{"id":166,"date":"2011-03-09T21:00:30","date_gmt":"2011-03-10T05:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mforster\/?p=166"},"modified":"2011-03-21T16:27:04","modified_gmt":"2011-03-22T00:27:04","slug":"hotel-marketing-strategies-lessons-from-the-blogosphere-and-istanbul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/mforster\/2011\/03\/09\/hotel-marketing-strategies-lessons-from-the-blogosphere-and-istanbul\/","title":{"rendered":"Hotel Marketing strategies: lessons from the blogosphere, and Istanbul."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In continuing with the Turkish theme, I recently read through a blog by the title of \u2018hotel marketing strategies<\/a>\u2019, which posted two recent interviews with a Turkish hotelier. The focus of the discussion was the importance of online user-generated content, reputed design, and strategies to maintain a positive online presence in the hotel marketing industry.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The article argues that, when it comes to hotels, players in the industry do not control the predominant industry channel \u2014 online hotel-review and travel sites. Thus, perhaps the best marketing strategy is not really a marketing strategy at all.<\/p>\n

The hotel in question, the Witt Istanbul<\/a>, has been tremendously successful: winner<\/a> of the 2010 Design Award by Wallpaper<\/em> Magazine, and rated a World\u2019s 100 Best Hotels by the Sunday Times Traveler<\/em> Magazine.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As mentioned in the article, the emphasis in the project was on design, and quality. By successfully fulfilling these elements customers are doing the marketing themselves<\/strong>. As found in the interview,<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>I think we\u2019re going to see more and more of that in the future. Improving \u2018findability\u2019 will give a better return on investment than outbound sales efforts. Having an impressive online presence pre-sells potential guests before they even contact you.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

By hiring reputed young designers<\/a> and emphasizing guest experience, a word-of-mouth campaign grew naturally. This campaign was certainly aiding along by Gradigio<\/a>, a digital communication agency. Nevertheless, this online, blog<\/a> and review-driven campaign has been successful, and a manner in which smaller individual hotels can beat out international chains.<\/p>\n

When it comes to hotel marketing, guest reviews are key. Thus in a certain sense, the product itself is the marketing campaign. The medium really is the message. <\/strong>And as Seth Godin often repeats, design is the foundation of marketing.<\/p>\n

Sources:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.hotelmarketingstrategies.com\/hotelier-interview-tuncel-toprak-of-witt-istanbul-suites\/<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.autoban212.com\/<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.hotelmarketingstrategies.com\/maintain-interest\/<\/p>\n

AWARDS<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n