For a while I have been wanting to write a blog post about the importance of the tone of voice in branding and why the wrong tone can remove any value that your brand is trying to build up. This video pushed me to do it. You can have the right conceptual idea or the… [Read more…]
October 23, 2010
I recently had the chance to meet with Karlheinz Illner founder of KARLHEINZ ILLNER MARKEN & TONKULTUR, an international brand expert in the field of Sound Branding and Acoustic Identity. We are all familiar with the main dimensions of branding, however Sound Branding and Accoustic Identity are often forgotten though they have an obvious emotional… [Read more…]
October 14, 2010
I have been attending a conference in Hong Kong over the past two days where Andrew Cosslett, CEO of IHG (InterContinental Hotel Group) was interviewed on stage during one of the sessions. He made this great comment about branding: “You know you have a meaningful brand when a part of the customer base dislike the… [Read more…]
September 26, 2010
Virgin announced on September 20th the launch of the latest addition to its portfolio of brands: Virgin Hotels. So far, the group has reportedly over 300 branded companies, covering everything from mobile phone operator, financial services, Megastores and Formula 1 racing to soft drink, space tourism and, most notably, airlines. After a failed launch in… [Read more…]
September 12, 2010
Last July I wrote this post Should Internet access be Free in Hotels. After numerous feed back online and offline and having read several related articles, each one pushing a different opinion, my thinking has slightly evolved over time so I have decided to write this follow-up post. I also felt it was important to… [Read more…]
September 4, 2010
This remains one of the biggest taboo question in the hotel industry and I have to admit that I have actually hesitated for some time before publishing this post. Should hotels provide condoms in the rooms? We know that in some cases hotels already have them for sale as part of the mini-bar but the… [Read more…]
August 29, 2010
Branding is a science that takes time, knowledge, resources and… money. A branding agency will be a invaluable asset while branding your hotel but when adding-up all the tasks that need to be sub-contracted, building your Brand can become a very costly exercise that not all small independent hotels can afford. Here are 10 Tips… [Read more…]
August 26, 2010
I was reading this quote posted on Twitter by Dan Shawbel and inspired me to write this article. “The single biggest reason companies fail is they over-invest in what is, as opposed to what might be.” – Gary Hamel In our daily professional life we often make references to Best Practices when trying to figure… [Read more…]
August 22, 2010
When listing the features that really matter in a hotel we usually find: a comfortable bed, a fast/reliable internet connection, a powerful hot shower and great breakfast in the morning. To this coherent list I would like to add the bathroom amenities. It’s like the restrooms in a restaurant, you don’t choose a restaurant because… [Read more…]
August 8, 2010
I cannot count the number of times I met an entrepreneur telling me: “I want to create a new hotel brand so I need a logo and a website”. Usually the relationship doesn’t go far or is set up for failure. A Brand is Not a Logo. - A brand is much more than a… [Read more…]
August 2, 2010
I usually do not advertise businesses but I thought that one was so well put together that it deserved to be mentioned. It is rare to see a well designed and appealing third-party travel website and I must say, Mr and Mrs. Smith Boutique and Luxury Hotels Specialists (http://www.mrandmrssmith.com) does make me want to book.… [Read more…]
August 2, 2010
I always like to say that there is no good or bad communication agency. There is first a good brief or a bad brief. What you tell your agency, the way you say it, the level of information you disclose and the relationship you establish with your agency will largely determine the quality of the… [Read more…]
July 29, 2010
Have you ever read a guide book about the city where you grew up? It is so impersonal that you sometimes hardly recognise it. You know the places mentioned but you cannot feel the soul of it. To grab the essence of a city you need to focus your mind on what matters and where… [Read more…]
July 26, 2010
I accidentally discovered this tagline on the top banner of the IHG (InterContinental) website - - The Whatever / Whenever concept has been one of W Hotels‘s brand pillars and what they are known for for many years. IHG could not ignore it. A company like IHG does have massive financial means to develop their… [Read more…]
July 21, 2010
I was just reading last week that Tripadvisor just became the #1 most popular travel website ahead of Expedia. Let’s be honest, we all think the same, Tripadvisor is hotels worst enemy and the tool of the cowards. Ten years ago, the only solution we had to express our bitter feelings was the little guest… [Read more…]
July 17, 2010
I took my first long distance flight when I was about 8 years old. I remember very well that we must have gone 4 or 5 times to see the stewardess to get one more can of tomato juice. This is the funniest and most bizarre thing. I don’ think there is any valid and… [Read more…]
July 7, 2010
Apple has been producing online promotional videos for quite some time for the launch of their products but it is only recently that I have noticed the very controlled tone of voice that they are using across all of them. While, at a glance, it looks very relax and almost random, you quickly realise that… [Read more…]
July 6, 2010
Interested about branding, my eyes always stop on articles about the great brands of this world. If you look at any chart, you will always find that all the brands listed are always brands that came up with great innovations. Whether it is 5 years ago, 20 years or 50 years ago. Each single one… [Read more…]
July 6, 2010
This is something that is not always known by people outside of the industry but today it is very rare that large hotel companies such as Marriott, Starwood, Accor or IHG own any of their hotels. They own the brand that seats on the roof and are being paid management fees by the actual owner… [Read more…]
June 28, 2010
I was reading recently this report on hotel-blogs.com. “According to the hotel research company MKG Group, over 80,000 hotel rooms have been added to EU hotel supply (reaching 147,000 hotels and 5.2 milions rooms), half of which in Spain, Germany and Italy. According to MKG Hospitality, the EU is experiencing a certain level of restructuring,… [Read more…]
April 13, 2011
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