5 Millennials Explain What’s Wrong With Traditional Hotel Meetings

Greg Oates, Skift - Aug 26, 2015 7:00 am @gregoates By anyone’s estimate of traditional meeting design best practices, the Meeting Professionals International Southeast Educational Conference last year at the Bonaventure Resort in Fort Lauderdale was deftly designed for older people.

 During the pre-dinner cocktail reception in the main hotel ballroom, there were a bunch of casino tables set up around the dance floor while a live band on stage played 80’s tunes. Outside the ballroom in the prefunction space, there was a large mini-golf layout that helped create group movement between the two spaces.

There were also numerous communal tables and chairs set up in both the ballroom and prefunction space.

The casino games and mini-golf were heavily trafficked throughout the evening. Likewise, a lot of people sat at the communal tables to network live with each other and virtually through their devices.

Here’s the thing. Almost every person playing the casino games and mini-golf appeared to be a Gen X or Boomer attendee. Almost every person sitting at the communal tables was a Millennial. We checked this multiple times throughout the night, and one time we walked up to each table to get a clear look at everyone just to make sure.

The difference between how the younger and older generations engaged with one another at the hotel could not have been more black and white.

We didn’t think too much more about that evening after the event, but the conversation around Millennial-specific meeting design in hotels has really come to the fore since then. As we put together the recent Skift Trends Report: What Millennials Want in Meetings, the MPI event emerged into a clearer case study about the state of modern meeting design.

So we shared the Fort Lauderdale experience with the following Millennial-age meeting planners to hear why they thought their Gen Y colleagues didn’t engage with the older attendees. Here’s what they had to say.

Jenni Kuchenbecker, 27, Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), director of education services, Iowa Hospital Association:

It can be really intimidating when you go into events and you feel like you’re the outsider who is entering what feels like a sorority or frat house, where everyone knows everyone. And then to top it off, you’re about 15 years younger than everyone in the room. Finding conversation can sometimes be difficult because we are at such different points in our lives compared to the older generation, and we have a variety of different hobbies.

The activities that were selected, gambling and golf, in my opinion fit the older generation, and that’s who they were targeting. Those are two things I know my parents and their friends love to do, but they’re not really my thing. If I’m going to a work event, then having an activity that I can do is important. For example, I went on a work trip to Portland and got to do glass blowing. That was awesome. Also, we are constantly communicating with our phones, so even if the Millennials were playing the games, the phones would have been out.

Claire Repass, 28, CMP, manager, communications, Social Tables:

We really don’t want to have a barrier between our connectivity with one another. Like those Millennials who were sitting at the tables and talking to one another and on their phones, a lot of them are probably just wanting to get to know people. And it’s probably kind of awkward to get to know someone when you’re playing miniature golf, right?

Because then you’re spending however much time with a stranger, especially if you’re there by yourself, and you’re trying to network but it’s not exactly the best opportunity to network because you have a golf club in your hand. It’s actually distracting from the communication. Face-to-face relationships mean face-to-face relationships.

Magdalina Atanassova, 30, communication manager, AIM Group International:

We are not that familiar with golf and casino-type games. I think that event really brought up the generation gap. Me personally, I have no idea what to do in a casino. I do not understand it, and it does not bring up any emotional response. I might have played a casino-type game on my old video game when I was a kid, but I have no real relation to it.

I have tried golf, but again, I believe it doesn’t appeal to Millennials that much. I know that back in the day, many business relationships were built during card games and on the golf field, but Millennials don’t have that background. We are building our relationships online and that’s what brings an emotional response. It is more fun to sit down and exchange some social media profiles or talk about something that went viral, because we do relate to that.

Michael Cubbage, 29, Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP), principal, Meeting Contractors:

Having not seen the actual setup, this is a little difficult to answer. But one guess could be that since they were the youngest or most junior level participants at the meeting, likely they’re still working to prove themselves. It seems they didn’t want to put themselves in a position where they could lose at something and thereby be viewed as less qualified or less capable.

