Historic Hotels Annual Conference
November 18 – 22, 2024
Monday, November 18, 2024
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. History Tour of The Omni Homestead
Location: Jefferson Parlor
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
8:15 – 11:45 a.m. Member Refresh, Update, and Briefing for owners and senior leadership as well as hoteliers new to their historic hotel or of hotels newly inducted into Historic Hotels of America. Learn about the latest digital marketing, website, PR, revenue, and strategic partnerships, initiatives, and programs and how to maximize your many benefits from your historic hotel’s membership in Historic Hotels of America.
Location: Stratford Room
1:00 – 7:00 p.m. Historic Hotels Annual Conference Hospitality Desk
Location: Jefferson Room
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. History Tour of The Omni Homestead
Location: Jefferson Parlor
2024 HISTORIC HOTELS ANNUAL CONFERENCE BEGINS
– Welcome –
6:30 – 9:00 p.m. A Homestead Welcome - Sponsored by The Omni Homestead Resort
Hosted by Stephanie Price, Senior Manager, Digital Marketing & ECommerce, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide
Location: Old Course Pavilion (the last shuttle to the Opening Reception departs at 7:20 p.m.)
Attire: Resort Casual
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
7:00 – 8:05 a.m. Breakfast & Tradeshow, Sponsored by Agilysys
Location: Grand Ballroom East
8:10 a.m. General Session, Sponsored by GCommerce
Location: Grand Ballroom West
Welcome
Larry Horwitz, Executive Vice President,
Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide
Opening Remarks
Stephanie Calhoun, Senior Vice President, Operations
Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide
Opening Remarks and Welcome
Mark Spadoni, Chair of the 2024 Host Committee, Managing Director,
The Omni Homestead Resort (established 1766)
Board of Advisors Greeting
Joseph J. Vezzoso, Chair, Board of Advisors;
Vice President Resort Operations and Sales
French Lick Resort | French Lick & West Baden Springs Hotels
Welcome – The Why of Preservation –
Looking Ahead after the first 75 years of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Carol Quillen, President & CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Keynote Speaker
Urgency for the AHLA to Win More Federal, State, and Local Tax Support for Hotels,
Kevin Carey, Chief Operating Officer & Senior Executive Vice President, American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)
Keynote Talk – Key Takeaways:
- Which priorities have become more urgent for the AHLA in winning more federal, state, and local tax support for hotels?
- What you can do to be more effective locally with your elected representatives
- Why it is urgent to speak up in your local community and to your elected representatives.
- Learn what you can do to convince elected representatives that have never made a payroll to support legislation that helps the Hospitality and Tourism industries.
Sponsors and Exhibitors Introductions
Greg Leinweber, Vice President, Development & Sales,
Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide
9:45 a.m. Networking Coffee Break & Tradeshow – Official Tradeshow Beverage Sponsor L’Or Coffee and Tea Forte
Location: Grand Ballroom East
10:15 a.m. General Session – Sponsored by RoomNet ; Hosted by Katherine Orr, Director, Marketing Strategy & Communications, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide
Location: Grand Ballroom West
Keynote Speaker – Rita D. McClenny, President & CEO, Virginia Tourism Corporation
Keynote Talk – Key Takeaways – Tourism & Film and Historic Heritage
Keynote Speaker –Elizabeth Dixon, Customer Experience Champion, Keynote Speaker,
Author of The Power of Customer Experience and The Strength of Purpose
Keynote Talk – Key Takeaways:
- Secrets to creating exceptional customer experiences and finding purpose
- The Power of Customer Experience - proven elements for lasting impact in what has become the most crucial component of business success
- The Strength of Purpose - knowing and living your reason for being
- Think and act as an entrepreneur
Keynote Speaker – The Historic Hotels of America – STR Forecast 2025-2026
Hannah Smith, Senior Analyst, STR
Keynote Talk – Key Takeaways:
- Will RevPAR for historic hotels continue to grow at a compound average annual rate, which is greater than the rate of RevPAR annual growth forecast for the nation’s upper upscale hotels and luxury hotels?
- Will annual occupancy levels for hotels that are members of Historic Hotels of America continue above the national average occupancy level through 2027?
- What is the forecast for leisure travel?
- What other economic surprises should historic hotels consider in their long-term planning?
