Planning an event like a wedding, meeting, or sports team travel can be time-consuming, costly, and stressful, especially when booking hotel rooms. HotelPlanner.com simplifies the process by allowing hotels to come directly to you. With HotelPlanner, you can get instant quotes from top hotels competing for your business, ensuring you find the best rates—guaranteed savings of up to 77%. Just fill out a request with your event details, compare offers, negotiate online, and select the best deal, all in one convenient platform. HotelPlanner.com is committed to making group bookings easy, efficient, and affordable.  

  The American Group Travel Awards charity gala hosted by HotelPlanner took place on November 12, 2023 at the Boca Raton Resort to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and to celebrate HotelPlanner’s 20th Anniversary and HipHop50.   Grammy Award nominee and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Flavor Flav was honored as the World Hospitality Award winner, with Hip Hop legends Rob Base and Grandmaster Flash performing, and a special appearance by Cuba Gooding, Jr.  

    Tim Hentschel is the founder of HotelPlanner, which sought to digitize the analog process of booking group business in hotels. HotelPlanner has changed a lot since it launched, and Tim is now exploring other ways to digitize analog processes in the hotel industry. Susan and Tim talk about automating relationships, over-managing rate strategy, and innovating in a tech resistant industry.   What you'll learn about in this episode: - Why AI might not fully replace human agents in high-touch services. - How the flexibility of gig work is gamified for customer service agents. - How AI is being integrated into HotelPlanner's customer service operations. - Why the hospitality industry is resistant to fully automating meeting space bookings. - What challenges revenue management systems face during high-demand events like the Olympics.

  I know what you are probably saying to yourself right now: HotelPlanner?!?!?!? Not that old thing again?!?!?  Those leads are garbage and they NEVER convert!!!  Well…(channeling my inner Chandler Bing)…you could not be more wrong!   With first hand experience and loads of data over years and years of using their services, I can tell you if you still have this attitude in 2024 it is because you are not utilizing their system the way it was designed. I’ve seen consistent portfolio close rates of 8.5%.  Yes…that’s on minimally qualified RFPs and on the low end of what you might expect.  But…when you use the tools HotelPlanner gives you to get the leads that matter, I have seen close rates consistently above 40% (and…NO…that doesn’t mean they got 5 leads and closed 2 all year!).  Real prospects measured in the 1000s across an entire portfolio of hundreds of hotels.   If you want to maximize this potential partnership, keep reading.  It’s pretty easy.  

Who Can Benefit from HotelPlanner?

  HotelPlanner is not…repeat…IS NOT a place for low rated business.  Low rated leads do exist, but not any more than any other source.  The stereotype that this site has earned among some in sales is undeserved.   It is not just your average booking platform – it’s a kind of hero for all sorts of events. It caters to groups of all sizes AND all rate levels.  Whether a planner (or a novice stuck with the job!) is looking to book a block of nine rooms or 999 rooms, or groups with space or without space, or groups with F&B or without F&B, or any other combination it is an actual source of all types of groups.   Here are some key demographics that you can get in front of (in the order of what you can expect):

• Weddings
• Sports Teams & Youth Groups
• Corporate Business (AT&T, Walmart by example are just two exclusive users)
• Reunions
• School Groups
• Extended Stays 15+ Nights

  So who can benefit from that?  Well…everyone.  These groups have a place at every property in some way, especially when you consider most leads are room-only blocks.  All 4 major brands can utilize this platform with no issue: Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Hyatt.  These brands do place caps on the commission rates paid, so check with your NSO.   Additionally, HotelPlanner is also cooperating with Best Western, Choice, Wyndham, Sonesta, Cobblestone, G6, and others.  

Making Friends with OTAs & More

  HotelPlanner is actually the “power” behind OTA group business.  Like www.groups.expedia.com is HotelPlanner’s “white label” application managing all leads and the sales process for every group wanting 5 or more rooms.  The major OTAs such as Hotels.com, Priceline, Trivago, and more are all through them.  This is on top of the public sites they run that appeal to people searching online for help in planning group events – i.e. novice people looking for 15 rooms for 2 nights for their corporate retreat.  This means:  Even if a client submits a group hotel request through one of these sites, they will remain on the respective site from start to finish. But if you want to gain a piece of this business, you need to use HotelPlanner or take a pass on this rather qualified group business.  

