Hotel Me, a Facebook app !

A new app called Hotel Me is available on Facebook for all the travelling lovers who are looking for friends suggestions ! 

The principle is very simple, actually you just have to enter the destination or area where you want to go and your dates. Then, it will be the job of your friends ! They will have to click on the blue button and suggest any places.

This is where the app is limited as people use to make comments to give some ideas and do not click on the blue button, but it is a behave question.

In my opinion, it is a great idea. Having suggestions from my friends regarding my future trips is defintely better than reading some comments from unknowns. As my friends know me, they will take in account what I like and in their suggestions, I will certainly find nice propositions.

Well, it is a way to go and discover some places without anxiety. I like it !

Link to the article

Hotel sites comparison

W Hotel Barcelona VS Hotel Daniel Paris

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The impact smart phones have on the travel market

This week, an article about the impact smart phones have on the travel market, retained my attention. A study reveals that travelers are now using their smart phone to check the weather, restaurant reviews in order to get an insight of their destination.

Most of the time, travelers use their smart phones to book flights and hotels. Now, they are looking for new app to make their lives easier.

The apps growing is important and many companies are conscious of their impact. Many travelers do not want to pay for app but giving them for free it is also a way to reach new consumers.

In my opinion, and as I am concerned by smart phone use when I am traveling, I would say that we are looking for free apps but we are not against to pay an app a certain price for unlimited acces as guide books for example. When I am abroad, I want to have all the information that I need and my smart phone is is giving to me security. I am pretty sure that in a near future, everything will be done with your smart phone. Nowdays, we already book flight, register, and take on board with it.

Apps are a new market, and in a few time it will be very developed. It is a huge opportunity.

Link to the article

Ideal hotel

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Banqueting Manager

Conference and banqueting tend to be a rich source of revenue.

The job of a banqueting manager is to ensure his team meets the requirements of each client.

Key responsibilities:

• Marketing and selling
• Scheduling reservations
• Operating
• Planning
• Checking the bills
• Managing team
• Briefing staff

Skills:

• Leadership
• Good Communication
• Organisational and administrative
• Can-do attitude
• Cool head to deal with the last minute

Fake reviews punished by TripAdvisor

This article published in The Belfast Telegraph inform us about the sanction chosen by TripAdvisor to punish fake reviews, which are in violation of the 2009 EU Unfair Commercial Practice Directive.

It happened with a hotel located in Ireland: The Clare Inn Hotel & Suites. The hotel had posted some fake reviews in order to boost its ratings. TripAdvisor had punished the establishment by given a "red badge".

The goal of the warning on the hotel website is to inform that individuals or entities may have interfered with traveler reviews.

The Clare Inn Hotel & Suites is not the only hotel which had been given a "red badge", there are about 280 other, and obviously many more hotels which post fake reviews, and get away with it.

TripAdvisor wouldn't not remove the hotel from it site, they are convinced that the "red badge" is a better punishment. 

Now, two question are asked. The first one is "Why does TripAdvisor prefer to give a "red badge" instead of remove the hotel from it site ?". TripAdvisor is a portal, it performance can be measured by the number of visitors and the time spent. Each request on Internet regarding a hotel is an opportunity for TripAdvisor to get new visitors. If it removes the hotel, researches won't lead to TripAdvisor Website. However, if an internet user see a "red badge", he might spend more time on TripAdvisor Website to find another hotel.

Then, "How does TripAdvisor detect fraud ?". We won't have a clear answer, as TripAdvisor won't tell exactly how they find fraud since that might offer a possibility to subvert it system. However, we know that they have prevention methods and a professional team who enhance many hours to assure the integrity of the website. They also use automated tools.

Link to the article