Kacie Hackett, 25, specialist, Consumer Electronics Show conferences, Consumer Electronics Association:

I’ve been to events like that myself, but I don’t think it’s necessarily an age thing. I think that there are people who have been going to those events for awhile, so they know each other and always gravitate towards the same people, and they aren’t necessarily ready to mingle with the newer people who don’t know anyone. The people who don’t know anyone find the other people who don’t know anyone.

The people I end up talking to are always the people who also don’t know anyone, and the age could be across the board there. I’m not sure it’s really a generational thing as it is a need to better facilitate interaction among all attendees.

Report defines boutique, lifestyle, soft brand

By : Stephanie Ricca (sricca@hotelnewsnow.com)
Editor-at-large

REPORT FROM THE U.S.—It’s the question most likely to stump any given hotelier around the water cooler: “What exactly is the difference between a boutique hotel, a lifestyle hotel and a soft brand?”
 

In a report that will be released Thursday afternoon, The Highland Group offers definitions for these three segments for the first time, along with research that shows U.S. operating and financial performance data for what have become the industry’s toughest segments to categorize.
 

The definitions are: 

• Boutique: Unique in style, design-centric, either independent or affiliated with a smaller brand system, with 40 to 300 guestrooms. 
• Lifestyle brands: Prescribed franchised products that are adapted to reflect current trends.
• Soft brands: Individualized hotels that give owners and operators the opportunity to affiliate with a major chain distribution while retaining their unique design, name and orientation.

 

Why differentiate between these segments? As traveler sentiment and preferences change, the industry has responded over the years with new hotel product to address guest needs, said Kim Bardoul, consultant with The Highland Group and co-author of the report. Along the way, the need for better definitions arose to help owners, investors and even brand companies to clearly define their niche.
 

And as financing continues to open up for hotel projects that fall outside the traditional lines, clear definitions of these newer segments makes development conversations better, said Michael Tall, president and COO of Charlestowne Hotels.
 

“Now, conversations are about, ‘Is this a unique independent; is it a soft brand or is it a lifestyle product?’” he said. “Before, the question was simply, ‘Is there a flag or not a flag?’ We’ve drilled down further into the definitions because the hotel industry has a lot more options when it comes to branding and financing.”
 

These emerging segments will only grow from here, Bardoul predicted. For the research, The Highland Group compiled sample sets for each segment (659 boutique hotels, 178 lifestyle hotels and 208 soft-branded hotels). Based on the sample sets alone, “total revenue for these segments was $11.5 billion” in 2014, she said.

Boutique hotels

Boutique hotels were the real game changer, Bardoul said. As the segment matured from its early days in the 1970s, franchise companies began to respond with what they presented as boutique-like, trendy hotel products and brands.
 

In 2014, the boutique segment posted the highest revenue per available room compared to lifestyle hotels, soft-brand collections, U.S. full-service branded hotels and all U.S. hotels as a group. Along the way it has evolved into a very design-centric segment, Bardoul said, characterized by several different design styles.

 

Compound demand change for the segment was 6.7% over the past five years compared with the 4.2% increase for the total U.S. Compound boutique supply growth during that time was 3.1% compared to 0.8% for the industry at large. Boutique hotel occupancy, average daily rate and RevPAR tend to outpace the industry as well, according to the report.
 

A key takeaway, Bardoul said, is that not all independent hotels are boutiques. For the purposes of the report, she said, the group considered boutique hotels to cut off at 300 guestrooms; her team vetted each property in the sample individually to ensure it met their criteria. Beyond that, boutique hotels can belong to soft brands and even to small chains. “It can be a tough segment to get your arms around,” she said.
 

This segment has proved to be a successful one for real estate investment trust LaSalle Hotel Properties, which has more than 25 boutique hotels in its portfolio, most of which have less than 200 guestrooms, according to President and CEO Michael Barnello.
 

Demand and specific market conditions have played into LaSalle’s decisions to invest heavily in the boutique segment, he said.
 

“We’re an economically pragmatic owner of hotels; we’re equally comfortable with a good branded hotel as we are with these new segments,” he said. “Our perspective is that if the demand is strong enough to fill a hotel without the necessity of a brand, then we don’t need it.” 

 

Beyond location and demand, Barnello said LaSalle has seen the benefits of boutique development, which typically allows for more flexibility. Bardoul noted such flexibility is a marketable benefit over traditional hotels.
 

