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The Week, That Was – February 2018 Week 3

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on!

Smart Hotel Guest Rooms Are Almost Here

The smart guest room of the future is still in development. A strong return on investment for hotel owners who invest in updated technology, however, will help push these innovations into the mainstream.

https://skift.com/2018/02/13/smart-hotel-guest-rooms-are-almost-here/

Hotels admit steep reliance on online travel agencies

Hotels have a high dependency on online travel agencies to distribute their inventory, with almost every other channel deemed to be low on the same scale. The study spoke to chain hotels, independent properties and management companies.

https://www.phocuswire.com/HEDNA-hotel-distribution-study?utm_source=Hotel+News+Resource

Duetto closes $80m financing round

Duetto, headquartered in San Francisco and with offices in Las Vegas, Cleveland, London and Singapore, has quickly grown to serve more than 2,500 hotels and casinos in more than 60 countries. Those customers have consistently outperformed the market, beating their competition’s rate of revenue growth by more than 6.5% since the launch of the company.

http://duettocloud.com/duetto-closes-80-million-series-d-financing-round-led-warburg-pincus/

Skyscanner chatbots pass one million unique traveller interactions

How big is your optimisation and testing team? How do you find a balance between design/customer-focus and optimising performance? Skyscanner’s chatbots (across a range of platforms) have already surpassed one million traveller interactions.

https://www.econsultancy.com/blog/69799-skyscanner-chatbots-pass-one-million-unique-traveller-interactions

Ex-Kuoni to transform Miki Travel

Miki Travel, a DMC majority owned by Japan’s H.I.S. Group, is undergoing transformation with three strategic pillars – technology, expansion and management

http://www.ttgasia.com/2018/02/14/ex-kuoni-moeschler-out-to-transform-miki-travel/

Looking to measure profitability of your sales channels? Come and meet us at ITB Berlin, Hall 8.1, Stand 132 from 7 – 10 March 2018. Book a meeting today – marketing@erevmax.com

Thanks and have a good day!

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The Week, That Was – February 2018 Week 2

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on!!

Fragmented distribution makes corporate hotel booking compliance a challenge

Travel managers want to control costs, ensure travellers’ safety and comfort, and obtaining data helps them to optimise programmes, pricing and policies. It’s important to understand why a traveller is booking out of policy – is it location, price or experience?

https://buyingbusinesstravel.com/feature/0728387-hotel-distribution-swimming-channels

The Travel Agent of the Future

The Internet, said experts, would replace retail agencies as customers looked to big Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) to search and book their travel plans.

https://goo.gl/tGXSuD

Three ways metasearch will empower hotels to compete in 2018

As the hotel-branded direct booking with metasearch channel becomes mainstream, our partner trivago lists out the upcoming trends for 2018.

https://www.tnooz.com/article/three-ways-metasearch-will-empower-hotels-to-compete-in-2018/

Hospitality Poised for Growth in Bookings in 2018

Travel is becoming more experience-driven, and most hoteliers are concentrating innovation on the higher tiers, perhaps at the detriment of the midscale segment. “If there is one segment that should capture the attention of hotel developers in 2018, it is midscale hotels,” according to the outlook. “Forward-thinking hotel brands are already taking advantage of the opportunity to deliver travelers some of the look, feel and experience of a pricy lifestyle hotel in an affordable package.

https://www.hotelbusiness.com/outlook-hospitality-poised-for-growth-in-bookings-in-2018/

Hotels—Not OTAs—Own the Data That Makes the Difference

Hotels should aim to lead the market and proactively take share. The way to do that is to wield a hotel’s historical performance, customer data from the CRM, and actual on-property spending from folio data in the hotel’s pricing strategy. Most importantly, hotels should set their rates for the maximum profit and gauge how their pricing—not their competitors’—affects the properties’ demand.

http://lodgingmagazine.com/hotels-not-otas-own-the-data-that-makes-the-difference/

Google updates UX to make flight and hotel bookings easier on mobile

This week, Google is rolling out improvements to its mobile experience for its flights, hotels, and discovery products. The company, which has long made for anxious hand-wringing with its travel products, has made navigating on mobile much more straightforward. From searching through reviews to exploring hotel room categories to the actual bookings, the next iteration is a tighter, more integrated experience.

https://www.tnooz.com/article/google-updates-ux-flight-and-hotel-bookings-easier-on-mobile/
   
Connect with us for your connectivity needs in this new year to make the most of online revenue. https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

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The Week, That Was – January 2018- Week 4


In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on!!

