Hospitality eBusiness Strategies (HeBS) will be amongst companies presenting at the National Trust Historic Hotels of America (HHA) annual meeting.
This time HeBS principals will participate in a panel discussion at the HHA’s annual meeting on Thursday, October 27 at the Heathman Hotel, Portland Oregon.

Max Starkov, Chief eBusiness Strategist and Jason Price, VP Business Development will lead a group of industry and technology experts in a program entitled “Discover New Opportunities for Reservations.” The panel will examine new approaches to increasing revenues through HHA directly and through reservation program partners. Discussions will focus on both online and offline opportunities including emerging channels of distribution and marketing.

“This panel discussion will help clear up much of the confusion among hoteliers about how the Internet and emerging channels of distribution can truly advance hotel interests,” commented Starkov. “HHA is a ‘hotel-friendly’ channel of distribution that adds genuine value to member hotel marketing efforts by delivering a unique historic aspect of their message, and enabling hoteliers to maintain control over rates and inventory, in stark contrast to the familiar third-party merchant intermediary models.”

According to Max, this year over 25% of all revenues in hospitality will be generated from the Internet (20% in 2004, 15% in 2003). Another 25% of hotel bookings will be influenced by the Internet, but done offline (call center, walk-ins, group bookings, etc).

Commented Shirley Talbert, director of marketing distribution for HHA, “One goal of our annual meeting and this panel is presenting how these emerging channels can be integrated into hoteliers marketing strategies and implemented in ways to maintain hotelier control and to meet both revenue and occupancy goals, as well as enhancing their market position.”
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