12:30 p.m. Welcome and Celebration of New Members Lunch – Sponsored by Coca-Cola®
Location: Regency Ballroom East
1:45 – 2:25 p.m. Academies – Select one from Academy #1, #2, #3 or #4
Academy 1: TotalReV > RevPar. How guests today want more than just a room
Subject Matter Expert: Matt Benn, Global Retail Strategist
Sabre’s next-gen tools are unlocking hotel’s revenue potential like never before. SynXis Retailing allows hotels to showcase more than just rooms while allowing guests to build the itinerary of their dreams. Sabre’s gift card/experience voucher program also helps cater to consumers who are looking for gifting options. Revenue for you today while fueling stays of the future.
What You Will Learn:
· Understand what guests want when planning their next trip
· How Sabre’s tools can give guests more options to ‘add to cart’ through various moments of a guest’s journey
· How gift cards/experience vouchers creates a now revenue stream that fuels future revenue
Academy 2: If You Don’t Tell Your Story, Someone Else Will – How to Develop a Strategic and Nimble Communications Plan for Your Historic Hotel or Resort,
Subject Matter Expert: Allyn Magrino, President of Magrino, a PR and veteran communications strategist for many resort launches, relaunches and repositionings.
In this academy, Allyn Magrino will speak to the building blocks of developing an effective earned media communications plan for your resort. With fewer media outlets due to closures and consolidations, and the increase in the sheer number of resorts and hotels under development, the quest for editorial travel coverage in newspapers, magazines, online and broadcast has become increasingly competitive over the past several years. Hotels need to be smart and strategic in their dealings with media to make their property stand out and maintain a consistent presence in the editorial space.
What You Will Learn:
· Determining what really is “news” – applying the “so what, who cares, what’s in it for me” lens to your media pitches
· The importance of “news jacking” and how to use this process strategically to enhance coverage of your property
· Avoiding “media fatigue” using a less is more approach – fewer press releases, more meat in each, but concise and to the point
· Why focusing only on national media outlets is a mistake, and the need to create a “buffet” of media targets
· What’s an effective itinerary for press trips, and why/when individual trips can be more impactful than group ones
· Does the media really care about the fact it’s your 100th anniversary? How to leverage such milestones effectively
· Leveraging the “heritage capital” of your resort for media angles
· Why the adage “all publicity is good publicity” is NOT TRUE!
Academy 3: Historic Hotel Photography: A Step-by-Step Guide for Proprietors, General Managers, and Marketers
Subject Matter Expert: Michelle Chaplow, Founder of Hotel Essence Photography
Join Michelle Chaplow, an expert historic hotel photographer, as she delves into the art and science of capturing the unique charm of heritage hotels and resorts. This session provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to planning and executing a successful photoshoot that highlights the timeless elegance of your historic property. Learn how to create images that not only captivate potential guests but also convey the rich history and character of your hotel. Discover innovative strategies to maximize the impact of your photography through various channels, including postcards, digital content, newsletters, social media, guest communications, and media outlets. Stay ahead of the curve by understanding the latest global trends in historic hotel photography, ensuring that your imagery remains fresh, relevant, and impactful.
What You Will Learn:
· A detailed, step-by-step guide to planning and executing a historic hotel photoshoot.
· How to identify potential gaps in your historic hotel's photography portfolio.
· Insights into the latest global trends and new tendencies in historic hotel photography.
· Effective strategies to leverage your photoshoot images across multiple platforms for maximum exposure.
Academy 4: Culinary Innovation Trends for 2025
Subject Matter Expert: David Harker | Corporate Executive Chef – Omni Hotels & Resorts
Subject Matter Expert: Kerry Hamilton | VP of Food and Beverage – Omni Hotels & Resorts
In this session, we will delve into the culinary and beverage trends shaping 2025 and their influence on menu development and programming across Omni’s iconic collection of hotels and resorts. We'll review key 2024 trends, assess their impact over the past year, and look ahead to new influences in the food and beverage world. Our focus will be on balancing the rich history and traditions of select properties with the evolving desires and expectations of modern consumers, continuing Omni's leadership in the upper-upscale and luxury markets. Key historical properties highlighted include the Omni Grove Park, Homestead, Mount Washington, William Penn, Severin, King Edward, Royal Orleans, Berkshire, and Parker House, among others. Attendees will gain insights into enhancing sales and revenue by incorporating new ingredients, equipment, and techniques, while also creating experiences that resonate with today’s guests. We'll discuss how to navigate the delicate balance between honoring tradition and embracing modern trends.
What You Will Learn:
· Regional and Local Cuisine: Fad or here to stay?
