Cleveland’s Underappreciated Hospitality Boom

Though the excitement of the Republican National Convention has come and gone for Cleveland, excitement for the city’s hospitality industry is just getting started.

The convention was actually one of several factors that have helped recently revitalize Cleveland’s hospitality industry. The RNC in particular was an important motivator for development because in order to even be considered in the pool of potential host cities, Cleveland needed to reach a minimum number of hotel rooms.

Another big reason was recent success by the town’s NBA franchise the Cleveland Cavaliers, who just won the NBA championship. Excitement for the team has helped boost the downtown economy including hotels.

With so much national attention recently focused on northeast Ohio’s biggest city here are three  new properties worth checking out if you go for a visit! 

The Kimpton Schofield Hotel

Kimpton Schofield At the corner of East 9th and Euclid, the Schofield building opened its doors over a century ago as an office building. More recently, The Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group headed a 5-year, $50 million renovation project to transform the building into a hotel. The Kimpton Schofield welcomed their first guests in March 2016. Want to see this historic location for yourself? Book here.

The Drury Plaza Hotel

Drury Plaza Cleveland

Housed in the former Cleveland Board of Education building, The Drury Plaza Hotel is the second historic building renovation to open as a hotel this year in Cleveland. The 3-year, $52 million project boasts massive arched windows, elegant bronze chandeliers, and marble columns that wow visitors at every turn. Historic preservation was the focus of this renovation, and Drury did not disappoint. Find more info The Drury Plaza Hotel here.

Hilton Cleveland Downtown Hotel

Hilton Cleveland

This 32-story, 600-room tower is the newest addition to Cleveland’s skyline. It is the city’s largest hotel and was instrumental in landing the RNC. Costing a whopping $272 million to construct, this glass-faced skyscraper is the perfect place to stay on your next trip to The Land. Grab a drink at Bar 32, located atop the 32nd floor, and watch the sunset over Lake Erie. To book your stay, click here.

These 3 new properties give the Cleveland hospitality industry a much needed and well deserved credibility boost. More rooms in Cleveland can do a lot of good for a city on the rise, and already has done so with the RNC coming to town.

What’s your favorite new Cleveland Hotel? Let us know in our comments section below! 

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How Hotels Can Benefit From Pokemon Go

On July 6th gaming giant Nintendo released its newest augmented reality game, Pokémon Go. Just two weeks after its release, Pokémon Go is changing much more than just the gaming industry. Don’t believe us? Check out these jaw-dropping statistics:

  • $9 billion – Increase in Nintendo stocks since Pokémon Go release
  • $57.65 billion – Nintendo’s recorded revenue since 2015
  • 16% – Percentage of all Android devices in the U.S. that downloaded Pokémon Go
  • 362% – Percent increase in Spotify streams of Pokémon theme song “Gotta Catch ‘Em All”
  • 25% – Percent boost in stock for smart phone battery companies
  • 21 million – Number of daily active users 24 hours after launch

What makes Pokémon Go different from other popular role-playing games such as Second Life and World of Warcraft? Instead of creating an entirely separate virtual world inside your smart phone or computer, Nintendo created a virtual world and laid it atop of the real world.

The game uses your phone’s GPS, camera and clock to detect where and when you are in the game. The purpose behind Pokémon Go is to get people to travel around the real world and catch virtual Pokémon that “appear” around you as you move. Notable real-world locations are marked on the in-game map as PokéStops, where you can go to snag Poke Balls and eggs that hatch into full Pokémon.

3 Easy Ways to Capitalize on Pokémon Go! 

Here are some simple but effective ways to put your hotel in the best position to benefit from the latest craze!

1. Welcome all Pokémon Masters

The first and easiest way to reap the benefits of this phenomenon is to advertise! Nearly 1 in every 10 hotels in the United States are mentioning Pokémon Go in their social media. Whether you announce that you are Pokémon-friendly or choose to disclose nearby PokéStops, recharging stations and hotspots, you can bet on an increase in traffic by simply showing your support… and it’s free!

2. Purchase Lure Modules

Lure Modules can be purchased to attract Pokémon for 30-minutes to a location of your choice. Lure Modules are available as an in-app purchase at 680 Pokécoins for 8 Lure Modules. $100 is equal to 14,500 Pokécoins, so…

14,500/680 = 21 eight-packs of Lures

(21*8)/2= 84 hours

$100/84 hours= $1.19 per hour.

For only $1.19 per hour, hoteliers can lure prospects to their hotels. Drop a Lure before a big event to increase foot traffic, it is surprisingly effective! However, Lure’s can only be attached to existing PokéStops so be sure to use this tip if you’re lucky enough to be one!

 3. Offer Promotions

Take your support to a whole new level and offer discounts and promotions to people using the Pokémon Go app. You won’t be the only one doing it: Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt in Youngstown is a designated PokéStop that offers $1 off an ice cream cone if you show that you use the app. A hotel bar in Grand Rapids gives a 10% discount off tabs of app users on Team Mystic. A coffee shop in San Francisco promises to drop a lure for every 15 drinks that are purchased at the store… And the list goes on and on!

Many businesses are complaining of an increase in foot traffic, but no paying customers. Although this can be irritating, instead of posting “Pokémon are for paying customers ONLY” signs on your doors, capitalize on the opportunity of potential business. With a whole slue of pending upgrades on the app, it is highly unlikely that the Pokémon trend will be going anywhere anytime soon. So, if you can’t beat them, join them (and reap the benefits)!

Do you have a creative way to benefit from Pokémon Go? Leave us your thoughts in our comments section below! 

