sell out so please, please register early for this one as soon as it’s posted. Bruce Turkel, CEO of Turkel Advertising-Miami, will be speaking on Branding. The venue is the new W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. Also: Save the date for our August 19th meeting – it’s a panel of experts on Revenue Management to be held in Miami/Dade County. Our new-this-year Revenue Management Committee (under the direction of Chris Crenshaw, Director, Revenue Management) has put this event together and it looks to be an awesome, talented, informative program. Hope to see you soon, Julie Wernick, Managing Director.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Celebrating Tourism Appreciation Week – May 2009
This past week we celebrated National Tourism Appreciation week – events were held all over – including the one on May 19th at the Broward Convention Center.
Belated congratulations to Nicki Grossman, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, who was named to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Travel and Tourism Advisory Council. The Travel and Tourism Advisory Council was developed last year (2008) to provide real-time, grassroots economic information to its Research Department. The council consists of approximately 12 members who are senior executives of tourism and tourism-related businesses and organizations in the Southeast, such as cruise lines, convention and visitor bureaus, entertainment companies, airports, hotels, and restaurants.
In recognition of Florida’s most important industry, tourism facts and figures were provided to the attendees to emphasize the economic impact to our State.
It’s not JUST those of us employed by the tourism industry that benefit. Visitors generate sales tax revenues that help pay for our schools, law enforcement, road improvements and many other public needs making the quality of life better for all our residents. It’s amazing how many people still don’t know this information.
Here are some of the stats for 2008 (Note: some state numbers are estimates):
Total visitors to Broward: 10.8 Million; to the State of Florida: 82.5 million;
People in Broward directly employed: 114,386; number in Florida: 1,007,000;
Visitor spending in Broward: $8.69 billion; State spending related to tourism: $65.2 billion
Total State Sales Tax Revenue from Tourism: $3.9 billion – that’s 21 percent of our total sales tax revenue in 2008 provided by Tourism!
For every $1 in tourism marketing, VISIT FLORIDA generated $58 in tourism spending and $3 in new sales tax collections. As they say, “Tourists, you gotta’ love em.”
The HSMAInsider (Julie Wernick
Belated congratulations to Nicki Grossman, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, who was named to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Travel and Tourism Advisory Council. The Travel and Tourism Advisory Council was developed last year (2008) to provide real-time, grassroots economic information to its Research Department. The council consists of approximately 12 members who are senior executives of tourism and tourism-related businesses and organizations in the Southeast, such as cruise lines, convention and visitor bureaus, entertainment companies, airports, hotels, and restaurants.
In recognition of Florida’s most important industry, tourism facts and figures were provided to the attendees to emphasize the economic impact to our State.
It’s not JUST those of us employed by the tourism industry that benefit. Visitors generate sales tax revenues that help pay for our schools, law enforcement, road improvements and many other public needs making the quality of life better for all our residents. It’s amazing how many people still don’t know this information.
Here are some of the stats for 2008 (Note: some state numbers are estimates):
Total visitors to Broward: 10.8 Million; to the State of Florida: 82.5 million;
People in Broward directly employed: 114,386; number in Florida: 1,007,000;
Visitor spending in Broward: $8.69 billion; State spending related to tourism: $65.2 billion
Total State Sales Tax Revenue from Tourism: $3.9 billion – that’s 21 percent of our total sales tax revenue in 2008 provided by Tourism!
For every $1 in tourism marketing, VISIT FLORIDA generated $58 in tourism spending and $3 in new sales tax collections. As they say, “Tourists, you gotta’ love em.”
The HSMAInsider (Julie Wernick
Monday, May 18, 2009
South Florida Hotel Occupancy Rates Down
For the first three months of the year, Smith Travel reported occupancy was down 12.1 percent in Miami, to 71.9 percent. Fort Lauderdale reported a 5.6 percent decline, to 72.9 percent. West Palm Beach occupancy fell 11.9 percent ,to 67.1 percent. This is according to a recent report released by Smith Travel Research. See related stories in the South Florida Business Journal: http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2009/05/11/daily74.html
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Changes at VISIT FLORIDA – Announced May 8th 2009
Didn’t know if you’d heard the news…so passing along the following press release re: Chris Thompson’s appointment as new head of VISIT FLORIDA:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 8, 2009) – “On behalf of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors, we have promoted Chris Thompson to President and CEO of the organization as part of a staff realignment to ensure an effective implementation of our strategic plan. Thompson, who has served VISIT FLORIDA for 12 years, most recently as Chief Operating Officer, will assume the position previously held by Bud Nocera."
“The realignment also includes the elimination of 17 positions within the organization, five of which have been vacant. This realignment optimizes resources and will have a cost savings of more than $1.2 million annually.“The VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors has complete confidence and trust in Chris’ ability to effectively lead the organization. Chris has been an integral part of the VISIT FLORIDA team and his appointment will ensure continuity and consistency.”
We wish the best of luck to Bud Nocera. He will be missed. Bud is busy building his own company offering high adventure tours for international travelers to the U.S.
Our best wishes and congratulations to Chris in his new position with VISIT FLORIDA.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 8, 2009) – “On behalf of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors, we have promoted Chris Thompson to President and CEO of the organization as part of a staff realignment to ensure an effective implementation of our strategic plan. Thompson, who has served VISIT FLORIDA for 12 years, most recently as Chief Operating Officer, will assume the position previously held by Bud Nocera."
“The realignment also includes the elimination of 17 positions within the organization, five of which have been vacant. This realignment optimizes resources and will have a cost savings of more than $1.2 million annually.“The VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors has complete confidence and trust in Chris’ ability to effectively lead the organization. Chris has been an integral part of the VISIT FLORIDA team and his appointment will ensure continuity and consistency.”
We wish the best of luck to Bud Nocera. He will be missed. Bud is busy building his own company offering high adventure tours for international travelers to the U.S.
Our best wishes and congratulations to Chris in his new position with VISIT FLORIDA.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