LaSalle last year made two notable independent boutique acquisitions: the Hotel Vitale in San Francisco and The Heathman Hotel in Portland, Oregon. 

“Because these are independents, we could make changes—bring in a new management company, operate a little more efficiently, add touches that make it more memorable and have better top and bottom lines,” Barnello said. Plus, it can be beneficial to not have the encumbrances of a long-term franchise management contract on a hotel.
 

Barnello and Tall said an advantage to boutique ownership is the growing options when it comes to finding management companies focused on that segment.

 

Lifestyle brands

This newest player in the hotel segment game is poised to become “a significantly larger component of the lodging industry,” Bardoul said. “Right now, we see these fall more into the upscale, select-service segment, but we feel this may even out now as more come on board.”
 

Several of the brands falling into this segment have established footprints, such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s W Hotels and Le Meridien, while others have launched in the U.S. within the past few months, such as Canopy by Hilton and Marriott International’s Moxy Hotels.
 

On the supply and demand side, this segment has seen demand grow at an annual average pace of nearly 20% from 2009 through 2014, compared to U.S. overall hotel demand growth of 4.2%, Bardoul said, due in large part to growing availability of inventory.
 

The key here, Bardoul said, is that lifestyle brands are clear franchise players.
 

“Lifestyle brands are very different from your typical limited-service branded hotel, but they’re just a bit more prescriptive,” she said, because they do fall under brand guidelines.
 

Some trends have emerged within this newer segment, she said, that play into their revenue-generating opportunities: 

• most are select-service but with some café or bar option;
• most have lounges they market to local residents; and 
• many have small meeting spaces. 

According to the report, “this is reflected in more food-and-beverage revenue than typical for a select-service hotel, and a higher proportion of beverage revenue than typical for traditional hotels.”
 

Soft brands

The report classifies soft-brand collections as similar to boutique hotels—many are boutique hotels—but they belong to branded distribution, sales and marketing, and loyalty systems.
 

Notable here, Bardoul said, is that The Highland Group worked with individual hotel companies to see where they positioned their brands on the spectrum of lifestyle versus soft. As an example, she cited the placement of the Kimpton Hotels brand within the soft-brands group.
 

“If you look at Kimpton at first, you might put them in the lifestyle segment, but then if you look at them compared to Even Hotels or Hotel Indigo, then you see the difference,” she said.
 

On the supply and demand front, Bardoul said soft-brand share now is 0.7% of total U.S. inventory and should exceed 1% within the next few years, in part because as soft brands ramp up and favorable financing conditions persist, brands are doing more new-build soft brands opposed to traditional conversions.
 

In general, soft brands sit above overall industry in occupancy and between the upper-upscale and luxury classes in ADR, according to the report. 

Charlestowne’s Tall said his company has not yet opened a soft-branded hotel but is in conversations with several chains to do so. The company focuses primarily on the management side of the business and has more than 30 hotels in its portfolio; the vast majority are independent boutique properties in the midscale and upscale classes.
 

“A developer who may feel more comfortable with some sort of brand association or proven brand track record may (find soft and lifestyle brands) a good option,” Tall said. “There may be more comfort in that angle.”
 

While the research goal was to create definitions and some boundaries around these segments, Bardoul said they share an important common element: “All of these segments are experiential; that’s the key word,” she said.

The Highland Group partnered with STR (parent company of Hotel News Now) to compile data for this report. Visit www.thehighlandgroup.net for more information or to purchase the “Lifestyle hotels, soft brand collections, boutique hotels” report.

 

 

 

Source : hotelnewsnow.com

 

Coming Soon: Tiny Hotel Rooms Right on the Airport Concourse

Catch some sleep between flights — without drooling on the guy next to you. 

By : Suzanne Labarre

The legions of airline passengers stranded around the world several years back, victims of Volcanogate 2010, shone the floodlights on one seemingly inevitable fact of airports: They make for terrible hotels.

That's about to change, if Dream and Fly has its way. The Barcelona-based design group has an idea to fit-out airports everywhere in small, designy "luxury rooms" — think the Standard hard by Connections Bar & Grill.

