Owning a Tourism Business is awesome

17 Jan 2018

Understanding the Basics of Hotel Revenue Management

Hotel revenue management is crucial for the success of any establishment, despite its size. While such an establishment can't do much about its surrounding and local climate, its rooms and customer experience are something that can be managed. This is exactly what hotel revenue management is all about and with hotel software, it has become much easier to do it.



One of the widely accepted definitions on Hotel Revenue Management clearly states that it is: selling the right room to the right client at the right moment at the right price on the right distribution channel with the best commission efficiency.



Since this definition is a quick sum up of revenue management, here are the concepts that will help you understand and take care of its basics in your own establishment.



Understanding the Basics of Hotel Revenue Management



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16 Jan 2018

2017 International Tourism Results: the highest in seven years | World Tourism Organization UNWTO

2017 International Tourism Results: the highest in seven years   

International tourist arrivals grew by a remarkable 7% in 2017 to
reach a total of 1,322 million, according to the latest UNWTO World
Tourism Barometer. This strong momentum is expected to continue in 2018
at a rate of 4%-5%.




Based on data reported by destinations around the world, it is
estimated that international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors)
worldwide increased 7% in 2017. This is well above the sustained and
consistent trend of 4% or higher growth since 2010 and represents the
strongest results in seven years.

Led by Mediterranean destinations, Europe recorded extraordinary
results for such a large and rather mature region, with 8% more
international arrivals than in 2016. Africa consolidated its 2016
rebound with an 8% increase. Asia and the Pacific recorded 6% growth,
the Middle East 5% and the Americas 3%.



2017 was characterised by sustained growth in many destinations and a
firm recovery in those that suffered decreases in previous years.
Results were partly shaped by the global economic upswing and the robust
outbound demand from many traditional and emerging source markets,
particularly a rebound in tourism spending from Brazil and the Russian
Federation after a few years of declines.

“International travel continues to grow strongly, consolidating the
tourism sector as a key driver in economic development. As the third
export sector in the world, tourism is essential for job creation and
the prosperity of communities around the world.” said UNWTO
Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “Yet as we continue to grow we
must work closer together to ensure this growth benefits every member of
every host community, and is in line with the Sustainable Development
Goals”.



Growth expected to continue in 2018

The current strong momentum is expected to continue in 2018, though
at a more sustainable pace after eight years of steady expansion
following the 2009 economic and financial crisis. Based on current
trends, economic prospects and the outlook by the UNWTO Panel of
Experts, UNWTO projects international tourist arrivals worldwide to grow
at a rate of 4%-5% in 2018. This is somewhat above the 3.8% average
increase projected for the period 2010-2020 by UNWTO in its Tourism Towards 2030
long-term forecast. Europe and the Americas are both expected to grow
by 3.5%-4.5%, Asia and the Pacific by 5%-6%, Africa by 5%-7% and the
Middle East by 4%-6%.



2017 results by UNWTO region

International tourist arrivals in Europe reached 671
million in 2017, a remarkable 8% increase following a comparatively
weaker 2016. Growth was driven by the extraordinary results in Southern
and Mediterranean Europe (+13%). Western Europe (+7%), Northern Europe
and Central and Eastern Europe (both +5%) also recorded robust growth.



Asia and the Pacific (+6%) recorded 324 million
international tourist arrivals in 2017. Arrivals in South Asia grew 10%,
in South-East Asia 8% and in Oceania 7%. Arrivals to North-East Asia
increased by 3%.



The Americas (+3%) welcomed 207 million
international tourist arrivals in 2017, with most destinations enjoying
positive results. South America (+7%) led growth, followed by Central
America and the Caribbean (both +4%), with the latter showing clear
signs of recovery in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria. In
North America (+2%), robust results in Mexico and Canada contrasted with
a decrease in the United States, the region’s largest destination.



Based on available data for Africa, growth in 2017
is estimated at 8%. The region consolidated its 2016 rebound and reached
a record 62 million international arrivals. North Africa enjoyed a
strong recovery with arrivals growing by 13%, while in Sub-Saharan
Africa arrivals increased by 5%.