Cyberattacks on Hotels – What Should Hotel Owners and Operators Do?

Protecting guests’ information (and employees’ information) from hackers is one of the biggest business challenges faced by hotel owners today. Data breaches can result in loss of reputation and loss of revenue, and can trigger costly lawsuits and government investigations.

https://www.htrends.com/trends-detail-sid-98173.html

OTAs serve up even bigger trouble for Asia-Pacific hotels

Online travel agents have captured a huge portion of the online hotel market in Asia-Pacific — phocuswright puts it at a massive 70 per cent — and a new report lays bare the impact on hotels.

http://www.travelweekly.com.au/article/otas-serve-up-even-bigger-trouble-for-hotels/

The state of Hotel Central Reservations Systems (CRS)

Today’s travelers have high expectations of a personalized e-commerce experience along their journey, which makes guest-centric functionalities a top priority for a hotel chain’s central reservations system (CRS). As a result, the hoteliers’ demand for innovative and improved CRS services continues to grow.

https://goo.gl/yHPZCt

8 traits every successful Revenue Manager needs

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a successful Revenue Manager? The Revenue Manager has a key role in getting guests through the doors during periods of high and low demand. This article will uncover the 8 traits every successful Revenue Manager needs to do the job!

https://blog.netaffinity.com/8-traits-every-successful-revenue-manager-needs/

Why Expedia or Priceline Might Just Be the Next Great Hotel Brand

As online travel agencies decide whether to become more like hotel companies, whether by providing some of the hotel brands’ services directly to hotel owners or actually owning hotel assets, their counterparts — the hotel brands — are wondering how they might become more like online travel agencies, in some ways.

https://skift.com/2018/01/23/why-expedia-or-priceline-might-just-be-the-next-great-hotel-brand/

How to optimize hotel website images and why you should

Many search engine optimization industry experts have made the connection between optimizing images and improved Organic Search performance. Updating Title Tags, Alt Tags and Image Filenames are a few of the recommendations to best optimize images on a website for better search engine rankings and performance.

https://gcommercesolutions.com/optimize-hotel-website-images-and-why-you-should/

Connect with us for your connectivity needs in this new year to make the most of online revenue. https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

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The Week, That Was – January 2018- Week 3

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry partnerships, perspectives, and some general updates. Read on!!

How the Composition of RevPAR Growth Impacts Changes in Profits

The strong relationship between changes in RevPAR and changes in GOP becomes evident when analyzing data from the 2017 Trends report. From 2015 to 2016, the entire sample of 3,331 operating statements averaged a RevPAR increase of 2.6 percent, while GOP for the sample grew by 3.7 percent. However, when stratifying the sample by the magnitude of RevPAR change, we see a linear relationship between RevPAR change and GOP change.

http://lodgingmagazine.com/how-the-composition-of-revpar-growth-impacts-changes-in-profits/

Expedia looks at US traveler trends across Boomers

Expedia has shared the results of a multi-generational travel study, conducted in partnership with The Center for Generational Kinetics which explores the consumer behavior and travel preferences of American adults from Generation Z (18-22) to Baby Boomers (55-56). Expedia surveyed 1,254 US respondents aged 18-65.

https://www.tnooz.com/article/expedia-us-traveler-trends/

How to leverage user-generated content for metasearch

The world of digital marketing is always evolving as travel brands try to keep up with consumer needs and the growing demand for transparency and authenticity. One strategy that’s growing in popularity amongst suppliers is leveraging user-generated content (UGC), such as photos and tweets that are shared publicly by customers across various social media sites.

https://www.koddi.com/user-generated-content-for-metasearch/

Expedia and TripAdvisor win consumer hearts and minds online and offline
Data and analytics platform Engagement Labs has released its latest TotalSocial rankings of the top-performing online travel agency  and travel search brands in the US, showing Expedia and TripAdvisor at the lead. The report evaluates brand reputation for each travel site by measuring social conversations over the past six months, compared to a previous ranking published in June 2017.

https://www.tnooz.com/article/expedia-tripadvisor-ota-social-media/

Data trends in 2017: TripAdvisor pivot, Costco’s rise and what they mean for the travel industry

