Anders Johansson - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 8

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8 min

Shape The Future: Moving from Historical Data to Actionable Insights

🗞 Hotel General Managers often fall into the "Rearview Mirror" trap, managing by looking backward, focusing on past data such as month-end Profit & Loss statements. This reactive approach can result in delayed decisions and missed opportunities. A more effective "Front Window GM" management style is proactive, using real-time data and forward indicators to predict future demands, optimize operations, and drive revenue. To become a "Front Window GM," hotel leaders should focus on creating detailed forecasts, planning operations based on these forecasts, monitoring performance in real-time, and making strategic adjustments accordingly. Empowering the team with forward-looking data ensures better financial performance, operational efficiency, guest satisfaction, and a strategic advantage in the competitive hospitality industry.

4 min

Decoding the Relationship Between Hotel Rates and Guest Reviews

💸 Hoteliers juggle revenue maximization and customer satisfaction, with concerns that higher prices may lead to negative reviews. Rates impact Average Daily Rate (ADR) and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR), while reviews influence reputation and booking decisions. The connection between rates and reviews is obscured by data challenges like anonymous feedback on platforms like TripAdvisor and limitations of surveys with low response rates. Known guest reviews from OTAs are verified but hard to link to specific rates for bulk analysis. Small sample sizes from reviews also present a bias issue, complicating rate versus review analysis. Strategies for correlating rates with reviews include analyzing internal surveys, tracking ADR and review score trends, examining OTA reviews, and assessing review sentiments during different rate periods. The "Value Equation" shows price is acceptable if matched by high-quality service and amenities. Guest perception varies by segment, room type, seasonality, and booking context. Knowing rate thresholds helps in adjusting pricing strategies, managing expectations, focusing operational resources, and tailoring marketing efforts. Continuous analysis is needed to adapt to market changes, with strategies like connecting internal survey data to rates, or tracking ADR against review scores.

6 min

Stop Chasing Ghosts: Use Real Data Insights, Not Bad KPIs

🏨 Hotel industry experts warn against the rush to adopt new KPIs like "RevPAG" (Revenue Per Available Guest), emphasizing the flaws in metrics that lack clear definitions. The focus on averages, such as Average Guest Spend, may mask real variations in guest behavior, as averages smooth out data nuances. The drive for occupancy can result in a "lowest common denominator" approach, with Revenue Management Systems (RMS) potentially lowering rates to achieve bookings, leading to a revenue loss from higher-paying guests. Alternative strategies include using histograms to visualize data distribution and moving beyond averages to tailor services, identify VIPs, and optimize pricing. Modern Hotel Business Intelligence (BI) systems, like Demand Calendar, are vital for consolidating and visualizing complex data, providing actionable insights, and breaking down departmental silos for better, more profitable decision-making. The article suggests measuring smarter, leveraging existing data insights, and focusing on targeted strategies over acquiring more KPIs.

6 min

Why a Robot Might Be Your Next Favorite Hotel Receptionist

🤖 Hospitality experts predict that AI and robotics could automate many jobs by 2030. The US hotel industry sees a 100% annual turnover at front desks, leading to inconsistent service and knowledge gaps. Robots could offer 24/7 consistent service, multilingual communication, real-time dynamic room management, and unbiased interaction. They can enhance guest experiences with personalized greetings, efficient check-in, and concierge capabilities, potentially preferred by the upcoming digitally native generations.

15 min

Decoding Hotel Tech: Why Every System Matters for Success

🛏 The article discusses the importance of an integrated digital ecosystem for hotels to enhance growth, profitability, and guest satisfaction. It emphasizes that relying solely on Property Management Systems (PMS) and accounting software is insufficient. The blog post outlines five core technology system categories in the hotel industry: Operational Systems, Sales & Revenue Systems, Planning & Administrative Systems, Guest-Centric Systems, and Business Intelligence Systems. Operational Systems include PMS, Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, and Meetings & Events software, crucial for day-to-day hotel functions. Sales & Revenue Systems like Revenue Management Systems (RMS), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, and booking engines drive business by attracting guests and optimizing pricing strategies. Planning & Administrative Systems focus on back-office tasks, financial management, and labor scheduling for efficiency and profitability. Guest-Centric Systems, including mobile apps and guest messaging platforms, aim to improve the guest experience through personalization and convenience. Lastly, Business Intelligence (BI) Systems provide strategic oversight by analyzing data from all other systems to drive informed decision-making. The article underscores the interconnectedness of these technologies and the risks of not leveraging the full technological toolkit available, resulting in lost revenue, efficiency, and guest loyalty opportunities.