· Memorable Guest Experiences: How interactive offerings—such as food experiences, tasting menus, food and wine experiences, family-style dining, and shareable plates—can elevate guest engagement. Examples include cookie-making classes at Omni Homestead and the Gingerbread Experience at Grove Park, Fish to Fork Amelia Island
· Perception of Value: Exploring modern portioning and value, including options like meal splitting, ½ portions, à la carte selections, senior meals, and smaller portion sizes.
· Trends in Children’s Menus: As family travel grows, what new trends are emerging for kids? From dedicated children’s buffet sections to express meal service and healthier options, Omni's Junior Chefs program serves as a prime example.
· Affordability for Families: How are we making culinary experiences more accessible for families?
· 2024 Trends Review & 2025 Preview: A reflection on this year’s trends and what’s coming next.
· Health and Wellness: Examining the growing focus on health-conscious dining and its impact on menu development.
· The Horizon for Omni: New trends, especially in our legendary historic resorts and hotels.
· Flexible Spaces: How our properties are evolving to meet diverse guest needs.
· Staffing Challenges & The Journeyman Chef: How we are building and nurturing kitchen culture through training, engagement, and teamwork.
2:25 – 2:30 p.m. Switch Academies – Transition from Session 1 to Session 2
2:30 – 3:15 p.m. Academies – Select one from Academy #5, #6, #7, or #8
This Academy Break sponsored by Jonas Chorum
Academy 5: Got Ghosts? Leaning into your Haunted History? How do you collect revenue from guests that never checked out?
Subject Matter Expert: Jack Moyer, Executive Vice President of the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa
Subject Matter Expert: Gina Petrone, Heritage Manager at Hotel del Coronado
Subject Matter Expert: Kelly Ronalds, Director Room Sales & Guest Experience, Historic Hotel Bethlehem
Does your long-time staff whisper stories of unexplained paranormal phenomena? Have guests reported odd occurrences of the supernatural kind in a particular room? Are you often shown photos of spirits lingering at your hotel? Don’t be frightened about learning more and embracing your historic hotel’s haunted history. Annual Halloween spending is now $12+ billion and there are many ways to capture some of that interest through a variety of tasteful and profitable activations. Areas covered in this academy include:
What You Will Learn:
· Determining your haunted history, specifically what should be shared and what you should take to your grave
· The importance of engaging your staff to help create memorable moments
· To Boo or Not to Boo? Taking the fear out of the ghost business
· Should you work with paranormal investigators?
· How to leverage national media to enhance coverage of your hotel and entice guests
· How ghosts can help increase the family market to Historic Hotels of America
· Determining which approach works best for your hotel or resort: a Halloween themed party, ghost tours, spooky specialty cocktails or rooms with a “boo” packages
Academy 6: Guest Communication: How to Create an Email Strategy That Connects with Guests Throughout Their Stay
Subject Matter Expert: Rick Sousa, Director of Sales, Jonas Hospitality
Learn the Art and the Science of why guest messaging needs to be a key focus of every historic hotel. The guest journey starts long before check-in: it starts the moment a guest confirms a booking. Leverage automated email marketing to increase up-sell opportunities, encourage loyalty, and streamline arrival and departure – without significant staff resources or time investment.
What you will learn:
· How to personalize every guest’s experience with limited resources
· Proven strategies to drive additional revenue from pre-arrival emails.
· How to turn marketing opportunities into operational efficiency
Academy 7: How data benchmarks create the best business strategy - your CoStar + STR enhancement
Subject Matter Expert: Brandon Gill, Sales Executive – STR, a CoStar Group Company
Subject Matter Expert: Hannah Smith, Senior Analyst – STR, a CoStar Group Company
STR's data and reports are now seamlessly integrated into CoStar, with clients receiving full access to this world-leading platform of commercial real estate information, analytics, and news. This expanded product experience is empowering STR clients with an unprecedented level of market intelligence, empowering users to fine-tune their commercial strategies and elevate their lead generation efforts.
