Unusual Hotel Promotions
This is a difficult time for the travel industry (business). In the U.S., hotels this past summer had occupancy rates (percentage of hotel rooms rented) below 60%, which are the lowest levels since after September 11, 2001. This is not surprising considering the “perfect storm” (unique combination of conditions that causes something to happen) of three conditions: a bad economy, an increase in the number of hotels opening in the past two years, and a dramatic cut (very large reduction) in the amount of money companies are willing to spend on travel.
Some hotels are not taking this lying down (without action; without fighting back). Hotels have always offered special promotions (offers) during the slow seasons, but now hotels are getting even more creative.
Have you always wanted a tattoo (drawing or words put on your body with permanent ink)? If you stay at one hotel near the beach in Los Angeles, you will get a $100 voucher (credit; coupon) toward getting one. You will even get a bottle of tequila (type of liquor) to numb (help you not feel as much of) the pain.
If you stay at one of the most expensive hotels in Beverly Hills, California, you’ll get the use of a Mercedes, Porsche, or BMW to drive while you’re there. If you prefer another type of vehicle, a hotel in San Diego, California, with a rock-and-roll theme (idea around which everything is based) will give you the use of a Harley Davidson motorcycle, a very well-known and respected brand of motorcycles in the U.S.
These are just a few of the special promotions hotels are offering. More typical are hotels offering a free night stay if you pay for two, three, or four nights. However, these deals (special offers) are getting attention and anything that makes travelers take a second look may be good for business.
~ Lucy
November 17th, 2009 at 7:32 am
It is the things who are happening in our world. It is a pitty, but this is a way to survive. When I am in California, I stay in my sister ´s home, because I dont have money to pay a hotel……lol. Magda – Brazil – S.P
November 17th, 2009 at 9:20 am
I like the term “perfect storm.”
t you think their special offer in order to lure people in are a bit lousy. tell me what s the percentage of people willing to do some scar their skin permanently( tatoos), not many ,I suppose. And, I am iffy about the rest of offers. It is not very intriging.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:23 am
honest,meal offering or one free night do it for me
November 17th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Wow, 60%. Maybe the hotel owners should drink that bottle of tequila:-)
November 17th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Well, this is the first time I write on this blog, so I apologize early if I write wrong some words. Talking about the world’s situation (economic) most of us know that we still passing through a bad time. Because of it people aren’t traveling frequently and when someone decide to make a little trip they don’t want to spend much money on their trip. I was planning to travel on my next vacation but……I’ll wait a little more time, and wait a little more money…
November 18th, 2009 at 4:48 am
Eslpod rules all,
I believe ,the best promotion is free Breakfast , you stuff your face in the morning so as to it fills you up ,or tides you over till late in the evening.
That way you don’t waste lots of money on grub.
Eslpod rules all,
November 18th, 2009 at 11:54 am
What people use to do here, I think, is just waiting till last day to do a reservation so the travel agency has always some hotel offers and even chipper flying tickets to go everywhere.
Spain being one of the first tourist countries of the world has to do miracles to avoid the Big crisis, the same that in USA, also one
of the head tourist resort or France and Italy.
I know nothing about offers as I don´t travel now, but my daughters always told me about their plans of going here or there and
getting the tickets at just the last moment.
Fátima is shaving money in the way of paying her new apartment so I think she did not a far trip this year, I think she went to
Canarias Islands.
Laura went to Islander, very far, but she get a very cheaper trip as Islander is now in Bankrupt and has good offers.
Eva is now traveling through the North of Spain instead of going some exotic or far country as she use to do other times.
Yes, I think hotels and tourist resort are going through hard times, in some ways good for traveling people with enough wealthy
status.
November 18th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Yes ,
The best Hotel is: crash on somebody’s sofa.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:19 am
U r amazing,
Just yesterday , I heard the awkward stage for the first time. Better to say for the second time. I learned it first when Jeff discussed it. Thanks man, now , I never forget it because I picked it up first at eslpod, then I stumble on it in a real-life situation.
Considering English is de facto the common languae in four corner of the words , your intimate knowledge , good heart , and extensive experience is serving
Across the glob , and touching the heart of many.
All the bragging aside, I way passed the learning stage , but still I learn from you guys. Literally, on every single episod you have something new for me
And ,needless to say that I enjoy it a lot , mainly becouse I m hell-bent on learning English
You guys are my heros
Yours
Peter
November 19th, 2009 at 5:25 am
yes, Piter, but you should find that “somebody” first )))
November 19th, 2009 at 5:27 am
What ever you are doing, you are doing it for a greater cause.have in mind, Good deeds are always rewarded.
November 19th, 2009 at 7:29 am
I think that the best hotel promotion is free days (pay one night and stay two) but in my country, Spain, hotels have decreased room prices (in some cities until 40%). Nonetheless, I have to recognize that hotel promotions in U.S. are more exotics and originals: I don´t mind drive a Porsche or a Harley Davidson on the freeways in L.A.
Pd: The English Cafe about Janis Joplin has been fantastic. I encourage to go on in this way.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Believe u me Tania,
God failed me. And lonlyness is his way of getting me
November 20th, 2009 at 12:52 am
This reminds me new word/acronym that I’ve heard, it’s “bogof”. It means, at least in Britain- buy one, get one free.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:29 am
Hi ! Peter, please , be carefully ! Tanita wishes you to find someone for a crash on a sofa , not me Tania . But I wish you the same .
Tania
November 21st, 2009 at 6:45 am
Hi ! It was very amusing the lesson Insulting Other People . I saw that sign “to flip someone off ” but not and “to moon ” in many movies.
We have a similar gesture for to flip someone off but not identical .
Excellent acting !
We have the same occupancy rate maybe even worse at our hotels with deals for SPA , erotic massage …
All the best for you all and to find the most attractive deal at the lowest price , maybe a good massage ,
Tania
November 21st, 2009 at 6:51 am
Hi ! A lot of interesting new phrases in this topic regarding the hotel promotions . Thank you , Dr. Lucy .
Tania
November 21st, 2009 at 7:02 am
Hi ! Incredible autumn / fall this year ! So warm , the sky so blue … I am listening to the noise of the lives falling down on the alleys of the park .
Am I blue ? It is autumn of change … here in Europe .
I did not know the meaning of “to be blue ” . Thank you .
Tania
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:37 pm
This is a good time for people who want to go around the world. I prefer the offer that one free night for guests staying over 1 or 2 nights. One hotel I stayed in Phoenix this May offered a package which included one night room and 2 tickets to Phoenix Zoo which locates close to this hotel. Though the weather was quite dry and hot not very good for a zoo tour, we enjoyed our time there very much.
Some hotels offer free shuttle van from the airport to the hotel which give the traveller convenience. That’s a good offer, too. My experience in hotel is the service is better when the occupancy rate is lower than 60%. So don’t be hesitant, this is a good time to take vacation considering the lower cost and better service! The only concern is my budget on vacation. Otherwise I would like to take vacation everyday!
November 27th, 2009 at 7:38 am
That is a very innovative way of marketing and in hard economic times as we have today it is always a breeding ground for being different and thinking outside of the box