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I love the idea of the SMILE Conference, somewhere for tourism sales and marketing professionals to come together and network and learn in a positive and enlightening environment. I have also had the pleasure of working behind the scenes with Islandbridge (Ger Tannam and Christine), Cyril McAree of Hotel and Restaurant Times and another one of my favourite people, Alex Gibson of DIT. I looked at the line-up and was really looking forward to hearing Marc Charron from TripAdvisor.com - but didn't really expect to be as impressed as I was by the entire day.
The programme was packed and the day superbly chaired by Orlaith Blaney, whose informal and relaxed manner whilst keeping up a mighty impressive pace was a lesson to us all. Marc Charron gave a fascinating insight into how hotels and most importantly hotel customers are using TripAdvisor.com. He was followed by Dave McKeirnan of Java Republic who took us through all the trials and tribulations of developing not only market share, but a new and innovative product and company. We also heard from Anne Marie Whelan how the renovations are going at the Shelbourne, and then were blown away by Stuart Fogarty of AFA O'Meara Advertising.
Stuart's presentation was more than memorable for it's honesty, creativity and absolute on the button-ness (OK, so I just invented a new word...) on the subject of how hotels and hospitality are having to be hugely inventive to market themselves in the current age. Advertising appears to be dead... product placement, relevance, experiental marketing are all the buzz words du jour.
Brilliant job done by the Storehouse, as always and I know that many people had the opportunity to try and blag a guest pass to one of the Mandarin Oriental Hotels from David Spooner - Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Mandarin - in the Gravity Bar afterwards. He was a fantastic speaker as well, and the images of the Mandarin Five Star properties left us all drooling! As well as grinning and smiling... roll on SMILE 2007!
You can listen to an interview with Marc Charron of Tripadvisor on Alex Gibson's Persuaders Marketing Podcast www.thepersuaders.libsyn.com
Smile 2006 presentations are available for download at: www.eventznet.ie/ev/ac/smile/thesmileconference2006/Downloads.aspx
To get back to our site: www.actionrecruitment.ie
31 October 2006
27 October 2006
10th Annual HSMAI Awards -The Winners!!!
Spas Supreme!
Spas Clean Up at 2006 Hospitality Sales & Marketing Awards
Destination Spas cleaned up at this years Hospitality Sales & Marketing Awards (HSMAI). The cream of tourism and hospitality’s marketers gathered in Jurys Ballsbridge Hotel to award Hodson Bay Hotel Best Marketing of a Spa, Cork’s Maryborough Hotel & Spa Best Spa Brochure and newcomer destination spa Monart Best Marketing of a New Product Venue of Property.
Recognised as the flagship industry awards, the 10th HSMAI Awards reward excellence in sales and marketing in the tourism and hospitality sectors and the black-tie ceremony was attended by Minister for Tourism John O’Donoghue, TD.
Over 400 attendees gathered to hear Rally Ireland awarded Best Festival or Sporting Event Marketing. Meanwhile, National Museum Northern Ireland won Best International Marketing Campaign whilst Horse Racing Ireland took Best Domestic Marketing Campaign. Dublin Convention Bureau won Best Overall Sales and Marketing strategy.
O’Callaghan Hotels was declared Best Hotel Sales & Marketing Team, whilst the Tower Hotel Group took Best Marketing Innovation. The Castlecourt Hotel won Best Customer Retention Strategy whilst Quality Hotels were awarded Best Advertising Campaign. Arlene Gibbs of Days Hotel was declared Best Hotel Sales & Marketing Professional.
In the design and internet categories, Kenmare’s Brooklane Hotel won Best Website and The D Hotel Best Group Website. The Brehon Hotel was awarded Best Hotel Brochure and West Cork LEADER Co-op won Best Tourism Brochure. Cybercome/Jurys Doyle took Best Internet Strategy.
Lee Kidney of Lee Hotel Group was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the board of HSMAI. In memory of the late hotel innovator, the Paddy Fitzpatrick Award to reward the best of young Irish talent in hotel sales and marketing was presented to Deirdre Prendergast of Dublin’s Four Seasons Hotel.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Stephen Williams, President HSMAI said, “This year’s winners are reflective of a more innovative approach to sales & marketing in the hospitality sector, both domestically and internationally”.
ENDS
For reference: Alma Feeley, Midas PR Mob: 087 8204934
To get to our site: www.actionrecruitment.ie
Spas Clean Up at 2006 Hospitality Sales & Marketing Awards
Destination Spas cleaned up at this years Hospitality Sales & Marketing Awards (HSMAI). The cream of tourism and hospitality’s marketers gathered in Jurys Ballsbridge Hotel to award Hodson Bay Hotel Best Marketing of a Spa, Cork’s Maryborough Hotel & Spa Best Spa Brochure and newcomer destination spa Monart Best Marketing of a New Product Venue of Property.
Recognised as the flagship industry awards, the 10th HSMAI Awards reward excellence in sales and marketing in the tourism and hospitality sectors and the black-tie ceremony was attended by Minister for Tourism John O’Donoghue, TD.
Over 400 attendees gathered to hear Rally Ireland awarded Best Festival or Sporting Event Marketing. Meanwhile, National Museum Northern Ireland won Best International Marketing Campaign whilst Horse Racing Ireland took Best Domestic Marketing Campaign. Dublin Convention Bureau won Best Overall Sales and Marketing strategy.
O’Callaghan Hotels was declared Best Hotel Sales & Marketing Team, whilst the Tower Hotel Group took Best Marketing Innovation. The Castlecourt Hotel won Best Customer Retention Strategy whilst Quality Hotels were awarded Best Advertising Campaign. Arlene Gibbs of Days Hotel was declared Best Hotel Sales & Marketing Professional.
In the design and internet categories, Kenmare’s Brooklane Hotel won Best Website and The D Hotel Best Group Website. The Brehon Hotel was awarded Best Hotel Brochure and West Cork LEADER Co-op won Best Tourism Brochure. Cybercome/Jurys Doyle took Best Internet Strategy.
Lee Kidney of Lee Hotel Group was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the board of HSMAI. In memory of the late hotel innovator, the Paddy Fitzpatrick Award to reward the best of young Irish talent in hotel sales and marketing was presented to Deirdre Prendergast of Dublin’s Four Seasons Hotel.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Stephen Williams, President HSMAI said, “This year’s winners are reflective of a more innovative approach to sales & marketing in the hospitality sector, both domestically and internationally”.
ENDS
For reference: Alma Feeley, Midas PR Mob: 087 8204934
To get to our site: www.actionrecruitment.ie
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