What You Will Learn:
· Understanding the features that come with a CoStar + Benchmark subscription
· How to action data in a more efficient way to take advantage of every opportunity
· Why this expanded benchmarking solution is especially valuable to Historic Hotel members
· Understand how enhanced data and analytics as well as a view of the complete CRE market will help your overall business strategy
Academy 8: How to Approach a “Top to Bottom” Rehabilitation: The Renaissance of The Homestead & Warm Springs Pools
Subject Matter Expert: Catherine Easterling, Principal, Sadler & Whitehead Historic Preservation Consulting
Subject Matter Expert: Ken Hutcheson, Principal, Old Dominion Public Affairs LLC
Subject Matter Expert: Julie Langan, Director, Virginia Department of Historic Resources
Subject Matter Expert: Lynn Swann, Director of Marketing & Communications, The Homestead
Using the recent rehabilitation of the iconic Omni Homestead Resort and associated Warm Springs Pools as a case study, this session will highlight the essential ingredients that ensured the success completion of this monumental reinvestment. Experts will cover the basics of historic tax credits, how to plan for and reap the benefits of a successful comprehensive rehabilitation as well as key solutions to project challenges. Attendees will gain insights into how to take a complex rehabilitation project from inception to completion. The session will also explore how hotels can leverage ongoing media coverage throughout the rehabilitation process and garner sustained post-completion attention.
What You will Learn:
· Where to begin when contemplating a full-scale historic rehabilitation project
· The essentials of rehabilitation tax credits
· How to assemble a qualified project team
· How to incorporate historic rehabilitation tax credits and other financial tools
· Highlights and challenges of the two projects
· How to spin a finished project and leverage post-completion media attention for maximum benefit
3:15 – 4:15 p.m. Networking Break & Tradeshow Sponsored by Twisted Alchemy
Location: Grand Ballroom East
5:45- 6:30 p.m. Reception
Location: Commonwealth Room
6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Dinner – Celebrating and Commemorating Virginia American Revolution 250 (VA250)
Guest Speaker: Carly Fiorina, National Honorary Chair of the Virginia 250 Commission and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Sponsored by Sabre
Location: American Audubon Dining Room
Thursday, November 21
7:00 – 8:15 a.m. Breakfast & Tradeshow Sponsored by dormakaba
Location: Grand Ballroom East
8:15 a.m. General Session
Location: Grand Ballroom West
Welcome –
Larry Horwitz, Executive Vice President, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide
Welcome
Robert “Bob” Rowling, Co-Founder and Owner of TRT Holdings that owns Omni Hotels & Resorts
Keynote Speaker – Doing it Right the First Time
Philip Anschutz, Owner of The Anschutz Corporation (The Broadmoor, Sea Island, Xanterra, and AEG Live)
Keynote Speaker – America250, Celebration and Commemoration,
Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, the U.S. Congressional Commission Planning the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Served as 43rd Treasurer of the United States (2009-2017).
Keynote Talk – Key Takeaways:
- Commemoration vs Celebration at the local and state level
- Attitudes of Americans (Research study) about the America250
- Local ways to participate (state and territory commissions)
10:00 – 10:25 a.m. Networking Coffee Break & Tradeshow, Sponsored by Sponsored by Corsicana
Hospitality
Location: Grand Ballroom East
10:30 a.m. General Session
Location: Grand Ballroom West
Keynote Speaker – Excuse Me, But … I Don’t Care About Your History
Andreas Augustin
President of “The Most Famous Hotels in the World” and author of over 70 books on legendary hotels and destinations
“Is he the clown of the industry or the icing on the cake?“ Does history really matter anymore—and if it does, “who cares?” Do today’s guests even notice, or has history become nothing more than a relic of the past? For those who think history doesn’t matter, Andreas will offer creative ways to make leverage your hotel’s history to earn new guests and making current guest. Expect moments of entertaining and thought-provoking storytelling from the world of grand hotels. To close, “Excuse Me, But…” will turn into a familiar refrain as Andreas pays tribute to the late Stan Turkel, legendary hotel historian, with a tongue-in-cheek history of the Omni Homestead, honoring Stan’s famous motto, “Nobody asked me, but…”
Keynote Talk – Key Takeaways:
- How to make History Matter
- How to set the right balance between myth and reality
- How to keep your hotel’s history relevant and captivating
Keynote Speaker – The Route to Success is Often Outside the Box,
Mark Bowe, Entrepreneur,
On-Camera Host and star of 15-seasons hit tv show – Barnwood Builders, TV Producer, Soulful Philospher
Keynote Talk – Key Takeaways:
- Pay attention to the details and look for connections
- Return to the past to find the way forward
- Reanimate your hotel’s history, don’t just explain it
12:01 p.m. Announcement of 2025 Historic Hotels Annual Conference Location, 2025 Host Committee Chair
12:20 p.m. Historic Milestones & Celebrations Lunch, Sponsored by Standard Textile
Location: Regency Ballroom East
1:45 to 2:20 p.m. Academies – Select one from Academy #9, #10, #11, or #12 this block sponsored by Curacity
Academy 9: A.I., GenZ, and the New Era of Hospitality Marketing
Subject Matter Expert: Scott van Hartesvelt - Founder GCommerce Solutions
The pace of innovation in marketing has accelerated, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and the coming of age of GenZ. Beneath the surface of the headlines, cyclical forces are pushing the pendulum of consumer preference back to boutique and independent hotels and resorts. For the astute marketer, there are new and powerful tools for gaining market share and building a base of business that can sustain a property through the ups and downs of economic uncertainty.
