May 2, 2016

We are Touristologists! We can choose! Can you?

Let me be clear once and for all! It is OK to use other people/companies CRS (Central Reservation Systems), OTA (On-line Travel Agencies) or SnS (Social Networking Sites) … As a matter of fact usually it is very convenient, BUT what happens when they realize that you need them more than they need you? What happens when they know that we are talking about their customers and NOT yours? Have you seen this ad of Booking (Genius)?
A loyalty program, a way to reward the most profitable customers. Booking is a very successful company and to keep, and even increase their profits they will do (almost) whatever it takes!
Get more customers? What MY customers want? Lower prices? You got it!
Possibility to make a reservation in any hotel? You got it!
Increase the number of bookings? I got it!
Increase my commission? I got it!
It is perfectly OK to use Booking! BUT in order to be (and remain) competitive you have to create more options. In this way, you will be able to choose between their option or yours!
You can create your own SnS, remember Vail resort creating EpicMix. Remember RooMate creating BeMate!
You can create your own CRS or OTA remember Accor!
You can also define your own segments, aggregate and customize an offer to them and communicate and commercialize it through your chain of value (By the way, a good definition of My Own 1,2,3).
One of the ways of defining a segment is the one followed by Chip Conley. Yes! The one who created 30 hotels based on 30 magazines (a meeting place of the segment in Touristologistly terms!)
Please, forget about Millennials or BOBOS! They are very good examples of Dr. Frankenstein segmentation!
So, I repeat… We are Touristologists! We can choose! Can you?
If you can’t, you can always contact any of my Touristologists (the ones that appear here!). At the end of the day, they are the best minds working in the best sector ever!!!

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