5 Outstanding Posts to Kick-off a Successful Hotel Marketing Week: Hospitality Marketing Link Digest

Has The Big Game™ started yet? No? Good. Then you’ve probably got a few minutes during the (hours of) pre-game shows to review these 5 outstanding posts and get ready to kick-off a successful hotel marketing week. Enjoy:

1. Forbes (and, yes, I’m really sorry about their pop-up nonsense), highlights an interview with CEO Steve Kaufer on TripAdvisor’s mobile strategy, telling hotels to “…forget ads on those tiny screens, instead optimize for clicks and commissions.” What’s worth noting here is that TripAdvisor makes a lot more money on clicks and conversions (especially through Instant Booking), than it does on “ads.” So, you might want to take Mr. Kaufer’s advice with a grain—or a shovel—of salt. A better idea is to look at your overall distribution strategy while keeping an eye on what TripAdvisor and Priceline (and Google, and Expedia, and…) are up to.
2. While we’re on the topic of marketing and distribution partners, HotelMarketing.com asks whether Google is the biggest threat in mobile to hotels and airlines Given what happened with Google’s latest earnings report, it’s tough to say whether they’re anyone’s biggest competitor on mobile at the moment. But, yes, they do represent a huge competitor. And they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. So it’s best you keep an eye on what Big G is up to, too.
3. Tnooz reports that travelers love social media and offers what travel brands must do to keep up. Good read.
4. eMarketer asks, “Does Mobile Help Marketers Gain Customer Loyalty?” Essentially, yes. The real devil is in the details, though. So check out the whole piece when you get a moment.
5. I linked to this last week, but it’s still worth noting that airline and hotel apps less popular than OTA apps with Millennials. I recommend you check out these 3 keys to compete with OTA’s in 2015 and beyond to stay ahead of the big players in online travel—and to appeal to your guests across platforms.

You might also want to check out these 6 totally brilliant travel marketing posts from last week, 4 key posts about 2015 travel marketing trends from earlier this year, and these 7 remarkable posts about mobile marketing in travel. And be sure to take a look at The Top 14 Hotel Marketing Posts of 2014, too.

Interested in learning even more about the future of hospitality e-commerce and marketing via the social, local, mobile web? You should register to receive a special report I’ve produced in conjunction with hotel marketing firm Vizergy, “Digital Hotel Marketing in a Multiscreen World.” Developed specifically for hotel and resort marketers, the lessons can help your business adapt to the changing guest environment. You can get your free copy of the report here.

And take a moment to review the slides from my recent webinar, “Digital Marketing Directions 2015: Three Key Trends Driving Your Hotel Marketing Next Year” here:

Finally, you might also enjoy some of our past coverage of the social, local, mobile web and what it means for your business, including:

• Holy Crap! Mobile’s Even Bigger Than You Thought
• How to Use Emotion and Storytelling in Digital Marketing
• 4 Lessons You Need to Know from Google’s Affluent Traveler Report
• What’s the State of Hotel Reputation Management?
• 10 Essential Lessons Learned From HSMAI’s Digital Marketing Strategy Conference
• What in the World are Priceline and TripAdvisor Up To?
• It’s Time You Take Mobile Seriously. Here’s Why
• What Expedia’s Leaders Can Teach You About Digital Strategy
• The 4 Rules of Social Marketing for Hotel Marketers