Top 5 Ways to Maximize the HotelPlanner Lead Volume

  So this goes to the stereotype I mentioned at the top of this article.  Do junk rated leads exist on HotelPlanner?  Absolutely.  But just like spam messages shouldn’t stop you from using email, junk leads can be easily “deleted” and never bother you again.  Leaving only the ACTUAL, valuable qualified leads you want to talk to.  How do you do that?  

1 – Filter Like Your Life Depends on It

  And it is sooooooooooo easy to do.  Just one time and less than five minutes, you can be walked through some simple check-box-steps to get only the size, rate, and room night RFPs you want.  You can even qualify by space + rates, rates + no space, space + F&B, rooms only, even geography and group event types if you wanted it.  You set these minimums and…in the words of Ron Popeil…”you set it and forget it!”  (google him if you don’t know…)  See our simple step-by-step guide to filters HERE  

2 – Let the System Do the Talking

  Short and to the point:  Instant Offers are your best friend.  Like the filters, HotelPlanner lets you pick any date or set of days you want and set up an autoresponder that will instantly fire off a response to any RFP for you, including restrictions, contractual minimums, and even incentives.  And it can be done in a matter of minutes just like filters.  So, if you have a set of dates this year or 3 years from now that are just so behind pace you are “distressed”, just load an Instant Offer with a “take it or leave it” rate complete with incentives and contractual requirements and let offers fly!  And even if you are doing well but could use some help.  Use Instant Offers with a solid, competitive rate offer.  If no bites, oh well.  But if they do, they are that much more qualified when they finally reach out in person to close the deal.  

3 – Simplify the paperwork process with the e-contracting functionality

  Utilizing this feature allows you to manage contracts electronically, saving time and reducing administrative burden.  Enter any restriction or minimum you want, even concessions.  It does it all.  

4 – Explore GNET Rate Plan Technology

  The GNET Rate Plan Technology enables instant group bookings for small groups ranging from 10 to 25 rooms.  For small teams who need to concentrate on larger group needs, this can be your “automated admin” helping you book those few extra rooms to get over your goal!  

5 – Consider Preferred Membership

  If you join as a Preferred Hotel Member, your benefits will include: top placement in search results (think Google Ads for paid search!), reduced commission rates, personalized recommendations to clients, access to RFPs open for collective bidding (free listings have to wait for a planner to ask you personally), and more!  

Cost of Using HotelPlanner

  The great news is you can start with no fee to participate as a classic member. In this case, HotelPlanner operates on actualized referral fees, based on meeting planner commission fees per brand.   Additional Resources:

• Best Practices for Group Rates vs Transient Rates
• Account Review Check List
• Outlook Rules: for New Lead Notification Emails, for Referred for Consideration Emails and Quick Parts
• Useful HotelPlanner Contacts
• FAQ

  How to Set Up RFP Filters & Qualifiers:   In summary, HotelPlanner isn’t just any booking platform – it’s a comprehensive tool that integrates with you and your sales team, aligns with Branded hotels, provides you with a wide range of planners to reach who are ACTUALLY looking to book, as well as plenty of resources to help you maximize the production you will get.