Called "Bubbles," they're fully equipped with beds, bathrooms, and tons of places to plug in laptops and the like (another seemingly inevitable fact of airports: they never have enough outlets). They come in three sizes; the largest, at 108 square feet, has a bed, a baby cot, and a bathroom. You rent them at a kiosk or online, and the rate is hourly. "Each Bubble has an astonishingly practical configuration, [and is] individually designed and built with attractive materials, offering great sleeping comfort and a unique experience," Dream and Fly's Cédric Michiels Chalamont tells us in an email.

It might sound weird at first — only a crazy person would want to sleep at an airport. But because of strict security regulations, people are spending more time than ever at airports, and airports have adapted by turning themselves into little cities, with decent restaurants, bars, and way too many stores. Why not add sleeping accommodations to the mix? It'd be perfect for passengers with long layovers who want to catch some shuteye but don't want to pass out on a chair. It'd also be great for people with canceled flights. Instead of wasting money on a cab to some crappy airport hotel, they could fetch up in a pod. Imagine how many people these things could have helped last April.

And it's not just a pipe dream. Chalamont says Dream and Fly has plans to implement Bubbles in two international airports. (Because of NDA contracts, he declined to specify which ones.)
Obviously, there are details to hammer out. How do you keep them clean? How do you make sure they don't turn into vessels for hot, airport hanky panky? And even if they are practical, will people actually use them? Or will they become like airport luggage carts, the exclusive realm of old people and families with too many children? Maybe we're just not used to anything good coming out of places you rent by the hour.

[Images courtesy of Dream and Fly]

Source : Fastcodesign.com

15 HOTEL MARKETING TRENDS for 2015

1. Personalisation 
2015 will see a rapid rise of personalised web experiences. Hotels will begin to use data in more sophisticated ways to develop tailored content and target customers based on their preferences and online behaviour.

2. Mobile isn't a trend
Mobile bookings will continue to grow at a fast pace throughout 2015. With a prediction that mobile travel bookings will reach $39.5 billion in 2015, contributing to 25% of the total online travel market.
 

3. Booking abandonment
With approximately 98% of visitors to a hotel's website abandoning the funnel, booking abandonment tools are the answer to driving customers back through the conversion funnel for 2015.

4. Meta search
There is still a long journey to be taken by Meta Search providers to make this an effective channel for hoteliers. The challenge for 2015 is to ensure Meta search channels deliver bookings at a profitable CPA.

5. Mobile payment
2015 will see "mobile payment" become mainstream for mobile hotel bookings. In the past year, the online retail industry witnessed a surge in alternative payment methods such as PayPal, with up to 1 in 4 mobile transactions now through these channels.

6. Owning our own real estate
The average traveller journey from research to booking takes 24 days and includes 21.6 touch points. 2015 will see an increased focus on owning your brand voice on all channels.

7. Pay to play social media 
Social platforms will continue to make significant algorithm changes which will affect the social reach of promotional and sales driven content, Hotels will increasingly need to pay in order for this content to be seen.

8. Persona driven content
Hotel must become customer-centric and look at a hotel through the lens of customer rather than the hotel marketer. Hotels need to start understanding what their customer personas want and need from a hotel and tailor their experiences around this.

9. New SEO
With Google now monetizing 100% "above the fold" for hotel search results, Marketers must push the boundaries for organic traffic, 2015 is the year of new SEO - where optimisation moves away from traditional tactics and focuses more on overall customer experience across all channels.

10. Programmatic marketing
We are set for an explosion of Programmatic bidding throughout 2015. Currently 35% of total ad spend is spent on display advertising bought through "programatic" technologies.

11. Audio-visual content
Studies show that people remember 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they read and 80% of what they see and do, 2015 will see the growth in visual storytelling, allowing hotels to grow a vibrant and engaged community.

12. Experience driven strategies
2015 will witness a growth of experience driven marketing strategies, today's consumers want to stay with hotels that acknowledge their preferences and desires...engage your customers through immersive brand and product stories that create excitement and stir their emotion.

13. Proximity technology
91% of smartphone users have their devices within arm's reach 24/7, hotel marketers can take advantage of this by using proximity marketing where various rich media and permission based messages can be pushed out to customers based on location.

