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Caribbean Consulting Merchandising w Marketing w Distribution w Profitability The USVI Hotel & Tourism Association Consumer Marketing Website. Caribbean Consulting for Hotel Associations Competitive Visibility in the Global Market Does your Hotel & Tourism Association want to help members compete in today's highly competitive global market? Do your members want to increase sales to highly targeted markets through the internet but aren't sure where to start? Over 65% of travel is purchased or influenced by the internet. Our internet merchandising program shows how to stand out from the competition - whether its down the beach or around the world. This program has helped several hotel and tourism associations increase sales, reduce marketing costs & improve customer satisfaction for their members. Our program starts with group workshop sessions where we provide an overview of concepts and opportunities in online marketing and distribution. We then work 'one-on-one' with each participant in private consulting sessions to help merchandise their product for maximum exposure on the internet. We document each workshop and property visit with a working 'wireframe1' prototype of a consumer website for your association which incorporates our recommendations for each member. This is a custom program, so it can be adapted to your Association's specific needs in areas such as public relations, disaster-response marketing, new market development or 'recession-marketing' during economic downturns. At the end of our visit, we meet with the Hotel Association to review common strengths among the participants. Our 'wireframe1' prototype becomes a functional model that documents the sessions and can become the foundation of an umbrella marketing strategy for your association. Group Workshop Sessions This is a lively session for owners/management that will help reinvent the way consumers view your members as a unique value and satisfying experience. The focus of the workshop is on merchandising - which we consider 'the missing link' in travel marketing. However, we also provide an overview of marketing, international standards, distribution & yield management, review peer-to-peer travel sites and how to leverage each experience into increased profitability. Finally, we test participant's ability to see themselves through the eyes of today's travel consumer. Individual On-site Consulting Caribbean Consulting works directly with each participant at their location. We show how to present their business as a unique experience rather than selling 'heads in beds'' or generic descriptions. We find the best way to get high visibility for targeted markets and how to avoid paying excessive commissions. Does 'pre-arrival perception' match onsite reality? Finally, we will show how to increase customer satisfaction and turn guests into personal 'sales ambassadors' for years to come. Hotel Association Follow-up & Marketing Strategy On the final day, Caribbean Consulting meets with the Hotel Association and reviews the results of our onsite workshops. We review our 'wireframe1' prototype website to show common strengths that may provide a marketing opportunity and also recommend training or standards that may improve competitive position. Caribbean Consulting also reviews the next steps needed if you choose to convert the workshop 'wireframe1' prototype into a fully functional Consumer Marketing Program for your Association ± What your members get for their investment Expert Merchandising: Participants receive onsite consultation from two of the leading experts in travel merchandising who help reposition business for today's travel consumer. Think of today's travel market as one huge 'shopping mall' or 'mega-store'. We show how to get on the shelf in the most productive distribution channels that deliver satisfied customers and yield the highest revenue per sale. You will have a solid understanding of how to set yourself apart from the competition. This will provide a solid foundation for cost effective marketing. We use our 'wireframe1' prototype website to show how your business and destination appear to potential guests who may be looking for an experience rather than a bed, beach or bargain. Competitive Advantage: Now that we know where you fit in the global market, what makes people say "I've got to go there!"? We work with branding, competitive advantages, target markets, perceived value and international standards to develop a standard 'marketing toolkit' you will use to tell your story. Prototype Website 'Wireframe1': At the end of our onsite visit, you will have a 'wireframe1' prototype website that serves as an outline to clearly show what markets are best for your member's and how you can quickly attract business in the global market where your competition is just one click away. Ongoing Support: Our onsite work is not the end of the story. Caribbean Consulting provides ongoing telephone and email support as you implement our recommendations over the next three months. Members can contact us directly by email or telephone for follow-up questions. All of this for one low fixed price per participant! Hotels & Resorts $850 per participant* (min of 10 participants) *Plus Travel Expenses which are paid by Association or split among participants 2 Phase II Option: Consumer Target Marketing Program Caribbean Consulting has created successful online marketing programs for several major Caribbean Hotel Associations to help promote member hotels, restaurants & attractions to target markets by leveraging the power and influence of the internet. The 'wireframe1' prototype website that we create during our one-week program can quickly be converted into a very effective consumer marketing website with the addition of destination and association information plus some additional research for a 'getting here' page. US Virgin Islands Hotel Association These programs drive 'direct booking' to your member websites at an extremely low 'cost per click'. Caribbean Consulting can also help promote the site through directory listings, paid advertising, 'pay per click' ad campaigns, search engine optimization and promotions such as online sweepstakes, cooperative branding, email promotions and public relations or product placement. Call today and find out how you can send more business to your members! * Plus Travel Expenses & Fees: In addition to the fee for this program, we charge for Travel Expenses plus a Travel Fee of $300 per consultant. Airline tickets must be pre-paid for Marie van Rooyen from Hartford, CT - BDL and Richard Holm from San Juan, PR - SJU. We book the lowest available coach fare and keep 'out of pocket' expenses to a minimum (ie: taxis, parking, departure taxes, etc.). Expenses at your destination (ie: two single-occupancy hotel rooms, meals, transportation, etc.) must be paid directly by the client. 1 What are Wireframe Prototypes? Wireframes are a basic visual guide used to suggest the layout and placement of fundamental design elements in the interface design. Because of this they must be completed before any artwork is developed. When completed correctly they will provide a visual reference upon which to structure each page. They also allow for the development of variations of a layout to maintain design consistency throughout your site. This is an important part of the initial development stage because it creates user expectations and helps to develop an awareness and familiarity throughout the site. Creating a set of wireframes for any project also act as a communication tool to clients and stakeholders, such as content creators, engineers and developers. Over the course of a project the wireframing exercise functions as a stable base on which to consider changes, diverse user paths and new requirements. The information architect and information designer typically use the wireframes as a meeting of the minds, in terms of having solid working documents on which to establish the language, content and structure of interactions users will have with a given site or project. The creation of wireframes also helps to define the positioning of global and secondary levels of navigation in a prominent and intuitive position, as well as providing an area for utilities such as helpful information and search facilities. When creating your wireframes it is critical to ensure that branding is central to the identity of a site so as to communicate the personality of the site. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Call 787-455-4216 or email rholm @ caribbeanconsulting.com Don't Stop the Carnival - get it under control Caribbean Consulting - Hotel & Tourism Marketing Consultancy PMB 205, 1507 Ponce de Leon Ave. - Pda 22, Santurce, PR, 00909 The Caribbean Hospitality Institute Hurricane Claim Management Consultants - Young Adjustment ©2003 - 2007 Caribbean Consulting - Marketing Consultancy - Marketing Consultants This page was last updated on 08/24/2008 |
The primary purpose of this program is to bring new clients to your destination. We quickly match the potential guest to the member business and then have them 'click-through' to your members' own websites to complete the transaction.
This is a cost-effective program that has been successfully used by:
Caribbean Consulting is a member of Caribbean Hotel Association (
Caribbean Marketing Consultants for Hotel and Tourism Associations and Condo Associations Marketing Services Caribbean Region