  HotelPlanner, a leading travel technology platform and hotel booking engine, is excited to announce the integration of Cleverdis, the content provider for more than 17 international trade shows. Cleverdis is active across a range of industries including food, defense, consumer electronics, logistics, wine and spirits, and retail, all of which bolster the company’s global footprint in the trade show ecosystem and multimedia space.   Established in 1997 in France, Cleverdis has earned its reputation as a comprehensive content factory for trade shows. Beyond producing daily magazines, the company offers official newsrooms and bespoke podcasts for various events. With a team of experts committed to delivering intelligent content and insights, Cleverdis enables buyers to make informed purchasing decisions while amplifying brand visibility. The company collaborates with more than 400 advertising partners and generates in excess of 3,500 pages of original content annually. Their extensive multimedia services encompass video and podcast production, photography, newsroom, and press services, which contributes to a vibrant and impactful trade show experience.   Operating as an independent entity within the HotelPlanner family of brands, Cleverdis will maintain its current client relationships and uphold its standing as a leader in content production and media services.   “We believe strongly in the power of collaboration and lasting partnerships. Becoming a part of the HotelPlanner family of brands allows us to offer additional value to trade show organisers and attendees, while enhancing our global reach and capacity to connect and serve trade show buyers and influencers worldwide,” says Jean-Francois Pieri, President & CEO, Cleverdis.   “Having attended hundreds of trade shows over the past two decades, I can unequivocally state that quality content is a game-changer. A well-told brand story forms lasting impressions on buyers and attendees, and can make the difference in generating new business. Partnering with Cleverdis, a leader in the trade show ecosystem, is a strategic and exciting move for us. We are thrilled to work together to help trade show buyers maximise their brand presence while providing a state-of-the-art media experience for all attendees,” says Tim Hentschel, Co-founder & CEO, HotelPlanner.

 

Hotel Buyers Club by HotelPlanner combines two of the travel & hospitality industry’s hottest trends: Artificial Intelligence & Loyalty

This post was written by Open AI’s ChatGPT and edited by real people at HotelPlanner

  HotelPlanner, a leading hotel booking platform for all travelers, has announced the integration of ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI, into its new loyalty program, Hotel Buyers Club. This integration enables Hotel Buyers Club members to receive personalized recommendations and search & booking assistance from ChatGPT, making their hotel booking experience even more seamless and convenient.   “Our goal has always been to stay ahead of the technology curve so we can provide our customers with the best possible hotel booking experience,” said John Prince, Co-founder & CIO, HotelPlanner. “By integrating ChatGPT into our Hotel Buyers Club loyalty program, we’re able to offer our paid members a new level of personalized and customized service that is nearly unmatched in the industry. This integration enhances our customers’ booking experience and sets a new standard of service for our industry.”   The Hotel Buyers Club loyalty program, HotelPlanner’s first such effort, is designed to provide paid members with exclusive discounts on more than 1.4 million hotels and alternative accommodations worldwide, as well as VIP-level customer service and support, and a bi-weekly newsletter with travel deals and tips, and other exclusive membership benefits. With the integration of ChatGPT, Hotel Buyers Club members now have access to broader search capabilities to find the perfect hotel for any traveler category.   “Hotel Buyers Club is more than just a loyalty program. Our vision is to build a community of like-minded travelers who are passionate about exploring the world while unlocking the best possible value on their preferred accommodations -- wherever and whenever they travel,” says Philip Ballard, Chief Communications Officer, HotelPlanner.   Anyone can experiment with the ChatGPT-enabled function on the homepage search engine on https://hotelbuyers.club/ prior to becoming a paid member and finalizing the booking. For paid Hotel Buyers Club members, the integration of ChatGPT is already live and available to assist with bookings.   Disclaimer   HotelPlanner strives to provide 100% accurate and reliable data to its customers, but third party content generated by AI, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, can sometimes make errors for various reasons, such as incomplete or inaccurate responses. HotelPlanner advises all its customers to exercise caution and to use your best judgment regarding the fidelity of ChatGPT’s responses. To share feedback or to report a concern or bug, please email [email protected]

  HotelPlanner, a hotel booking engine and travel technology platform serving all travelers since 2003, today announced their top 10 travel trends of 2023. HotelPlanner anticipates another record year for the company with respect to bookings and growth.   “The traveler mindset in 2023 will be to book that well-deserved adventure to a new city, dream resort, or a new corner of the world, says Tim Hentschel, Co-founder & CEO, HotelPlanner.   “Today’s travelers want to make special memories with friends and family, while others want their social media to reflect how adventurous they are, says Philip Ballard, Chief Communications Officer, HotelPlanner. “Others long for remote locations with no crowds and privacy, and are willing to pay for it. And millions of others are traveling on business with their families in tow to extend the trip into a mini-vacation. We would summarize all these trends as ‘purpose-driven travel.’”   Top 10 Travel Trends of 2023, according to HotelPlanner  

