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Key Data Integrations for Hotel Intelligence

2015-10-21 by Phil Butler

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 […]

Tags: Airbn, analytics, Big Data, BioSeeker Group AB, Canadean Ltd, dotcomhotel, Energy Aspects Ltd., Euromonitor, GBI Research, HVS Library, iCD Research, IDATE, Lato Boutique Hote, Lefteris Karatarakis, marketing, Marketing Corporation, marketresearch.com, Martin Soler, Mintel, onetwotrip, SnapShot GmbH, STR Global, travel analytics

Russia’s Medvedev Cements Crimea Preservatives

2015-10-20 by Phil Butler

Sevastopol (Igor Kuzmin)

In news from Crimea, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has just signed a decree naming more than 220 cultural heritage sites in Crimea. The decree creates a legal framework for setting about preserving, popularizing, and protecting cultural heritage on the Crimea peninsula.

Tags: Crimea, Crimea tourism, Medvedev, Russia, Scythians

Status Update: Predictive Analytics for Hotels

2015-10-12 by Phil Butler

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 […]

Tags: analytics, Big Data, Disney, Forrester, hotels, Hyatt, IBM, Infographic, Marriott, Martin Soler, predictive analytics, SnapShot

Vladivostok and the Russia Far East’s Rising Tide

2015-07-29 by Phil Butler

The new resort has already hired hundreds of employees to greet grand opening guests (VL.RU)

Due to open next month, the first in a series of luxurious casinos inside the Primorye Entertainment Zone in Russia’s Far East is scheduled to open. Russia’s Far East may supplant Macau and Las Vegas as a gambling Mecca.

Tags: casinos, China investments, Macau, Primorsky Krai, Russia, Russia tourism, Vladivostok

Chinese Visits to Russia Grow Geometrically

2015-07-26 by Phil Butler

Chinese tourists

According to the Press Secretary of the Federal Tourism Agency of Russia (Rostourism), Irina Shegolkova there was an increase of 185% of Chinese tourist taking the free visa path in early 2015. The new Russia-China accord also foretells of paradigm shifts in touristic flows and paths in the CIS as well.

Tags: China tourists, Georgia, Russia tourism, tourists, travel, World Cup

A “Story Experience” at Angleterre Hotel

2015-07-07 by Phil Butler

The Deluxe suite at Angleterre Hotel

In a world full of hospitality choices, amid a hotel landscape where everywhere feels like the same place, it is not easy to find a truly unique experience.

Tags: Artist of Russia, Borsalino Restaurant, hotels, Kristin Intress, Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Olga Malik, Russia hotels, Vaganova Academy, Worldhotels

Priceline & Expedia: Fearing Airbnb Like the Klingons

2015-07-06 by Phil Butler

James T. Kirk wearing the Airbnb Star Fleet badge

A story on Skift this morning bears the headline; “Airbnb’s Growth Doesn’t Scare Priceline at All”. A big picture of William Shatner set to duke it out is as funny, given Priceline should be scared, that is. If only Priceline’s Star Fleet had integrated Airbnb!

Tags: AirBnb, Expedia, Morningstar, Mr. Sulu, OTA's, Piper Jaffray, Priceline, Spock, Star Fleet, William Shatner

Cyprus Summer Season Underway and Looking Up

2015-05-23 by Phil Butler

According to the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the Cyprus Hotel Association (CHA), this year’s summer tourism season outlook is very positive. If the island sees unification, investors may seek boom tourism market.

Tags: Amathus Hotel, Cyprus economy, Cyprus travel, Nicos Anastasiades, visit Cyprus

To have, or have not & Russian Tourists in 2015

2015-03-09 by Phil Butler

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, […]

Tags: Crete hotels, Cyprus travel, Europe hotels, European commission, Greece tourism, hotel revenue, NATO, rouble, Russia sanctions, sanctions, Ukraine

TripAdvisor Names Best Europe Beaches

2015-03-03 by Phil Butler

Elafonisi courtesy Oltau

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 […]

Tags: 2015 Vacations, Balearic Islands, crete, Europe Beaches, Falasarna, France Beaches, Isola dei Conigli, Italy beaches, Iztuzu Beach, Lampedusa, Turkey, Woolacombe Bay Hotel

TripAdvisor powers up with ZeTrip and Rove

2015-02-03 by Phil Butler

Rove APP

TripAdvisor has announced the acquisition of tech startup ZeTrip, and travel journal app Rove. Apparently, the semi-stagnant market for high tech travel tools, has been rekindled.

Tags: acquisitions, Rove, startups, TripAdvisor

Is ride sharing a green Lyft or an Uber hype idea?

