January 22, 2008

Thomas Cook to sell accommodation 'per night' through independent agents
Thomas Cook has launched two sales portals giving independent agents access to its bed stock. The first, thomascookhotels.com, is a trade only website with an inventory of 1,000s of properties with 'per night' pricing. The bed stock is from the Thomas Cook main charter brands, with Thomas Cook acting as the principal on all bookings. Work is underway to integrate the stock of the former MyTravel charter brands into the service. The second new sales portal is an XML accommodation feed into the internal tour operating systems of travel retailers... go > (Source: TravelMole)

Care giving distinguishes an extended stay hotel
Want to know how to make your extended stay hotel more profitable?  Become caregivers!  Go out of your way to do hundreds of little things that are not on your official “Amenities” list. At our extended stay hotel, we teach co-workers to feel empathy for each and every guest. Some of our clients stay with us for weeks or months. Since they are away from family and friends, we need to act like we are family and friends. There is no rule of thumb on how to do this, because care is all about doing what a particular person needs at a particular time. However, I can give some practical tips... go > (Source: ehotelier.com)

At hotels, it's dog vs. bedbug
In the 3 1/2 years it's been open, Jurys Boston Hotel has never found bedbugs on its premises, nor have its guests complained about being bitten. Still, the luxury hotel in the Back Bay began dispatching a bedbug-sniffing dog to each of its 225 guest rooms last year.  And when the canine detective barked, after detecting the suspicious scent of the itch-inducing insects or their eggs, the hotel fumigated two rooms and burned the mattresses... go > (Source: The Boston Globe)

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Coming up
Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference
CHTIC 2008
May 6-8, 2008
Hyatt Regency Trinidad

Featured resource: how to pitch like a 'green' pr pro
Once you’ve written an effective press release, it’s time to make it come to life. It’s not “alive” until it gets picked up as a story in a media vehicle. That is when the true fun begins. Colette Chandler - an expert in consumer health and environmental trends - shares some things to consider when pitching... read--> (Source: Green :Lodging News)