14. Baby boomers'
Baby boomers' are the wealthiest generation and becoming increasingly tech savvy with 33% of internet users now falling into this demographic. Its imperative that hotels include this generation when it comes to their 2015 digital marketing strategies.

15. Holistic approach to revenue management
The rapid change in consumer behaviour will require hotels to adopt an integrated approach to revenue management by more strongly involving sales and marketing in the decision making process. Convergence of these roles will be crucial to managing distribution channels effectively in 2015.



Source : netaffinity.com

Travel Tech: 10 Must-Pack Gadgets for Geeks on the Go

By : Amy-Mae Elliott

While so many "must-have" travel gadgets from days of yore have been ousted by apps, there is still a lot to be said for some seriously handy hardware to take with you on your next trip.

So, you may no longer need a travel alarm clock, but more-connected consumers need to find new ways to work longer, pack smarter and heck, even have a little fun on the road.

Here, we bring you our 10 favorite travel gadgets, gizmos and tools, so take a trip through the gallery to see our recommendations for the geek on the go and, as always, let us know yours in the comments below.

 1. Grid-It
You won't believe how tidy your laptop bag can be until you try the Grid-It organization system. Made up of a weave of rubberized elastic bands, it holds small objects, their respective chargers and whatnot, neatly in place. This simple-but-brilliant system means you can find what you're looking for without tipping out the contents of your bag in frustration.
Cost:$22

2. Heys eCase
This back-friendly wheelie case will save your shoulders from strain while offering carry-on-safe dimensions, as well as a three-digit combination TSA lock should you check it in. With accordian-type pockets, the eCase can keep files and folders separate from clothing and other personal items. A padded laptop sleeve rounds off the rather tidy package. Truly a hero-in-a-hardshell, the eCase comes in a variety of colors and designs
Cost:$119.97

3. Targus Premium Laptop Charger
This is like your existing, standard issue laptop charger brick, but so much better. About the size of a BlackBerry and boasting a seriously sleek design, the Targus charger will power both your laptop and one other mobile device from a wall socket, on a plane or in a car. If you can afford it, ditch the brick and we're sure you won't look back.
Cost:$139.99

4. Lewis N.Clark Belle Hop Travel Door Alarm
For anyone who can never quite get a good night's sleep in a hotel room due to security worries, this gadget can help allay those fears a little. Its high-pitched 91-decibel alarm will alert you if your hotel room door is opened. Just don't forget to disengage it before you answer the door to room service.
Cost:$11.99

5. Logiix USB Power Cube
This teeny cube-shaped USB charger features a plug design that folds up when not in use so it won't take up too much space in your luggage. It's perfect for quick-charging a USB-powered gadget when you don't have the time to get your laptop out.
 Cost:$30

6. Heys xScale Pro
Anyone who has been stung for overweight charges will see the value in the xScale PRO. This portable gizmo will weigh luggage of up to 110lbs (50kg) so you can ensure you're on the right side of safe before you hit the scales.
Cost:$24.97

7. CyberPower Extension Power Cord
For the true gadget-lover, an extension cord is a must-have travel accessory. If you're traveling to foreign climes, then an extension cord will mean you only need one adapter and you can juice three gadgets at once. For domestic travelers it instantly solves any not-enough-power-sockets-in-cheap-hotel-rooms issues. Well worth the room in your luggage.
Cost:$7.99

 8. Jawbone Jambox
For the frequent traveler, a decent speaker is a hotel room luxury that's worth splurging on. You'll certainly be rocking out with the wireless Jambox - it's a penny under $200 - but it has some great features. Although it's properly portable, it boasts an output capacity of 85 decibels and a 10-hour battery life. You can use it as a speakerphone for cellphone and VoIP calls, and it's got some amazing customization options via the MyTALK online platform.
Cost:$199.99

9. The Really Tiny Book Light
A truly useful item, this tiny, lightweight lamp can be clipped onto your reading material en route or in your hotel room, and offers surprisingly bright LED illumination. It also doubles as a handy small-scale flashlight to have at your bedside for those moments when you wake up and can't quite remember where the light switch is, or for that matter, where you are.
Cost:Approx $11.50

10. Philips Rechargeable Power Pack
A power pack for all your portable electronic devices, this can even keep your laptop going if you get caught short without a power supply. How long it can power a device depands on the gadget, but the claim is up to 60 hours for less power-hungry gizmos. It comes complete with 12 connector tips and a carrying case. Think of it as insurance against long travel delays so you'll be able to carry on working -- or playing -- if there's a holdup.
Cost:$TBD


Source : Mashable.com

THE BEST APOLOGY

DON'T apologize for someone else's feelings.

