Sometimes Its Better Not To Be On The List

Aloha Kakou:

You always want to be on the top of the list, right? Not when the list is of the dirtiest hotels in America!

Check out the actual guest comments following the list, if you dare! Eeewwww!

http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2009_1st/Jan09_DirtiestHotels.html

December Visitor Numbers Down

Aloha Kakou:

December's visitor numbers for Maui were down 19.3% compared to December, 2007, according to this Maui News article.

For the entire year of 2008, Maui's visitor counts decreased by 15.2%. Keep in mind that these annual numbers are somewhat skewed by 2008's very successful first quarter, where visitor arrivals and ADRs broke records set in 2007.

Statistics for 2009 will probably be similar to the last 3 quarters of 2008 with 2007 viewed as tourism's high water mark for some time to come.

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/514224.html?nav=10

Star Ratings and Best Island

Aloha Kakou:

Further to our discussion regarding star ratings for lodging, Harry Eager's column in today's Maui News talks about Mobil Travel Guide's bestowing of its coveted ratings.

The Four Seasons in Wailea was the only hotel to receive the 5 star rating. Two hotels on Lanai received 4 stars and the Ritz Carlton, Kapalua also received 4 stars.

Incidentally, in our own check-out survey, most guests rate the Outrigger Maui Eldorado with a score of either 4 or 5 star/diamonds. While I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, it is interesting how guests make the rating so personal, based on their needs, rather than on than on Mobil's or AAA's strict criteria.

Check the last paragraph of Harry's column. Maui has been named the Best Hawaiian Island in Travel Weekly's reader's poll (you've seen me mention Travel Weekly previously).

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/514117.html?nav=16

What Hotels Do For Their Guests

Aloha Kakou:

Sometimes, I'm grateful that the Outrigger Maui Eldorado is not a 5 star resort. Take a look at some of these requests made by demanding guests. Suddenly, those extra pillows and blankets don't look like such a big deal!

http://www.forbestraveler.com/resorts-hotels/outrageous-guest-requests-2008-slide.html

Doing More With Less

Aloha Kakou:





Please take a look at this article from Hotels Magazine regarding the current trend of providing an upscale look on a budget. Note the key word here is "upscale"; just because we need to spend less money doesn't mean that it has to look that way! Just because guests are expecting to pay less these days does not mean that they'll be satisfied with a room that is old, uncoordinated or looks like it was done on a shoestring.





My favorite quote? "Merely changing out beds, bed treatments and draperies alone can give a guestroom a refreshed feel that guests will appreciate and will reflect well on a brand." Drapes and bedspreads take up a lot of real estate in your unit; fresh items can make a big difference in the guests' perception of your apartment.





http://www.hotelsmag.com/blog/380000638/post/400039640.html?nid=3457&rid=1080448300

A Busy Day

Aloha Kakou:

Today I took advantage of two opportunities to promote the Outrigger Maui Eldorado.

Scott Sumner of North Superior Publishing in Ontario, Canada, checked in today. Scott is writing an article about Maui (and about golf on Maui). We had a long chat about salient features of the Outrigger Maui Eldorado. I'll post that article when it comes out.

I also spent an hour or so with Barry Cutler, the host of the kid's cooking program, "Cooking With Cutty". We shot some footage at the cabana with me handing the "treasure hunt ingredient" to the kids. It was a beautiful day and, with the mention of the Outrigger Maui Eldorado appearing before about 30 million people, hopefully we'll get a positive response. I did have a "Lucy in showbusiness" kind of moment there (there goes my idea of a back-up career!) but Ruby took some photos of the experience and I'll post them next week.

Just a Reminder...

Aloha Kakou:

Here is a direct email piece that I sent to some guests who had stayed with us in January of 2007. The idea was to remind them that we're still here and that our weather is probably nicer then theirs!

We did get a few responses. I plan on getting more email addresses and trying some additional "direct-email" campaigns.


