Newsletters & Articles

Economy hotels are well-positioned to use AI in cost-effective ways to improve operations, boost profitability, and enhance guest experiences. Knowing where to start, understanding AI’s potential uses, and finding relevant educational resources can be complicated. Here are some insights to help you get started. • An overview highlighting key advantages of AI in revenue and…

Marketing your property doesn’t have to break the bank! Check out a few ideas to get you started.

Are your guest rooms looking a little tired? Maybe the beige walls are feeling bland? Is that generic artwork isn’t doing anyone any favors? You know they need an update, but a full renovation? That’s not happening on this year’s budget. Here’s what is happening: $500 can completely change how your rooms feel. We’re talking…

By: Gary Gobin Director of Operations Summer is a prime season for travel, and for economy hotels, it’s the perfect time to create lasting impressions. With thoughtful operations and a guest-first mindset, you can turn seasonal stays into repeat business and glowing reviews. Here’s how: 1. First Impressions Count 2. Comfort is King 3. Enhance the Local Experience…

Current and potential franchisees alike attended the hihotels 2024 Edison, NJ Mini-Convention. Held at the local Top Golf location, it was an opportunity to not only meet with the corporate team, but to also enjoy some good food and drink and practice your swing.

Current and potential franchisees alike attended the hihotels 2024 Edison, NJ Mini-Convention. Held at the local Top Golf location, it was an opportunity to not only meet with the corporate team, but to also enjoy some good food and drink and practice your swing.

Current and potential franchisees alike attended the 2023 hihotels Mini-Conventions. Held at Top Golf locations in Mt. Laurel, NJ and Spring, TX, it was an opportunity to not only meet with the corporate team, but to also enjoy some good food and drink and practice your swing.

AAHOA recently held its annual Convention & Trade Show in Los Angeles. The hihotels team was comprised of President & CEO Chris Guimbellot (second from right) and (l-r) Franchise Development Directors Paul Vakharia, Vic Vescovo and Pat Cheedie. Chris Guimbellot had the pleasure of doing a video interview with Glenn Haussman. Several hihotels franchisees were…

New staff members Patrick Cheedie (left) and Vic Vescovo (right) and Paul Vakharia help set up. hihotels franchisees are anxious to check in. President & CEO Chris Guimbellot welcomes the group and provides an update on the company. Suchi Reddy from our platinum sponsor, Visual Matrix, with an informative presentation on cybersecurity. Then, it was…

AAHOA recently held its annual Convention & Trade Show in Baltimore, Maryland. The hihotels team was in full force. President & CEO Chris Guimbellot met with several members of the media, including Glenn Haussman’s popular No Vacancy podcast. It was great to catch up with so many of our franchisees at the event. Here are…

It is more important than ever before that you regularly read the hospitality trade magazines and subscribe to their online services. The magazine subscriptions are very reasonable and most of the daily and online news information services are free. Not only will you know what your competition is doing – but you’ll be able to…

In the marketing world, where content is king, images are the emperor. As humans, we connect emotionally to images more than text or audio. People take action quicker and make more decisions when prompted by images, rather than reading text. Because social media feeds are bombarded and updated constantly with new content, having an image…

By Ruben Reyes, Assurance & Marketing Program Director   According to AAA, more than 50 million travelers were expected to hit the road for the Thanksgiving holiday this year, and 95% of these vacationers were expected to travel by car. These travel statistics reached pre-pandemic levels and were just 4% below 2019 levels, according to…

By Ruben Reyes, Assurance & Marketing Program Director   In a recent article, I talked about the importance of working with online travel agencies – to increase your hotel’s bookings and improve your online presence. One of the perks that goes along with working with an OTA is that your property’s listing is not only…

Social media is a commitment, but not an overwhelming task. If you (or you and your trusted staff members) devote time weekly toward social media, you will see strong growth over time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results overnight. It takes time for your pages to gain traction, but once they do, you…

By James Kennedy, Assurance & Marketing Program Director An insightful article I recently read titled “When Demand Returns, Will Your Hotel be Staffed Correctly?” by the president of Hospitality Performance Systems, Inc., got me thinking. Among the points it made regarding hotel staffing post-pandemic was to consider focusing on the short-term needs of your hotel….