"I'm sorry you're mad," is not an apology. It's condescending.

DO apologize for your own actions and attitude.

"I'm sorry I was rude," is an apology that takes ownership. Be specific about what you did wrong. "I'm sorry for whatever made you mad" is NOT going to work.

DON'T add an excuse in your apology.

"I'm sorry I was rude, but I was really irritated," means you're not really sorry. You feel justified for the way you acted and you expect to be excused. One way to remember this is that when you say "I'm sorry but.." you're really just a sorry butt.

DO ask for forgiveness when you apologize.

"I'm sorry," on it's own, is just a statement. It requires no response. "Will you forgive me?" is a humble request that can rebuild a relationship. When you ask your spouse to forgive you, wait. Listen. Be prepared for them to say in response, "I need a minute, I'm not there right now." When you are in the wrong, you are never owed forgiveness.

DON'T expect a reciprocal apology.

Let's say you were in a fight. You were both rude and hostile to each other and now you've decided to be the brave one and apologize first. Do not apologize expecting your spouse to apologize equally. When you recognize you have done something wrong, just own your part of it. The end.

DO attempt to make a repair.

Once you get through the brutal, "I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?" it's wise to make the next step and ask, "Is there anything I can do to make this right?"


#STAYMARRIED


Source :  Pinterest

A Brief Packing List: 6 Essential Things You Need To Carry

By : Amit Ani Saha

You are going to a trip within a few days. You may like to carry light bags when you are traveling with your friends or alone. But there are some essential things you should never forget while packing your luggage bags. At first, make a list of essential travel items.

These items do not only include cosmetics and dresses, they also include medicines and documents. If you are going to the beaches, you should take lots of sunscreen lotions and umbrellas with you. When you are going to the mountains, you should carry woolen clothes, tent materials, lot of dried foods and money.

1. Travel Documents
Travel documents are very crucial. These include passports, flight tickets, and visas. If you forget to take any one of the items with you, you can face many problems in the future. Without the visa and passport, you are not able to cross the borders. These documents are very important for traveling to foreign countries. You have to show your flight tickets in the airport. If you do not have these documents, you cannot check-in. It is always a good idea to carry the ID proof and driving license if you have any.

2. Clothes
You should pack your dress according to the destination. Outdoor activities require special dresses like sports pants and sports accessories. Short trips do not need lot of dresses. If you are going to a cooler place, then you should take lots of woolen clothes and jackets along with you. Take two-three pairs of shoes for emergency purpose. But you should keep in mind that you are taking dresses that are quite comfortable for you. Making yourself, a fashion statement is not a good idea when you are traveling.

3. Items for Entertainment
When you are traveling, feeling of boredom is quite common. In such cases, you should carry iPods, MP3 players, laptops and smart phones to hear music and watch videos. You can also carry story books and novels for reading. Books are the best ways for entertainment. Books will never make you feel bad. Now, most smartphones have the facility to download e-books from where you can read stories and books.

4. Cameras
Digital cameras are one of the vital items for travel. It helps you to capture the special moments in a frame. You can cherish those memories even after you return from the trip. Put your camera and batteries in your bag before going out.

5. Medicines
These two are most important items you should never forget. You should take emergency medicines for fever, stomach pain, headache, injuries and for other physical problems. Though, medicine stores are available everywhere, but is the best idea to carry your own medicines with you.

6. Money
Money matters the most. It is not necessary that every place should have ATM counters. You should carry enough cash along with you. If you are traveling to foreign countries, it is better that you exchange the currency at airports.
These are some of the important items you should carry in your luggage bags. If you forget to take any one of it, you can face many severe problems while traveling. So, make a list and then pack your bags.

Source : Ezinearticles