• Exchange Rate Travel – The weakened British pound and Euro have given Americans more purchasing power parity across Europe than at any time since the early 1980s. If there were ever a time for Americans to save money in Europe, it’s now. And it’s not just Americans who are taking advantage of ‘currency arbitrage.’ Savvy travelers around the world are choosing where to travel based on the most advantageous exchange rate. For example, the Japanese yen hasn’t been this weak against the U.S. dollar since 1990, thereby making a trip to Japan more affordable right now in relative terms.

 

• Luxury Travel – Among all the new travel trends, luxury travel may be the biggest to emerge from the pandemic. Millions of people were diligent in saving their increased disposable income, or started new businesses and careers, and now have the financial means for a more bespoke, upscale, inclusive, or other luxury experience. This may include flying private, staying at an all-inclusive resort, going on an exotic safari, ski trip or cruise, or simply staying in more upscale hotels and eating at nicer restaurants.

 

• Wedding Travel – About one in four Americans traveled in 2022 for a wedding-related event. 2023 will be no different. After two years of waiting to tie the knot, there will be unprecedented demand for wedding event space and hotel blocks next year. Given the waitlist for venue space, many couples are choosing destination weddings, such as the Caribbean or Hawaii, or in their family’s country of origin.

 

• Revenge Travel – Despite inflation, after two years of limited travel due to pandemic restrictions, millions are eager to make up for lost time. The industry is calling this trend ‘revenge travel.” But what does that really mean? It means that millions of people are telling their spouse or partner: “Honey, let’s finally go to Paris! It’s now or never. We deserve to go big. We’ve earned it.” That’s the typical travelers’ mindset right now. They just want to see the world because life is short. Travel “FOMO” is real.

 

• Digital Nomads – These are remote workers whose employers allow them to work from wherever they want. Millions of digital nomads are now taking advantage of this newfound freedom from the office cubicle. These are people who might visit five cities or five countries over several weeks or months, and work from coffee shops and extended stay hotels and AirBnBs. This trend has created a brand new category of traveler: the digital nomad. And they are here to stay. Hotels are already spending millions to market directly to digital nomads with extended stay incentives.

 

• Bleisure Travel - This is a combination of business & leisure travel where a typical employee is on a business trip from Monday – Thursday, and then extends their trip for a mini-vacation, oftentimes with their spouse or family in tow. Given that corporate travel is still recovering, customers should take advantage of the ‘Saturday Night Stayover’ deal where many airlines and hotels will offer discounts if you extend through the weekend.

 

• Sustainable Travel - Travelers are becoming more environmentally conscious about the carbon footprint of their travels and the positive or negative impact their travels may have on the planet. Travelers are searching more for ‘Eco-friendly’ hotels and transportation options, as well as “environmental impact” or ‘sustainable travel’ trips where part of the experience includes local philanthropic events like growing a community garden, or cleaning up a beach – almost like a mini week-long “Peace Corps” of sorts.

 

• Multi-Generational Travel – Traveling with three or even four generations of family members is becoming more popular as people realize that Grandma and Grandpa won’t be around forever. We’re seeing an increase in trips with multi-generational families all traveling together. This could be a large family reunion, or just inviting grandparents to join the family on a weekend road trip.

 

• Heritage Travel – With the increased popularity of sites like 23 & Me and Ancestry.com, people are rediscovering family roots and tracing their lineage all the way back to their ancestors’ country of origin. This has led to an increase in heritage travel, where families are traveling all over the world to visit the hometown of their great-great-great grandparents.

 

• Cannabis Tourism – With dozens of U.S. states now offering various forms of legal marijuana, this has created a whole new market of travelers who are visiting states where cannabis is much easier to obtain legally than wherever they reside. This is no longer just trips to ‘hash bars’ in Amsterdam. There are now hotels in Denver specifically marketing to “420 friendly” travelers, and not just on April 20^th, but year-round.