8 min

Beyond the Hype: Debunking the Myth of Data Overload in Hospitality

📋 Dr. Tsukanova discusses data anxiety in the hospitality industry, debunking myths about data overload and emphasizing the importance of using relevant data. Key facts include the projection of 175 zettabytes of global data by 2025, millions of daily digital interactions like YouTube uploads, and the distinction between overwhelming global data and manageable, industry-specific data sets. Relevant hospitality data types include guest profiles, booking patterns, occupancy rates, and sentiment analysis. The article refutes the necessity for every professional to become a data scientist, highlighting the existing specialized tools like Property Management Systems (PMS), Revenue Management Systems (RMS), and Business Intelligence (BI) platforms that simplify data interpretation and application. Embracing the right technology and focusing on actionable insights is the proposed strategy to harness data effectively in the hospitality sector.

9 min

Why Your Hotel’s Commercial Team Needs Specialized BI Now to Win

📈 In 2025, hotels face a growing gap between data-savvy operations and outdated methods, impacting revenue, profitability, and market share. Old strategies based on experience are outmatched by data-driven competitors using tools that forecast future demand. Traditional tools like spreadsheets and generic business intelligence (BI) are inefficient and error-prone, failing to grasp hotel-specific nuances such as seasonality and booking patterns. Hotel-Specific Business Intelligence (BI) platforms like Demand Calendar offer integrated, forward-looking insights, end siloed data, enhance decision-making, and improve agility and profitability. These platforms automate data collection from PMS, RMS, CRM, and more, allowing for proactive strategies and competitive advantage in an ever-evolving market. Demand Calendar exemplifies how hotel-specific BI can transform commercial teams from reactive to strategic growth engines.

8 min

Stop Leaving Money on the Table: Upsell Like Airlines to Boost Revenue

📢 Hotels can significantly boost profitability by adopting proactive upselling strategies, potentially increasing total room revenue by 3-7% through front-desk upgrades, and adding 3-8% more revenue from pre-arrival campaigns. Upselling can contribute 5-15% to top-line revenue, and with proper training, coordination, and technology like Demand Calendar, hotels can tap into this revenue stream. Ancillary sales can be raised to double-digit percentages of total hotel revenue with tools, processes, and real-time performance tracking.

7 min

Stop Being Held Hostage by OTAs: Reclaim Direct Bookings and Profit

🏨 Independent hotels can successfully compete with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) for direct bookings by leveraging technology, marketing, and team alignment. Travelers often start searching for lodging through OTAs like Booking or Expedia, or via Google Maps, and prefer to book directly for better communication and pricing. However, direct booking is hindered by underwhelming hotel websites and complex booking flows. Direct bookings are not "free"; they include costs such as marketing, booking engine fees, and website maintenance. Investing in direct bookings results in a higher lifetime value (LTV) for guests due to the ability to remarket, upsell, and build loyalty. A focus on net profit, rather than revenue, is key, assessing the net revenue per available room (NetRevPAR). Tools like Demand Calendar can help measure Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) across channels, leading to optimized marketing spend and distribution strategies. Practical steps for hoteliers include auditing channels for profitability, improving website user experience and booking processes, leveraging low/no-cost marketing, implementing business intelligence tools, and training staff to focus on profit-oriented goals. Overall, a strategic approach to direct bookings can increase hotel profitability and reduce OTA dependency.

3 min

Hotel GMs: Trapped in ‘Groundhog Day’ or Leading the Future?

🏨 Hotel general managers (GMs) often focus on enhancing guest experiences and ongoing refurbishing but can fall into a "Groundhog Day Syndrome," missing opportunities for deeper exploration and innovation. Curiosity in GMs can drive improvements across operations, leveraging technology, AI, and business intelligence platforms for better guest attraction, experience, and revenue optimization. Lack of curiosity may lead to outdated practices, unoptimized revenue strategies, lost market share, and high staff turnover. Encouraging a culture of curiosity and innovation involves mentorship, learning new skills, and experimenting with new ideas. Embracing curiosity can result in higher profitability and better guest experiences.

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