Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

Expedia Accelerator: Step Right Up, You Hotelier Fools

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Yesterday I wrote a short post on LinkedIn “Pulse” with my view on Expedia’s new “Accelerator” marketplace. The experiment where hoteliers get to bid for the hotels’ visibility on the OTA, it resembles a carnival act for me. At least one comment on my LinkedIn, suggesting I was a mean spirited ranter because of my […]

Russia Sanctions Radioactive for Russia and Europe Tourism

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According to news from Interfax, the market for visa services in Russia fell by some 37% in 2015, year on year. With the savage effects of sanctions and the interjection of stricter biometrics regulations for Schengen countries, a domino effect of negative economic volatility has ensued. The telltale fallout of economic warfare sinks in, as EU sanctions become touristic radioactive.

The Uniquely Compelling Appeal of Big Data

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Five years ago the world-wide-web was horrified at the concept of usable user data. Today every business from high fashion to the local laundry-mat wants to know how to convert customers via predictive intelligence. Technology is gearing up to meet a Big Data conundrum, as marketers wring their hands awaiting the golden ring that signifies an R-O-I bonanza. But at this stage of trend analysis, most experts agree that the analytics ship has not yet arrived. Here’s a succinct look at where we really are.

On an Island of Hospitality Data: Using Pineapple Search

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Over the last dozen years I’ve tested just about every search technology that exists. From back in the so-called “search wars”, to new forms of AI and semantic intelligence, the ultimate goal of any search device is relevance for the user. Today I tested a little hospitality search engine called Pineapple Search.

Key Data Integrations for Hotel Intelligence

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Market segment, the new paradigm hotel revenue people seek to optimize and utilize, it can be an elusive beast. Using guest analytics and loyalty data will become more and more useful, but the key segments, and those data sets, will power the coming hotel operations shift toward predictive analytics. Here are some resources that should be […]

Status Update: Predictive Analytics for Hotels

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What’s the one question every hotel owner, director, and revenue manager on Earth wants to ask about Big Data and predictive analytics? “Where’s the proof?” This is what’s missing from every conference presentation, and ever marketing pitch for tech tools that will jump start the new business intelligence (BI). For those in need of such […]

To have, or have not & Russian Tourists in 2015

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When Russia’s influence on the Ukraine government of Viktor Yanukovych got challenged by a kind of rampaging western hegemony, all Europe should have studied more closely these relationships. Now, over a year in, the 2015 summer tourist season will probably be a disaster. Regardless of who we lay the blame on for the current west-east detente disaster, […]

TripAdvisor Names Best Europe Beaches

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Just in time for Spring, TripAdvisor has named the top 25 beaches in Europe for 2015 in the Traveler’s Choice Awards. With Spring having sprung just in the nick of time, what better information do those with cabin fever over the winter need? Here’s a look at some fantastic beaches to start warming up at […]

Europe Tourism Recovery Goes Into Shock

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If foreign relations and anti-terror tactics across Europe get any worse, tourism dependent businesses already hit by west versus Russia tensions could finally go belly up. All across the EU soldiers and other security personnel are fanning out in a frantic hunt for suspected radicals. However real or perceived Jihadists or other extremists may be, the danger posed to Europe’s economy. That “recovery” Europe was promised, it’s clear it’s not happening now.