2015-02-01 by Phil Butler

Uber Lyft ride

Two cutting edge transportation startups, Lyft and Uber, they’ve done a good job of marketing anything and everything that could help them convert. Long billed as green friendly ride share services, the two have pledge in the past to help reduce the number of cars on the road.

Tags: car pooling, Lyft, ride share, taxis, tourist transport, travel startups, Uber, UberPool

Europe Tourism Recovery Goes Into Shock

2015-01-23 by Phil Butler

A deserted restaurant along Rue Boucherie Brussels - Courtesy Suvodeb Banerjee

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.

Tags: Brussels, EU Travel, Europe travel, Paris, Russia sanctions

Euro’s loss US tourist’s gain

2015-01-07 by Phil Butler

Découverte du cap de Formentor© Tomfry

For Americans interested in a European vacation, the recent plunge in euro value spells trip. The exchange rate today is worth just over 1.18 dollars, so travel and hospitality priced in euro offers a built in bargain.

Tags: Athens, dollar, Euro, Europe travel, exchange rates, Mallorca, Rome, tourism, travel

Merry Christmas, Mother Russia

2015-01-07 by Phil Butler

Christmas Eve in Russia

Across Russia today orthodox Christians are celebrating their Christmas with unique cheer. January 7th, the 40 days of Lent preceding having been observed, sees the day dawn on a national holiday a glitter with celebratory cheer. Here’s wishing a Merry Christmas to all Mother Russia, and a remembrance from my fellow Americans. “Judge not, and […]

Tags: Christmas, Orthodox Christmas, Orthodox religion, Russia

Bulgaria’s Hidden Nature Gems: Pamporovo and Smolyan

2014-12-08 by Phil Butler

The Stream Resort Pamporovo

Most UK ski enthusiast have heard of Bankso, one of eastern Europe’s most publicized budget ski destinations. However wonderful this relatively new resort may be, Winter treasures in neighboring Bulgarian towns, they represent timeless beauty most people in the world never heard of. It’s these sorts of places, we at Argo love to share.

Tags: backpacking, Bulgaria, Bulgaria skiing, Europe hiking, Golyam Perelik, nature, Pamporovo, Rhodopes Mountains, ski vacations, Smolyan, Sophia, The Stream Resort, Thrace

Magnuson Hotels Worldwide releases local performance tool

2014-11-18 by Phil Butler

Magnuson Worldwide

Magnuson Hotels Worldwide has just released a global hotel performance calculator which allows owners to benchmark their individual hotel performance versus local markets. In a move the company says is a “first ever” approach to measuring true performance at the local level, Magnuson’s release of the tool on Hotel Authority seems destined only for those in dire need of revenue help. Here’s a brief look at a local performance indicator.

Tags: hotel branding, hotel revenue, hotels, Magnuson Hotels, Magnuson Worldwide

A guide to Cretan cuisine experiences

2014-11-18 by Phil Butler

Making zucchini fritters at Vamos - courtesy the village's Facebook

The health and longevity Cretan’s are notorious for, it’s in large part due to the ideal climate and atmosphere of that island, true. However laid back and ideal Crete may be though, it’s certain the Cretan diet plays a huge role in making Zorba’s island one of the healthiest on Earth. For those who intend to visit the land of the Minoans, here’s some wonderful food and wine tours to put on your bucket list.

Tags: Cretan cuisine, Cretan raki, Crete foods, Crete wines, George Portokalakis

CHRISTIE’S offers rare vintage Russian Intourist art

2014-11-13 by Phil Butler

News from CHRISTIE’S , the world’s most famous fine arts auction house, tells of travel nostalgia from Russia in the time of Stalin. The auction house’s Vintage Poster sales, I’m told, always glean special interest in the travel genre. So the vintage Russian Intourist posters commissioned back in the 1930’s bear special note today.

Tags: antique Russia, auction, Christie's, Russia history, Russia travel, Russian Intourist, Soviet memorabilia, Stalinist Russia, travel art, travel posters, vintage travel art

Diageo ramps up travel retail arm with Barbara Bajorate appointment

2014-11-13 by Phil Butler

Barbara Bajorat

UK multinational beverage company Diageo, has just named Barbara Bajorate (at left) regional director for Europe in Travel Retail. The newly created role focuses on growth in the travel retail sector in Europe and in Russia.

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If November had a personality, this year it would be that friend who shows up late, dressed for a party you did not invite them to, and insists everything is fine. Because on the very last day of the month, Crete decided to cancel winter entirely and deliver temperatures that felt suspiciously like early spring. […]

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