The Middle East (+5%) received 58 million
international tourist arrivals in 2017 with sustained growth in some
destinations and a strong recovery in others.



Note: All results in this release are based on preliminary data,
as reported by the various destinations around the world, and on
estimates by UNWTO of still-missing data. UNWTO will continue to collect
data and will present more comprehensive data by country in the April
issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Results for both Africa and
the Middle East should be read with caution as they are based on limited
available data.




Useful links:

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer

UNWTO Tourism Highlights, 2017 Edition

International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017



Contacts:

UNWTO Media Officer Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 


UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme




























Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218




2017 International Tourism Results: the highest in seven years

13 Jan 2018

Five Tips for Managing Online Business Reviews



When it comes to consumer decisions online, credibility is everything. Multiple surveys show that most people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
With social media and online review sites, it’s easy for consumers to post comments whether they are positive or negative. Learn how to embrace and even leverage reviews on Facebook, Google, TripAdvisor, Yelp and My PADI Club to grow your business.
Here are five tips to guide you in managing your business’s reputation online.
1. Create your own positive presence. Customers are going to look you up online, so make sure they find what you want them to know.
  • Promote your business via your website, blog and social media sites, and put effort into creating relevant and informational content about what you offer.
  • Write short bios about yourself, your company story, what your business does, and include great photos or video.
  • Claim free business listings on appropriate online directories and social media networks. There is no cost and you control the company description and general information to present your business in the best light.
  • Pro-actively ask customers for positive reviews. This is an essential part of any online reputation management strategy. Often, people won’t think to post a review, but will be more than happy to when asked. Having positive reviews on your website is a great way to generate quality content.
  • Positive and optimized content can show up higher than the negative comments on search engine results pages. If you have a dominant number of positive reviews, your chances of losing a potential customer from the few critical comments is much less.
2. Be active on social media. If you have social media profiles, you need to update content regularly.
  • Because your profiles are a reflection of your business, you want to ensure they are current and energized.
  • Always remember that social media is a public forum. Never post images or comments you don’t want the whole world to see.
3. Listen to what others are saying. People are going to talk, so you need to stay on top of what is being said about your business.
  • Reviews or comments don’t go away. You need to take control of what is being said, whether it’s good or bad.
  • View your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ pages and accounts “as public” or “as Page Visitor” so you can see what they look like when someone stumbles upon them
  • Set up a Google Alert on your business name, or use another online reputation management tool. This allows you to track any mention of your business and see overall reactions to your brand online.
  • Add a feedback form to your website or send customer satisfaction surveys to your customers to hear their thoughts and sentiments directly.
4. Be proactive, not reactive. Negative comments can be addressed in a way that shows potential customers that you care about your consumers.
  • Some public relations professionals advise not to respond publicly in some cases, because your response has the risk of fueling more negative comments. On the flip-side, there are also strong advocates of replying and using the situation to create a positive outcome. Carefully consider the potential upsides and downsides of responding to a negative post before deciding.
  • Definitely don’t respond if you’re going to be aggressive, and never accuse a reviewer of being fake. Take time to calm down before responding.
  • A good guide is to address concerns in a timely manner and actively try to remedy the situation.
5. Respond professionally. Responding to negative comments in a professional and positive manner can actually result in an overall positive experience and outcome.
  • Even if you don’t change the negative reviewer’s perspective, a well-crafted response shows others that you care and you want to create positive experiences.
  • If you do choose to respond to negative or critical comments, follow these guidelines:
    • Acknowledge the issue or complaint by thanking the person for sharing the concern.
    • Empathize with the person and explain that you understand the concern.
    • Ask what you can do to fix the problem.
    • Explain the steps that your business takes to provide the best customer experience possible.
    • Share the steps you are going to take to follow up or look into the matter.
    • Offer some incentive for giving your business a second chance.
Businesses are more vulnerable to online attacks on their reputation than ever before. Taking proactive actions to optimise positive reviews and manage negative ones will help you minimise this vulnerability.
For more information about best business practices, marketing and customer service, plan to attend a 2018 PADI Business Academy in your area.


Five Tips for Managing Online Business Reviews – PADI Pros Oceania