Hotelier Perspectives

A common question I get from my clients at OnlyCast is, “Can I cancel my hotel’s cable TV subscription?” With streaming platforms becomming increasingly popular and cable costs increasing, many hotel owners are rethinking the necessity of live channels. Guests are showing less interest in traditional TV, while hospitality casting solutions are becoming the preferred choice. The key question now is: What’s best for your hotel, your guests, and your bottom line?

The debate between “best-of-breed” and “all-in-one” solutions is not new; in fact, the war between these competing ideologies has waged on for many years, especially within the world of hospitality. On one hand, it’s rather easy to make a case for an all-in-one solution – if you can get everything you need, exactly as you need it, in one place, why would you divide and conquer? On the other hand, countless real-life scenarios help to illustrate the limitations of solutions that claim to have it all.

It often amazes me how difficult some companies make it to do business with them. I could share so many examples, but let’s use the restaurant industry to illustrate my point.

As sustainability becomes a pressing concern for business leaders, companies strive to optimize their environmental protection resources. With spatial design technology, 3D digital twins, and virtual tour software, stakeholders can visualize and plan events collaboratively, remotely, and digitally – paving the way for greener future events. So, what do these benefits look like broken down?

Boutique hotels, known for their unique charm and local character, offer guests something that cookie-cutter chain hotels cannot. These smaller, independent properties have the freedom to design spaces that reflect the culture of their surroundings, provide highly personalized service, and create memorable experiences. Unlike most franchised hotels, owners and operators of boutique properties often have more flexibility in the technology they use. This independence allows boutique hotels to be at the forefront of digital innovation, offering tech-forward experiences while keeping their distinctive charm intact.

The value of driving direct bookings is obvious. It means more revenue, less commission paid to online travel agencies (OTAs), better access to guest data and – all going well – longer lasting relationships with guests.

In the highly competitive landscape of the hospitality industry, well-planned and executed property photography is critical to a hotel’s success. While its most basic function is to show consumers what the hotel looks like, the power of photography extends far beyond mere visuals.

It’s always illuminating to speak one-on-one with brilliant hotel marketers like Jason Pirock, Head of Marketing for Springboard Hospitality, as I did during our recent Insider Conversation, “Mastering Conversions: Crafting an Omnichannel Booking Journey.”

In the world of hospitality, data has become the secret weapon for hotels looking to enhance efficiency, increase profits, and deliver exceptional guest experiences. Nearly 75% of hoteliers report using some form of data analytics to drive decision-making processes, according to a recent Hospitality Technology study. By leveraging data in key areas, hoteliers will streamline operations, reduce costs, and drive market share.

If you’re reading this article the day it comes out, then next week – the first full week of October – is Customer Service Week. This special week was created in the 1980s when the International Customer Service Association suggested that organizations should recognize the employees who create the experience that gets customers to say, I’ll be back.