Hotel Marketing Q&A

Believe it or not some hotels want the card in every room, so it isn't a "waste of time" as previously stated.
If the material available is in the room as well as on the front desk then the person who is wondering where to eat doesn't have to go to the front desk to ask.
Sure they are going out the front door anyway, but they may want to decide before they get to the lobby in the comfort of their room.

If you put QR codes on your room cards, or desk flyers or whatever means of communication you employ, be sure to have an alternatives means by which to find your site.
While it's true that almost every smartphone(SP) is capable of scanning a QR code, in practice very few even have one installed. There are a very limited number of SP users that even know what the heck that little square box is.

Less than 20% have an app installed and use it to scan.

Every phone can text and browse the web so a text to get a link option or at the very least a web URL is a must. QR codes alone will eliminate at least 80% of your potential users.
And trust me, people are not going to download a QR reader and learn how to use it just to scan your code.

Originally Posted by JohnP

Thanks for the great sharing from both of you John and Don.

Here's what I'm Learning from Don in his earlier post:

I. - He places his Restaurant Mobile Scan Display Card ONLY at the Hotel's Front Desk and NOT in Every Room. With a Simple Comment Pointing it Out by The Desk Person - It Works Like Gang-Busters and Cuts Down on the Need to have a Display in Every Room.

II. - The ONE Approach: ONE "Thai Rest".....ONE "Mexican"....ONE "Gift Shop"....ONE "Realtor".....ONE "Car Wash".....etc. Don's ONE Approach ACTIVATES the Power of GREED ("I Get the Customers and NOT My Competitor") in the Restaurant Owner and their DESIRE to NOT LOSE OUT on being the ONLY Restaurant of Their Type in the Guide. I see that as PAIN AVOIDANCE. Which Can Drive Closing the Sale Even MORE than a GAIN or BENEFIT Does. AND YOU Get to Charge MORE MONEY per LISTING and Need to Close FEWER Restaurant Owners. (I Think You Could Still Offer Multiple Spots to Non-Restaurant Listings - But That's Just My Opinion.)

III. Don Introduces Himself and Lay's Out the WHAT of the Program to the Hotel Manager and HOW His Guests Benefit in a Few Simple, Clear, and Compelling Sentences.

"Hi Mr Mgr.....my name is Don Alm.....I have created a Website Directory of local Restaurants, Gift Shops, Attractions etc.....for Tourists/Travelers who would like to find Places to Eat and Shop and Find Local Attractions to enjoy themselves while in town. All they have to do is take out their Mobile Device and Scan the Code....and they can Log Into my Directory!"

IV. THEN in a Simple Statement Don Addresses a KEY CONCERN ("totally FREE to you") AND Strokes the Manager's Ego ("...will show that YOU really care...").

"Now.....this is totally FREE to you and....will show that YOU really care about providing your Guests with the UTMOST Care, Concern & Convenience!"

V. And Finally, the "NO OBJECTION" Close Question. You Get PERMISSION to Place the Restaurant Guide in the Hotel - ODDLY - With a "NO" Answer!!

"So, would YOU have any Objection to my placing this Display on your Front Desk?"


Thank You Don.

Once again......give "US" people (me) who create and put together Promo Programs......some "slack" or....some "credit"......for the things YOU bring up!

Just because I don't go into or SHOW the EXACT DETAIL on my programs does NOT mean I have NOT considered ALL options AND.....implemented them .....like......"Gee Willikers, I spose I should include the URL near the QR Codes ......just in case Hotel Guests can't Scan the Code!"!

This is the 2nd (or 3rd) time you've commented on one of my programs about some "detail" you think is missing. Are you doing this to show that YOU have found something to make the program/s better.....to make YOU look good or......that I have "overlooked" something .....to make ME look bad?

I'm curious as to WHY you bring up "details" about my programs.

Don Alm

OK.....OK......I WILL Reveal a "detail" about THIS program that I DISCOVERED BY DOING THE PROGRAM!

When I printed TV Channel Guides on 6 x 9 Cards and placed them IN ALL the rooms......I started out by putting the Cards in "Plastic Displays" that sat next to or ON the TV.

I found I had to REPLACE most of the displays every few mos. Guests would take them.

I then went to just plain Cards on Card Stock and put the TV Remote On Top of my Cards. This to I had to replace because the Loose Cards would get mixed in with other printed materials a tossed out.

So.....what we do now is print the Guides on a 8.5 x 11 Card and STICK THE CARD ON THE WALL NEXT TO THE MIRROR OF ON THE BACK OF THE DOOR!

Don Alm

Great tip. Too bad the first line makes you sound like you're tooting your own horn and putting everyone else down when you know NOTHING about what anyone else has done.

Originally Posted by Don Alm

OK.....OK......I WILL Reveal a "detail" about THIS program that I DISCOVERED BY DOING THE PROGRAM!

When I printed TV Channel Guides on 6 x 9 Cards and placed them IN ALL the rooms......I started out by putting the Cards in "Plastic Displays" that sat next to or ON the TV.

