We’re moving into the hotel sourcing season, so take a moment and think about your favorite little black dress or your best power suit. What makes it your favorite? And how the heck does this relate to hotel sourcing?
Speaking during this week’s New York University International Hospitality Industry Investment conference, Best Western International CEO David Kong said since June 4 hotels located around the Gulf Coast experienced a "tremendous amount of cancellations" and "the number of inquiries coming in have dropped significantly" due to the British Petroleum oil leak raging through the Gulf of Mexico.
It appears that a new front is opening in the ever tumultuous relationships between the large hotel chains and the online travel agencies (OTAs). The major OTAs are currently pressing for legislative relief for future occupancy tax claims by states, counties and municipalities through a proposed bill known as the "Internet Travel Tax Fairness Act" or ITTFA. For those of you interested in a reprise of the old Schoolhouse Rock Saturday morning "how does a bill become law" cartoon, the initial draft of the bill is posted
here.
Expedia Media Solutions (the media arm of Expedia Inc.) yesterday
announced that the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau had named Expedia.com "Partner of the Year." According to the press release, the San Diego CVB was recognized as "a top advertising partner and major sales channel for San Diego hotels."
When it comes to buying airlines and hotels, there are some big differences. That may not be the case in the near future. I think we're beginning to see a shift--the beginning of a shift--away from the hotel model of pricing and contracting. Let's look first at some key differences:
Micros Systems, an information technology provider for both the retail and hospitality businesses just announced the acquisition of TIG Global, a leading interactive marketing company focused on travel. Though Micros has been in the hospitality business for several decades with its Micros hotel CRS and Opera hotel computerized reservation system/property management system, their real focus has always been in retail point of sale systems, leading many to believe hospitality distribution was an ancillary product line. This acquisition may signal a change in that orientation as they follow in the footsteps of SynXis and TravelClick in acquiring an interactive services group.