Taking a proactive marketing approach in a very competitive hospitality industry is important in order to stay one step ahead of other hotels in your market. If you’re with a national brand, understanding the marketing campaigns the franchise places and resources offered to assist your property at a local level are good starting points.  …

How to Buy Billboards Buying billboards close to your location can be a strong complement to the corporate brand advertising that capitalizes on the value message, and is one of the best ways to influence a hotel decision at a critical time.   Look for board locations that will be viewed by traffic heading toward…

By Ruben Reyes, Assurance & Marketing Program Director Revenue management continues to be fundamentally important for any hotel to strategically align itself against its competitive set, but also during any economic state. During the oil and gas drilling boom in Texas, for example, hoteliers noted the building of full-service and upscale brands in rural towns that,…

By Al Cohen, PR Consultant So, you’ve got some important news to announce about your hotel. You took the time to produce a press release that’s well written, informative and professional looking. Now what? Who do you send it to? Below are some tips on how to build your own local media list so your…

By Ruben Reyes, Assurance & Marketing Program Director Does the idea of having to figure out the formula for determining your break-even point post-pandemic have you tossing and turning at night? If it does, then you are not alone. In the 20 some odd years that I have been working in the lodging industry, I…

By Penny Duelk, Assurance & Marketing Program Director “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” That quote was credited to Albert Einstein, but some argue who said it first. Either way, it is quite befitting when it comes to hoteliers who question why they are not increasing revenue or,…

Previously, we presented an outline for preparing a local marketing plan for your hotel. Understanding you most likely have a limited budget, here are a few tips to generate awareness and revenue at little or no cost for your hotel.   Your State Division of Tourism is specifically marketing to business and leisure travelers who…

By Bridget Lohnes, Creative Services Manager Your Google My Business page is a free opportunity for connection with customers across Google Search and Maps. Maintaining and ensuring the content is current and accurate is key to successful online customer connection, which, in turn, will help increase your hotel business. Google My Business is constantly changing…

By James Kennedy, Assurance & Marketing Program Director Now, more than ever before due to the pandemic, travelers are ultra-discriminating with cleanliness, especially at hotels. Often, if a guest is unsatisfied with a stay, he or she will voice frustrations in an online review, whether you’re informed about the issue or not. Here are some…

By Al Cohen, PR Consultant Perhaps you’ve recently changed brands, completed a renovation, hired a new GM, received a perfect quality assurance score, partnered with a local charity or are offering a new sales package. This is all newsworthy information and you should be getting the word out about it. But how? The press release…

By Peter Frantz, Marketing Consultant We all know it’s been a difficult year, but there are many good signs toward recovery. According to a recent Expedia traveler survey, people have missed traveling and want to reconnect with friends, family and colleagues. Pent-up demand indicates that even the travel sectors hit hardest by COVID-19 may start…

By Ruben Reyes, Assurance & Marketing Program Director Customarily, hotels use historical data from their property management system or central reservation system to forecast their rates, which are dependent on the demand for room inventory in their market. They also take into consideration their competitive set, high demand dates, advanced bookings, special events and holidays…

By Bridget Lohnes, Creative Services Manager Gone are the days when you didn’t need a photographer to help you attract a guest to book a stay at your hotel. The photographer has become a vital part of your marketing strategy and you should choose wisely. Here are four reasons why you need recent professional photographs…

By Penny Duelk, Assurance & Marketing Program Director Many of you know the saying, “You made your bed, now lie in it!” I will now challenge you to stay overnight in one of your rooms. Lie in one of your beds…go ahead, relax and watch your favorite TV channel. Feeling a little uncomfortable about the…

By Al Cohen, PR Consultant Even the most talented public relations person or firm will have difficulty generating publicity and media coverage without having something to pitch. The ultimate responsibility for finding and developing relevant, timely stories ultimately falls to the hotel itself. The following tips may be helpful for owners and staff looking for…

By James Kennedy, Assurance & Marketing Program Director Now, more than ever, it takes a creative approach when trying to gain more business. So, here’s some proven sales suggestions that could surely boost your hotel’s occupancy:   Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)– Connect with both of these city entities for networking opportunities…

by Ruben Reyes – Assurance & Marketing Program Director The road to recovery may not be an easy road to travel but focusing on what you do now and how it is going to affect your hotel post COVID is something you need to seriously consider.   We all know that people will begin to trickle…