I found I had to REPLACE most of the displays every few mos. Guests would take them.

I then went to just plain Cards on Card Stock and put the TV Remote On Top of my Cards. This to I had to replace because the Loose Cards would get mixed in with other printed materials a tossed out.

So.....what we do now is print the Guides on a 8.5 x 11 Card and STICK THE CARD ON THE WALL NEXT TO THE MIRROR OF ON THE BACK OF THE DOOR!

Don Alm

Yup....Beam Me Up, Scotty....I've managed to attract another "one"!

Don Alm

Originally Posted by woof

Believe it or not some hotels want the card in every room, so it isn't a "waste of time" as previously stated.
If the material available is in the room as well as on the front desk then the person who is wondering where to eat doesn't have to go to the front desk to ask.
Sure they are going out the front door anyway, but they may want to decide before they get to the lobby in the comfort of their room.

If you put QR codes on your room cards, or desk flyers or whatever means of communication you employ, be sure to have an alternatives means by which to find your site.
While it's true that almost every smartphone(SP) is capable of scanning a QR code, in practice very few even have one installed. There are a very limited number of SP users that even know what the heck that little square box is.

Less than 20% have an app installed and use it to scan.

Every phone can text and browse the web so a text to get a link option or at the very least a web URL is a must. QR codes alone will eliminate at least 80% of your potential users.
And trust me, people are not going to download a QR reader and learn how to use it just to scan your code.

The ONE thing I've noticed.....in my days, months, years.....on da Internet is.....there will ALWAYS BE NAYSAYERS!.....However.....while these "Naysayers" go back to their PUTERS.....US....DOERS are out MAKING MONEY!

I just finished my 3rd Year.....I repeat.....THIRD Year.....of doing my "TV Channel Guides" and "Lobby MAP Boards" in a RESORT Town where THOUSANDS of "Visitors" arrive ....every day.....with 3 things;
1) Hunger.....Where Do We Eat or SHop or Whatever
2) Money.....We Have MONEY TO SPEND and are LOOKING FOR PLACES TO SPEND IT!
3) Phone.......We have a CELL PHONE and can use it to FIND what WE Want

Thus.....in the Summer of 2015......3 "Resort Towns" (in MY area) are READY for the "small percentage" of Tourists who are NOT able to "USE their MOBILE DEVICE......BUT.....MOST of the Restaurants, Realtors, Gift Shops, etc.....ARE READY.......with PROOF being.....THEY PAID To be Included in the local "Town Mobile Directory"!

Yuppo......granted......every idea YOU,....da Naysayers....... who don't have the gumptiion to TRY....come up with.....YOU....WILL.....FAIL! GUARANTEED!

Because YOU.....believe IT.....whatever IT is......will fail!

And....surely IT....will fail. However.....THIS is what makes IT easier for US.....possibility-thinkers"

Thank You.....Negativers, for allowing ME to have a "Prosperous" Life

Don Alm......Is IT Possible,.....well....ya never knows unless ya tries

I went back and read the post that this response is to and I must say I don't see any "naysaying". Just me providing additional information that could help someone doing a directory. Additional information that comes from experience.

Like usual Don, you react. It's either with sarcasm, derision or "you will FAIL"!!
I thought I read somewhere recently that you were going to try not to do that. Still getting it out of your system huh.

You have some great ideas and I have used bits and pieces of them here and there, but your attitude towards people who ask questions or try to build on them really sucks.

This quote below is a perfect example.

Originally Posted by Don Alm

The ONE thing I've noticed.....in my days, months, years.....on da Internet is.....there will ALWAYS BE NAYSAYERS!.....However.....while these "Naysayers" go back to their PUTERS.....US....DOERS are out MAKING MONEY!

I just finished my 3rd Year.....I repeat.....THIRD Year.....of doing my "TV Channel Guides" and "Lobby MAP Boards" in a RESORT Town where THOUSANDS of "Visitors" arrive ....every day.....with 3 things;
1) Hunger.....Where Do We Eat or SHop or Whatever
2) Money.....We Have MONEY TO SPEND and are LOOKING FOR PLACES TO SPEND IT!
3) Phone.......We have a CELL PHONE and can use it to FIND what WE Want

Thus.....in the Summer of 2015......3 "Resort Towns" (in MY area) are READY for the "small percentage" of Tourists who are NOT able to "USE their MOBILE DEVICE......BUT.....MOST of the Restaurants, Realtors, Gift Shops, etc.....ARE READY.......with PROOF being.....THEY PAID To be Included in the local "Town Mobile Directory"!

Yuppo......granted......every idea YOU,....da Naysayers....... who don't have the gumptiion to TRY....come up with.....YOU....WILL.....FAIL! GUARANTEED!

Because YOU.....believe IT.....whatever IT is......will fail!

And....surely IT....will fail. However.....THIS is what makes IT easier for US.....possibility-thinkers"

Thank You.....Negativers, for allowing ME to have a "Prosperous" Life

Don Alm......Is IT Possible,.....well....ya never knows unless ya tries