The US hotel industry has reached a crossroads. After seven years of continual growth following its worst year since the great depression, US hotel industry performance should expect to plateau in 2017. It’s tough love time for an industry that continues to consolidate, but remains too timid to prune brand portfolios that confuse customers and commoditize lodging product through undifferentiated brand bloat. Plus, competing against rapidly growing, favorably perceived global organizations like Airbnb that structurally trade in unique, highly personalized experiences, does not result from inaction.
Allegiant Airlines/Teesnap – Hotel and Travel Distribution Lessons For Golf Course Owners
February 8, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Trends & Pitfalls in Hotel & Travel Distribution – Applying Concepts to Golf. A presentation by Robert Cole of RockCheetah for Allegiant Airlines/Teesnap and the Milwaukee Golf Group, held at Scenic View Golf Club in Slinger, Wisconsin on February 8, 2016.
HFTP HITEC Conference – Disruption Gets Personal
June 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment
An overview of the impact that Big Data, the demise of rate parity and the personalization of hospitality through the sharing economy have on traditional hotel industry distribution. Presentation by Robert Cole of RockCheetah for the Distribution Super Session at the Hospitality Finance and Technology Professionals 2014 HITEC Conference held Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.
Rainmaker Gaming & Hospitality Customer Conference
March 26, 2014 By Leave a Comment
An discussion of the challenges facing hotel revenue managers as hotel distribution channels become more complex and chaotic. Presentation by Robert Cole of RockCheetah to the Raimmaker Revenue Management 2014 Gaming and Hospitality Customer Conference held Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at the Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara, California.
HTNG – 2014 North American Conference
March 6, 2014 By Leave a Comment
An overview of the disruptive business models and technologies impacting the global hotel business by Robert Cole of RockCheetah. The presentation for the Hotel Technology Next Generation 2014 North American Conference held Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, California.
Getting Rev’ved Up About Hotel Rate Parity
October 28, 2013 By 1 Comment
WIth the United Kingdom Office of Fair Trading deciding that hotel rate parity (resale price maintenance) policies must be abolished, the global travel industry must now prepare for a seismic shift in the balance of power between online travel agencies (OTAs), hotel brands and individual hotel properties. It’s a shame that British regulators got it completely wrong.
HSMAI – Hotel Management Company Sales & Marketing Roundtable
October 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A presentation discussing the changing hotel distribution landscape by Robert Cole of RockCheetah. The briefing was designed to address emerging trends impacting revenue management. The audience was the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s hotel management company sales & marketing executive roundtable held Thursday, October 10, 2013 at the Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia,
VFM Leonardo Webinar – Benefits of Marketing on Online Travel Agencies
September 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Robert Cole was invited by VFM Leonardo to participate in a webinar covering the benefits of marketing to OTAs and specifically how to The session was held online on September 25, 2013. It was stressed that the focus should be on business and marketing objectives and not solely the technologies.
ATME Presentation – Collision of SEO and Social, Who Draws the Creepy Line?
October 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Robert Cole presented “The Collision of SEO & Social – Who Draws the Creepy Line?” for the Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME) Annual Conference held on June 27, 2012 at the W City Center in Chicago, Illinois. Travel industry marketing leaders were challenged to think about the ethical and privacy implications of their strategies.
Collision of SEO and Social – Where’s the Creepy Line?
June 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Changing rules, or a complete lack of rules governing the use of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) methods to increase Social Media ranking results in many groups using new technology to approach and cross the Creepy Line. The presentation is a discussion of the issues in play and what travel companies can do to engage customers and avoid crossing the creepy line – even when competitors are behaving badly.