 

The B2B deal includes an agreement to share hotel room inventory to broaden HotelPlanner’s global reach

  HotelPlanner, a global travel technology platform and hotel booking engine, today announced a new service agreement with Roibos, one of the fastest-growing B2B hotel inventory marketplaces globally. HotelPlanner will deploy Roibos distribution channels to expand its hotel room offerings globally while improving real-time inventory efficiency.   “In today’s complex and fragmented hospitality market, we are always looking to improve efficiency and connectivity in the global marketplace of selling hotel room nights,” says Bas Lemmens, EMEA President, HotelPlanner. “Parnering with Roibos will help us to offer the best inventory at the best rates – at the speed of now. We look forward to expanding this partnership in the coming years.”   “The direct connection between HotelPlanner and Roibos will help Hotelplanner accelerate the go-to-market on direct contracting, as Roibos is the most cost-efficient way to grow direct hotel contracts.” says Anna Igual, Chief Distribution Officer, Roibos. “Accompanying HotelPlanner on its worldwide expansion is the perfect way to expand our reach. It’s a win-win! We look forward to being an integral part of their growth strategy moving forward.”

   

HotelPlanner, a travel technology company powered by proprietary artificial intelligence, today announced the appointment of Neil Valentine to the newly created role of Chief Strategy Officer. Reporting directly to President & Chief Operating Officer Bruce Rosenberg, Valentine will oversee HotelPlanner’s growth strategy and aligning the company’s approach to technology, sales, marketing, global partnerships, as well as new program creation to accelerate growth and profitability.

 

Neil began his career as an U.S. State Department attaché in Milan, Italy before launching his 20-year sales & marketing career. After a few years with smaller firms in roles of increased responsibility, Neil served as the Chief Marketing Officer from 2011-2018 at Partner Fusion, Inc., a full-service digital marketing agency, incubator, and technology innovator. From 2008-2018, he also became a Founding Team Member and Chief Strategy Officer for TravelPass Group, a travel distribution platform, helping to grow the company to $3.5 billion in sales.

 

Since 2014, Neil has served as an advisor to several e-commerce companies that are focused on hyper growth within the digital ecosystem. Neil has spent the past three years as Chief Revenue Officer for Lucency in Salt Lake City, a provider of contact center SaaS solutions. Neil has also spent nearly 25 years as a professional snowboard coach, trainer, and instructor at the Sundance Mountain resort in Utah.

 

“Neil’s sales & marketing experience and e-commerce expertise will serve us well in the coming years as we continue to grow and expand our service offerings. And the timing is perfect because we are experiencing unprecedented year-over-year growth right now. We’re excited to welcome Neil to the HotelPlanner family,” says Tim Hentschel, Co-Founder & CEO, HotelPlanner.

 

“I’ve known co-founders John and Tim since we first started doing business together in 2009. It’s been incredible to watch their progress over the last 13 years as they’ve built a highly profitable business and impressive company culture. I’m humbled by the opportunity to join such an amazing team focused on continuous technology innovation, revolutionizing the customer experience, and making travel accessible to everyone. I’m even more excited to help strengthen and align the cutting-edge technology automation and high-touch personalization HotelPlanner is known for,” says Neil Valentine.

 

HotelPlanner, a leading travel technology platform powered by proprietary artificial intelligence, today announced a service provider alliance with Choice Hotels International, Inc. The alliance integrates HotelPlanner’s group inventory and group leads with Choice Hotels properties to expand group sales for both companies.

 

One of the world’s largest hotel franchisors, Choice Hotels offers travellers a wide range of lodging options with more than 7,000 hotels open in 35 countries and territories.

 

Historically, group hotel sales have required significant back and forth between the group and the hotel, especially for large events such as weddings or family reunions. This new capability eliminates inefficiency by creating an ‘Instant Group Room Block’ that enables the customer to reserve immediately a large block of rooms for their guests without having to engage the participating hotel directly, and with no need for guests to call the hotel.