What You Will Learn:
· The real impact of artificial intelligence on hospitality digital marketing now and in the future
· The surprising impact of GenZ on successful digital marketing
· Why consumers are poised to abandon brands and flock to independents
· How to build a conversion funnel that reflects changes in marketing and consumer behavior
· Real-world tactics to take advantage of these trends and build market share starting tomorrow.
Academy 10: Cultivating Your Talent Garden: Do you have the right tools?
Moderator: Joy Rothschild, Chief Human Resources Officer, Omni Hotels & Resorts
Subject Matter Experts: Amanda Burroughs, General Manager, Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Michael Medeiros, General Manager, Omni William Penn
Employees are our greatest assets, but how do we cultivate them into leaders? What motivates them to stay? Omni’s holistic approach, built on teamwork and mutual respect, has not only elevated the guest experience, but also created an environment where every associate is encouraged to show up as their whole, authentic self and make a difference. Guided by our All In philosophy, Omni’s success story is a testament to the transformative power of employee empowerment.
What you will learn:
· How empowering employees can become your hotel’s superpower.
· Turning core values and mission into memorable experiences for your guests
· Creating a culture of trust
· Generational motivators: how to recognize and reward from Gen Z to Baby Boomers
· Ideas on rebuilding the service industry culture post-COVID.
· Out of the box concepts to overcome recruitment challenges
Academy 11: Revolutionizing Guest Experiences with StraxAR
Subject Matter Expert: Eric Singleton, CEO & Co-Founder – Strax Networks Inc.
Step into the future of hospitality with StraxAR, an innovative augmented reality (AR) platform that brings historic hotels to life, enhancing guest experiences, driving revenue, and modernizing your property’s engagement strategy. During this session, we will dive deep into how StraxAR transforms the way your guests interact with your property, your history, and your offerings, all while providing seamless integration and tangible business results. You will leave with a hands-on understanding of how to activate StraxAR at your hotel, enabling you to build immersive experiences that engage guests in new and exciting ways. Interactive Demonstration: We will show you how easy it is to use StraxAR with live interactive demonstrations—right here in the room. You will learn how to upload content, identify a target image, and watch your video come to life in real-time. Our patented “encoder” ensures fast, secure, video conversion and cloud uploading, allowing you to activate digital content for your guests globally in just minutes.
What You Will Learn:
· How StraxAR transforms static objects into immersive experiences that captivate guests and deepen their connection with your property.
· Experience how easy it is to identify a target, convert it into a StraxAR video, and instantly activate it globally for your guests.
· Learn how StraxAR drives new revenue through AR-powered tours, personalized upsells, and offerings for events.
· Understand how StraxAR’s intent-driven engagement creates 100% meaningful interactions without algorithm-driven ads.
· See how StraxAR seamlessly integrates into your hotel’s offerings and provides actionable engagement.
· Enhanced AR storytelling that transforms historic landmarks and artifacts into engaging digital stories for your guests.
· Understand how StraxAR’s metrics provide actionable insights into guest engagement and content performance.
· Find out how StraxAR keeps your property competitive by offering modern, immersive guest experiences.
Academy 12: How to Maximize ROI on a Limited Marketing Budget
Subject Matter Expert: Jason Resch, Vice President of Global Sales, Curacity
Hotel marketers often face a challenge: attracting guests and driving bookings with tight budgets, especially in today's economy. The difficulty is compounded by the changing digital landscape, where new marketing channels constantly emerge. How can hotels make the most of limited marketing resources without sacrificing results?
