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

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