 

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Boutique Hotels Get Their Own Rewards Program

It would come as no surprise that the big hotel chains have perfected rewards programs. Starwood’s SPG Program and Marriott Rewards offer great incentives to frequent users, and will soon merge to form the biggest rewards program in existence. With a growing number of travelers looking for a boutique hotel experience, it makes sense to create a rewards program for these properties as well. Enter Stash Hotel Rewards: a one-of-a-kind program for independent hotels.

Stash: A rewards program for boutique hotel goers 

Stash has brought together a network of over 170 boutique properties where guests can earn points for free nights. Travelers that book via StashRewards.com earn 5 points per dollar spent on eligible rooms. With the Stash Hotel Rewards Visa Card, they will earn an additional 3 points per dollar spent during your stay.

Stash points may be redeemed at any of Stash’s 170+ locations. Eligible properties can be found in 37 U.S. states, Panama, Turks and Caicos, and the Virgin Islands, giving you plenty of options of where to redeem your points.

Stash Rewards continues to grow, adding three more California locations in May. Frequent travelers  no longer have to trade off the boutique experience to get rewarded. People love having options, and Stash has added several for travelers.

Are you signing up for Stash? Let us know in our comments section below! 

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Hotel Tech Trends: The Future Is Here

future technology

Have you ever imagined being checked in by a dinosaur, or having a concierge in your pocket?

That may sound crazy, but hotels around the world are making technological advances, and providing amazing new experiences for guests.

Who Needs Humans? 

Last summer, the Henn’na Hotel opened in Japan as the world’s first hotel to be staffed almost entirely by robots. A robotic dinosaur greets guests, and directs them to the robotic bag check. The robot concierge will answer questions to the best of its ability. At the Henn’na Hotel, facial recognition replaces room keys. Once inside the room another robot is waiting to assist with additional requests.

Robot Butler

Another attempt at bypassing human interaction at hotels comes from Radisson Blu whose customer service AI, called “Edward” has been made available in twelve locations across Europe. Guests can simply text questions and concerns to Edward and have a response in seconds.

Tablets, Apps and More 

A few more common examples of tech advances include the use of  tablets, apps, and interactive video boards. The Muse hotel in New York is providing guests with Nook e-readers in their rooms, preloaded with carefully selected newspapers, magazines, and books.

Google has partnered with Hilton to let you select a room like never before. Hilton HHonors members now have the ability to select the exact room they want using Google Maps. Guests can see more details, such as the view from the room and its surroundings before booking. Select Courtyard locations are using GoBoards in their lobbies to assist guests. Information such as news, stocks, weather, flight reports, upcoming concerts, area events, and nearby restaurants are provided on the GoBoards.

It’s no surprise that Henn’na Hotel translates to “strange hotel” in English, but this is the future. We are seeing things that years ago we never thought were possible. One can only imagine what a stay in a hotel 10 years from now might be like!

What advances in hotel tech will we see in the future? Leave us a comment below!

5 OF THE MOST ROMANTIC VALENTINE’S GETAWAYS IN THE U.S.

Honeymoon destinations aren’t just for honeymoons. These locations are perfect for a Valentine’s getaway, or anytime you need some romantic time away from the stresses of everyday life. So go ahead and spoil yourself, and your partner, with these divine hotels in the United States.

 

Eau Palm Beach – Palm Beach, Florida

Rated the #1 resort in Florida by Conde Nast Traveler, this lush, upscale beach resort overlooks the ocean, and is the perfect place to go for a beach vacation. Private, oceanfront cabana dining provides the perfect setting for your romance. Be sure to enjoy an intimate, relaxing couples massage in the serenity and seclusion of their Private Garden Villas with outdoor showers, bathtubs and lounging areas.

 

The Mark – New York, New York

Indulge yourselves at one of New York’s finest. The Mark, located on Madison Avenue, is less than a block from Central Park, and a three-minute drive from the Guggenheim Museum. Let The Mark set the stage for a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend that you won’t forget, showered with Champagne, roses, chocolate covered strawberries, a candle-lit dinner for two, in-bed Champagne & Caviar breakfast by Jean-Georges and much more!

 

Calistoga Ranch – Napa Valley, California

Nestled in the heart of wine country, Calistoga Ranch is where natural beauty and luxury meet. If you and your partner enjoy the great outdoors, this is the place for you. Ancient oaks, majestic hills, a rock-hewn stream and private lake lie within this Napa resort. With their Rekindle the Romance package, guests enjoy two nights in a one bedroom lodge with a fireplace and king size bed, a bottle of Calistoga Ranch Cabernet and chocolates upon arrival, two intimate 60 minute spa treatments, candlelit dinner for two and breakfast in bed.

 

Post Ranch Inn – Big Sur, CA

This award winning, 5-star hotel in Big Sur offers a much different feel than most honeymoon resorts. Post Ranch is set on a cliff that overlooks the Pacific Ocean, rather than a beachfront. To the East, towering redwoods and lush forests give you ultimate seclusion. Guests at the resort may enjoy spa treatments, stargazing, hiking and a grandiose breakfast buffet at the Sierra Mar restaurant.

 

The Hermitage Hotel – Nashville, Tennessee

The Hermitage Hotel has been Nashville’s go-to luxury hotel since it opened its doors in 1910. The hotel’s Bel Amour package contains all of their luxury accommodations, as well as romantic touches that include a rose petal turndown, a candlelit room and a bath concierge. After your bath, fresh fruit, spring water, spirits and chocolate await you. Packages are available from only $469 per night!

 

Did we miss your favorite Valentine’s Day Getaway? Let us know in our comments section!