p22 Hotels apr17 14/4/09 12:23 Page 22
Hotels & resorts
Rupert Murray
020 7921 8010
rmurray@ttglive.com
For the latest accommodation news, visit ttglive.com/hotels
1,000 people
IHG chief extols
build ideal room
A PICTURE of the ideal hotel room has been built merits of agents
up in an online experiment.
The Ourhotelroom.co.uk website asked visitors
Rupert Murray.
Kinsell said agents came into their own
to select what they would most like to see in a THE INTERNET will never be a substitute for for IHG whenever it launched a new product,
hotel room. Now the company is in the process travel agents, according to InterContinental destination or promotion.
of creating a real showcase room based on the Hotels Group’s European boss. “They are able to bring it to life and focus
results from 1,000 people. Kirk Kinsell, who oversees the second-largest attention on it,” he added.
Ourhotelroom was set up by iBahn, a digital hotel operation in the Europe, Middle East and “We go to them as we know they can immedi-
entertainment company. Africa region, is a strong ately organise business
believer in the power of and bring opportunities to
3%
3%
human interaction in busi- showcase those hotels or
9%
17%
ness. destinations,” he said.
“As choices become wider Kinsell added that his
10%
What
and wider online the trouble group’s commitment to the
they want
13%
is people don’t know which trade was shown by Holiday
Ourhotelroom’s
one to trust. Person-to- Inn choosing to become the
survey of 1,000
10% people
person linkage will never be first hotel group to create
12%
substituted,” he said. an automated agency reim-
11%
“For the most part people bursement programme,
12%
are doing some of their own which he claimed had now
research and the online been adopted by all leading
Access to recorded content at home 3% Full digital TV service 11% systems benefit that. hotel companies.
Videoconference facility 3%
Docking stations for mobile and MP3 players 12%
“But there is no substi- He also revealed that
Free minibar 9% Personalised entertainment packages 12%
Heating and lighting control via mobile device
tute for someone who travel agents were the
10% Room charges linked directly to services 13%
Biometric security entry 10% Tiered internet connectivity 17% knows the markets ex- inspiration behind Inter-
tremely well who can make Continental’s In The Know
strong recommendations campaign which focused
Hotels4U signs
about hotels, restaurants on the knowledge of the
and things to do. company’s concierges.
with two chains
“When I am looking at a “Their expertise allows us
family holiday I do a little to offer unique experiences
research, talk to friends and that guests couldn’t get with
ACCOMMODATION-ONLY specialist Hotels4U.com then find an agent who re- other hotel groups – and it
has signed deals with Wyndham and Choice ally knows the destination.” Kirk Kinsell: “There is no substitute for agents” is working well,” he said.
Hotels.
The deals follow the addition earlier this year
of Rezidor hotels to Hotels4U’s portfolio, which per person per night and £39 per room
now totals 45,000.
Hotels join £1.8m
respectively. EasyJet is also running promotional
Sales and marketing director John Harding fares for the campaign.
said the two new groups would be available VisitBritain drive VisitBritain’s regional director for Europe,
through the company’s XML booking system. Laurence Bresh, said the campaign offered cus-
“Agents will not only have access to thousands JURYS INN and IHG have teamed up with tomers good deals at a time when they were
more properties than are available on our stan- VisitBritain to launch a £1.8 million Britain For being careful with their money. It also offers ad-
dard system, but they will also benefit from more Less campaign. vice on economical places to stay, eat and shop.
flexible search capabilities and quicker response The campaign is the national tourism agency’s The campaign was launched by prime minister
times – two attributes central to the dynamic largest in Europe for several years and is spread Gordon Brown who said he hoped it would en-
packaging market,” he said. across 18 countries. courage people to explore more of the country.
Special accommodation deals have been put
■ To get access, email xmlsetup@hotels4u.com together by Jurys Inn and IHG starting at £29.95 ■ Find out more at britainforless.com
22 17.04.2009
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