The digital travel ecosystem is constantly evolving. Key players come and go, and market trends often shift to the unexpected placing of an added emphasis on the need to stay ahead of the curve. 2017 was no different as the year saw the emergence of exciting new players and shifts in the OTA market. There are two specific events had ramifications that are likely to continue to have a considerable impact on the sector in 2018.

https://www.tnooz.com/article/trends-2017-tripadvisor-pivot-costco/

What Investors Want to See From TripAdvisor in 2018

With its library of 500 million reviews and an average of 390 million monthly visitors, TripAdvisor (NASDAQ:TRIP) bills itself as the world’s largest travel community. Over the past few years, however, these prized assets haven’t translated into the kind of growth investors seek. As a result, TripAdvisor’s stock has dramatically underperformed fellow online travel companies Priceline (NASDAQ:PCLN) and Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE), falling by roughly 53% since the beginning of 2015. Here’s a rundown of what investors will be looking for this year as TripAdvisor attempts to get its groove back.

https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/01/12/what-investors-want-to-see-from-tripadvisor-in-201.aspx

Connect with us for your connectivity needs in this new year to make the most of online revenue. https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

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The Week, That Was – January 2018- Week 2

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry partnerships, perspectives, and some general updates. Read on!!

Beyond Rate Parity – Why Transparency Still Matters?

2017 was a watershed year for rate parity. While several countries in Europe have put restrictions on the Rate Parity clause, the issue has been under the microscope in North America and Asia Pacific.

https://tophotel.news/beyond-rate-parity-transparency-still-matters/

How hotels can regain their pricing power

Hotels continue to experience record occupancy, so why can’t they drive their average daily rate? Duetto’s Marco Benvenuti explains how they could with Open Pricing.

http://duettocloud.com/videogallery/how-hotels-can-regain-their-pricing-power/

Business travel 2018: the state of play

There is going to be more money around this year, so on the face of it business travel should pick up speed. The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) thinks it will, after taking a look at global economic prospects, and is forecasting business travel spending to grow by 6.1% against a likely 5.1% in 2017.

https://www.eyefortravel.com/distribution-strategies/business-travel-2018-state-play

Revenue managers to ‘adapt and adopt’ in 2018

What are some events and trends that you can identify and plan for now? And how can those be revenue managed in 2018

http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Articles/264980/Revenue-managers-to-adapt-and-adopt-in-2018

Luxury Hoteliers Believe Customization Is Key to Winning Over Millennials

Smart hoteliers know they can’t afford to ignore the next generation of luxury travelers. Why? Because they are an economic force to be reckoned with. Customization, wellness, and technology are must-haves for any luxury hotel brand that wants to remain relevant — regardless of the age of their customers.

https://skift.com/2018/01/09/luxury-hoteliers-believe-customization-is-key-to-winning-over-millennials/

7 Steps to Achieve Hotel Website Accessibility and ADA Compliance

At the minimum, hoteliers must ensure that their websites are accessible to and navigable by customers with disabilities and substantially comply with the WCAG 2.0 AA principles

https://blog.hebsdigital.com/7-steps-to-achieve-ada-compliance/

Connect with us for your connectivity needs in this new year to make the most of online revenue. https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

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The Week, That Was – January 2018- Week 1

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry partnerships, perspectives, and some general updates. Read on!!

Agoda certifies eRevMax as their Innovative Supplier delivering best-in-class connectivity solutions to hotels

Certification received for producing outstanding business exceeding expectations.

https://goo.gl/3VZ6Sn

TripAdvisor to roll out Sponsored Positions for hotels

TripAdvisor has rolled  their Sponsored Placements program which allows any hotel to bid to be at the top of the listings for any given destination. Previously, users could view the results by ranking, best value, lowest price, or distance, but if a hotel didn’t have the rankings to appear at the top of any of those criteria, they were all but invisible to the TripAdvisor customer.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/TripAdvisorInsights/n2796/drive-traffic-tripadvisor-sponsored-placements-accommodations

Google now lets travelers message hotels

Sending a “Message” is the newest call-to-action in Google’s My Business listing on mobile. Not only is this a free opportunity for hotels to connect with potential guests, but it is a more important new and direct channel for conversion from Google.