What You Will Learn:
· How performance-based marketing is changing how hotels approach their marketing efforts
· Why focusing on direct bookings is smart
· Why metrics directly tied to revenue generation are so powerful
2:25 p.m. Switch Academies –Transition from Session 1 to Session 2
2:30 – 3:15 p.m. Academies – Select one from Academy #13, #14, #15, #16 Sponsored by Steelite International
Academy 13: Raising a Glass to Virginia Wine and a Unique Guest Experience
Subject Matter Expert: Quynh Cohen | Chief Sommelier
The Virginia wine industry began in the 1600s with the founding of Jamestown. Today, it is a major contributor to the Commonwealth’s tourism business, generating more than 1.45 million tourist visits and $6.4 billion in total economic activity, according to a 2022 economic impact study. In 2021, The Omni Homestead debuted the Virginia Wine Experience, a concept devoted solely to Virginia wines. Here, guests can learn about Virginia wines, enjoy a thoughtfully curated tasting flight, and purchase a bottle to take home.
Chief Sommelier Quynh Cohen will share the evolution of this popular amenity and how the resort has embraced and celebrated Virginia wines through one-of-a-kind dinners and themed weekends. She will also share some fascinating tidbits about this key Virginia industry.
What you will learn:
· To craft an interesting and innovative regional wine tasting experience that showcases your brand's values and creates a unique niche for your property.
· To develop different levels of wine tasting experiences and how to customize for specific audiences.
· How to build synergies with wineries for marketing and special events.
· To turn winemakers into brand ambassadors
· The benefits of influencer-generated content to amplify guest experiences and foster a sense of community.
Academy 14: Putting Social Media Influencers to Work - Three Ways to Enlist Content Creators to Achieve Your Marketing Goals
Subject Matter Expert: Chris Walters, Executive Vice President, Magrino
Explore the DOs and DONTs of engaging with influencer talent in the hospitality space. Recent studies reveal that a whopping 78% of Americans admit social media influencers prompted them to explore new destinations, restaurants, or attractions. But between a barrage of requests from unfamiliar talent and the constant evolution of social media platforms, where does one begin to evaluate a prospective partnership? In this session, Chris will share tips for evaluating requests and identifying opportunities for collaborations that go beyond social media posts to help maximize your marketing budget and ensure a solid return on investment.
What you will learn:
· The most important criteria when considering influencer collaborations, both qualitative and quantitative
· Why focusing only on following is a mistake
· The importance of working with talent in unlikely verticals - no travel content? No problem!
· Understanding different tiers of influence - niche, micro, macro, mega - and how that relates to your goals
· What to ask for and how to draft and effective agreement
· How to put influencer content to work long after they've departed
Academy 15: The Caruso Principle: How to keep the legend alive.
Subject Matter Expert: Andreas Augustin, President and founder of The Most Famous Hotels in the World, author of over 70 books on legendary hotels.
Subject Matter Expert: Carola E. Augustin, distinguished Viennese historian, and editor
With all participants they will explore ways to reveal how to leverage a hotel’s past, striking the right balance between myth and historical accuracy. Employing state of the art technology while ensuring that the essence of the hotel’s legacy remains alive and compelling.
What You Will Learn:
· How to look for the right person to research and build the Hotel’s Story
· Engaging with Context and Accuracy
· Building an Archive: Overcoming the digital dilemma
· Creating an On-Site Permanent History Exhibition
· And finally, the real challenge: how do you wield this delicate tool of knowledge?
Academy 16: Unlock Your Hotel's Potential: Harnessing Data-Driven Personalization for Direct Booking Success
Subject Matter Expert: Dominic Donatoni, Senior Enterprise Client Sales Consultant
Subject Matter Expert: Andrew Sader, Senior Territory Sales Manager
Revinate empowers hotels to increase direct bookings and reduce OTA reliance by leveraging data-driven personalization. With tools for collecting and utilizing guest data, creating tailored marketing offers, and optimizing online presence, Revinate helps hotels build guest loyalty, adapt to changing preferences, and maximize profitability.
What You Will Learn:
· Uncover strategies to increase direct bookings and reduce OTA dependency
· Discover how to effectively collect and utilize guest data for personalized marketing
· Explore ways to create customized offers that drive loyalty and repeat bookings
· Understand how personalization can set your historic hotel or resort apart in a crowded market
· Your guests are unique; understand & adapt to their changing consumer preferences with data-driven decision making
6:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception
Sponsored by The Omni Homestead Resort (1766)
Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer
7:00 p.m. 2024 Historic Hotels Annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony and Gala Dinner
Sponsored by The Hershey Company and Molton Brown
Location: Grand Ballroom
Attire: Cocktail
Friday, November 22
Departures at Leisure