 

“We’ve offered ‘Instant Group Rates’ for years. Now, customers can instantly reserve a large block of rooms with one click. This is a major efficiency play for group travel bookings that will benefit Choice Hotels customers through significant time savings and less hassle,” says Bruce Rosenberg, President and Chief Operating Officer, HotelPlanner. “Choice Hotels and its signature brands are iconic global properties that meet the diverse needs of our customers, across all segments and service levels. This expanded alliance creates a mutually beneficial relationship to drive additional market share in the group segment.”

 

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, U.S. domestic travel & tourism sector’s GDP contributions could reach nearly $2 trillion in 2022, a 6.2% increase from 2019. Importantly, consumer travel sentiment is rebounding strongly as well. According to Destination Analysts, about 87% of American travellers have at least one leisure trip planned in the next 12 months.

 

“Choice Hotels is excited to extend the ability for planners to book groups instantly online outside of our direct platforms for the first time,” said Abhijit Patel, Vice President, Marketing & Distribution Strategy and Operations, Choice Hotels. “Making our industry-leading brands accessible to an AI-based booking platform on HotelPlanner positions us well to capture the return of group travel,” he said.

  HotelPlanner, has launched a new Alexa-enabled hotel booking feature that connects customers to a global gig-based 'Hotel Planner' agent to book a discounted hotel stay - anywhere in the world - at any time. The announcement of the industry-first service is well-timed with the rise in voice-activated technology and the 'Internet of Things' revolution. Using an Alexa device or the Alexa app, a customer must first say 'Alexa - enable the HotelPlanner skill.' Once the skill is enabled, customers can then activate the feature any time by saying "Alexa - open HotelPlanner" or "Alexa - ask HotelPlanner to make a new reservation in Boston." Once a customer tells Alexa their travel details, the service immediately connects the customer to a live Hotel Planner as a priority call, which bypasses the call queue. The Hotel Planner can then typically offer a discounted rate before completing the booking. HotelPlanner's proprietary artificial intelligence and VOIP capabilities will also try to route customers to a gig-based Hotel Planner who either lives in, or knows about, the customer's desired destination so that they can provide localized and personalized service. "We believe that adding Alexa-enabled hotel bookings is an industry game changer," says John Prince, Co-Founder & Chief Information Officer, HotelPlanner. "As the Internet of Things and smart technology become more ubiquitous, HotelPlanner is ready to provide a tech-forward solution that embraces voice activation and anticipates how consumers will interact with technology to make travel plans.." In August 2021, HotelPlanner announced that it had entered into an agreement providing for a three-way merger with Astrea Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: ASAXU), a special purpose acquisition company, and Reservations.com. The merger will see HotelPlanner becoming a publicly listed company on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "HOTP."   Watch TravelMole interview with HotelPlanner Co-Founder & CIO John Prince  

  Individual, group and corporate travel booking platform HotelPlanner has inked a partnership with the Singapore Swimming Club. It gives club members exclusive group hotel booking rates around the world, once international travel is up and running again. Singapore Swimming Club is the city state's largest non-golfing, members-only recreational club. Christopher Lee, Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific at HotelPlanner, said: "This partnership with Singapore Swimming Club is our first collaboration with a recreational club in Singapore, and we are delighted to support this premier organisation." "With pent-up demand for travel growing, we are also keen to explore more partnerships with other recreational and sporting associations in Singapore and the entire Asia-Pac region." HotelPlanner is a supporter and partner of professional sporting events and leagues globally. Partnerships include the United Soccer League, National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils and the Ladies Professional Golfing Association, among many more. Most recently, it pledged $30,000 in free hotel rooms in a campaign supporting the World Boxing Organisation cruiserweight world champion, British boxing star Lawrence Okolie. Brenden Gurusamy, General Manager of the Singapore Swimming Club, said: "HotelPlanner has had a long and successful track record partnering with renowned companies and organisations that support sporting activities and events, and we are honoured to team up with them."