http://www.trustyou.com/blog/industry-news/google-listings-now-feature-messaging

2018’s top priorities for limited service hotels

It’s a well-known fact that today’s travelers are tech savvy, cost conscious, and come with high expectations compared to previous generations. In a rapidly changing industry that is increasingly focused on personalization, hoteliers are looking to stand out. Where there was once a very clear distinction between limited service and full service hotels, today we see the lines starting to blur. Many limited service hotels are offering more amenities, outlets and conveniences at a budget-friendly price point to satisfy today’s travelers.

https://www.tnooz.com/article/download-2018s-top-priorities-for-limited-service-hotels/

A revenue management perspective on 2017 and the coming year

Revenue management businesses are on the front line of many issues facing hoteliers today. As the hotel industry becomes subsumed into the wider “accommodation” industry, the demands on revenue management specialists widen accordingly. Here’s a perspective on 2017 and some thoughts on 2018 from Klaus Kohlmayr, chief evangelist for IDeaS Revenue Solutions.

https://www.tnooz.com/article/a-revenue-management-perspective-on-2017-and-the-coming-year/

Fornova Highlights Three Trends in Hotel Distribution to Watch

Fornova closed 2017 with year-over-year revenue growth in excess of 50%, and it raised a Series B financing to spur expansion in the year ahead, according to the company.

https://www.hotelbusiness.com/fornova-highlights-three-trends-in-hotel-distribution-to-watch/

Connect with us for your connectivity needs in this new year to make the most of online revenue. https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

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The Who’s who of hospitality technology providers and implementers to float & party aboard Sunborn Yacht during WTM


Hotel technology experts HotelsCombined, Sojern, Travelport, RateTiger & LiveOS have teamed up to host an exclusive yacht party for hoteliers on Tuesday, 7 November 2017 in London. The event, to be held at the Sunborn Yacht Hotel, will bring together peers from the hospitality industry to unwind and network over cocktails.

The event is aimed at providing hoteliers and technology companies an interactive platform to exchange ideas and explore collaboration possibilities. The luxurious Sunborn Yacht Hotel is located right outside the ExCel centre, providing a perfect venue for the networking reception after a busy day at the show.
 
“We are excited to be organizing a networking reception with some of our key partners. WTM is an important date in the annual calendar for the travel fraternity and it gives us a perfect opportunity to host our clients, partners and prospects, to talk about new technologies and explore collaboration possibilities, and most importantly, spend a fun evening together,” commented Reuel Ghosh, Chief Executive Officer, eRevMax.

eRevMax has been a regular exhibitor at WTM London and will be present at Stand TT550 from 6 – 8 November 2017. For more details about the event, please contact marketing@erevmax.com.

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eRevMax appoints Gerard Carrie as Chief Operating Officer for LiveOS


Hotel distribution connectivityspecialist, eRevMax, today, announced the expansion of its management team by appointing of Gerard Carrie as Chief Operating Officer for LiveOS. A hotel technology veteran with decades of experience and success in sales, Gerard will be responsible for developing and executing strategies to sustain continuing growth of the company’s hospitality operating platform, LiveOS.
“The past one year has been a breakthrough period where we have developed superior connectivity with various online channels and Property Management Systems. We have introduced new partners on LiveOS and expanded our footprint in various geographies. The progress of LiveOS has led to the need to have dedicated senior management that will support the scale of the demand for it. Gerard’s proven leadership abilities and enviable track record of successfully implementing large scale sales initiatives means that we are ideally positioned to meet the evolving demands in the hotel connectivity marketplace,” said Reuel Ghosh, Group CEO, eRevMax. 
“It is a very exciting time to join eRevMax and in fact be back as part of the management team. LIVE OS has been getting great reviews by the industry leaders. The company is in an excellent position to approach new markets with its innovative solutions powered with superior connectivity, and I look forward to playing a role in taking it to the next level of growth,” said Gerard Carrie, COO, LiveOS.
Gerard brings to LiveOS more than 15 years of relevant industry experience in sales and product management portfolios. In his most recent role, he was Vice President for Tourico Holidays overseeing their sales operations in the EMEA region.  Gerard has a prior association with eRevMax, managing the Sales function in the US for around 4 years.  
Team eRevMax will be present at ITB Asia in Singapore from 25 – 27 October 2017 and at WTM London, Stand TT550 from 6 – 8 November. To set up a meeting, contact us on marketing@erevmax.com.