Microsoft Word - Gqeletter

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Travel Brochures & Catalogs maui

Travel Writers in January

Aloha Kakou:

We checked in Andrew Both, the Australian AP writer, today. Andrew is on Maui to do a travel story about the island but is looking for some ideas that are off the beaten path. I suggested that he try the winery and gave him a map with one of my favorite hiking spots.

I also booked today Scott Sumner, who is the editor for North Superior Publishing Company of northern Ontario. Scott's assignments are to cover Maui for Thunder Bay Business, a regional business publication reaching a high income audience of business owners and other professionals - circulation 43,200 and for NW Ontario Golfing News, a golf publication that reaches an avid group of golfers including those that travel extensively in our area - circulation 8,400.

Both articles would be published on the web sites www.thunderbaybusiness.ca and www.golfingnews.ca. There are many travel features on the sites, especially on the golf site, and have up to 100,000 hits per month on the site. Of course, I will provide links to all articles once I find or receive them.

It is this word of mouth, low-key, personal type of publicity that is effective, I think, because people tend to remember that they saw the Outrigger Maui Eldorado name, not just as an ad, but as a recommendation.

Melveen Leed at Kaanapali Beach Hotel Saturday

Aloha Kakou:

If you're looking for spectacular entertainment for Saturday night, I would recommend stopping by Kaanapali Beach Hotel to see Melveen Leed. Melveen will perform a free concert from 6 to 9 pm in the Tiki Courtyard.

Melveen's act includes Hawaiian standards, contemporary hits and even some Patsy Cline. And when she busts out the hula, look out! If you have never been to see Melveen Leed, I would recommend that you take advantage of this opportunity to see one of Hawaii's treasures.

http://www.melveenleed.net/home

Median Maui Home Price Down

Aloha Kakou:

I'm sure this comes as no surprise but median Maui home prices are down for 2008. The drop is about 8% from last year. Interesting to note that the median condo price and the median home price are only about $28,000 apart. Of course, these statistics are for Maui as a whole; your experience may be different.

It Ain't Over...

Aloha Kakou:

Today's Maui News had two stories concerning the shuttering of three stores on Maui. It would seem the decline in the island's tourist business continues to have a negative effect on the local economy, even on those businesses that are not necessarily tourism-related.

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/513394.html?nav=10
http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/513395.html?nav=10

Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Aloha Kakou:

While we do not offer free upgrades at the front desk, articles like this unfortunately lead guests to believe that they just have to ask. The article does mention that smiling and being nice go a long way (that's pretty much true for any situation involving an interaction with another person, no?).

http://information.travel.aol.com/news-and-tips?ncid=AOLCOMMtravdynlprim0429

Comments From the HVCB Chair

Aloha Kakou:

Attached is an article from this week's Travel Weekly about Mark Dunkerley's take on tourism in Hawaii today. Mr. Dunkerley is the CEO of Hawaiian Airlines and Chairman of HVCB (Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau).

Take a look at Mr. Dunkerley's comments regarding Hawaii's competitiveness versus other destinations.

My favorite quote of the article is: " Without stepping up the level of investment to keep pace with our competition, we risk having our visitor experience fall short of the expectations created by Hawaii's strong brand." You might expect that would be my favorite quote!

Airfare Sale

Aloha Kakou:

After months of high airfares, we may be seeing a softening in the market as the airlines realize that their high prices (and fees!) have kept people from the friendly skies.

Airlines had reduced capacity with the expectation that the fewer planes they did fly would fly with greater load factors. Since those loads did not increase like they had hoped, the airlines seem to now be offering discounted rates.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28527403/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,477224,00.html

Time Wasting

Aloha Kakou:

Human ingenuity never ceases to amaze me.

Take a look at this blog about art cars. If you waste at least half an hour looking at all of these, don't say I didn't warn you!

http://artcar.blogspot.com

Obama Hawaii Connection

Aloha Kakou:

Regardless of your political affiliation, this article gives some interesting observations on the President Elect's Hawaii background:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28467275/