Jens Thraenhart, director of Internet strategy at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, has been recognized as one of the å“Rising Starså” of the travel industry by Travel Agent magazine. With www.fairmont.com decorated by industry awards, a redesigned Web site set to launch in August, and Internet bookings on the rise, Thraenhart is being honored for building the Fairmont brand on the Web. 

“After receiving recent acclaim for fairmont.com it is not surprising to us that Jens is being honored as an industry star,” says Brian Richardson, vice president of brand marketing and communications for Fairmont.  “His commitment to building the brand has helped us identify Fairmont online as one of the premier luxury hotel chains.”

This past April, fairmont.com
received the 2003 Gold Award for Most Effective Web site from The Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME).  In January, the company was recognized with the Golden Click Platinum award in the Hotel Category and Best of Show award by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) for the design and development of its website. 

Allowing Fairmont to communicate hotel experiences with the consumer and build relationships with guests, fairmont.com delivers enhanced services that reinforce Fairmont’s brand promise of providing “places in the heart”.  Some of the current Web site features include expanded booking capabilities which allow guests to book activities such as tee times while reserving their room; detailed destination maps; the Fairmont Planner, an interactive tool designed to match Fairmont properties with individual guest needs; and a Virtual Concierge to assist in sourcing destination or hotel information. 

While the current site has already proved its strength through industry recognition and increased online bookings (up over 50% from Q1 - 2002 to Q1 - 2003), Thraenhart and his team are planning vast improvements for its relaunch in August.  The goal for the future is to make the site more experiential and less like an online brochure.  In the end, every word on the web site should be selling the Fairmont experience. 

A native of Germany, Thraenhart
has twelve years of international hospitality experience working for boutique, independent hotels and resorts to international luxury chains, such as Fairmont, Four Seasons Kempinski, and Marriott.  Prior to joining Fairmont in his current position he co-founded an Internet Startup in New York focused on upscale leisure.  He holds an MBA-accredited Masters of Management in Hospitality from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University and a joint Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and the University Center ‘Cesar Ritz’ at Brig, Switzerland.  As Director of Internet Strategy at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Thraenhart oversees the company’s public web sites and in-room guest portal.  He is responsible for the development of marketing strategy, using the web for building customer loyalty and enhancing the brand attributes. 

This is the seventh year Travel Agent magazine has profiled 100 up-and-coming executives under age 35.  Winners must hold key posts in their company, show evidence that they are on the fast track to promotion or additional responsibilities, have statistics showing their accomplishments and receive an endorsement from their bosses.  For a complete list of winners visit Travel Agent magazine online at www.travelagentmag.com
.

Related stories on ITN:

(02/04/2003) Fairmont Wins Atlas Award for Best Website

Fairmont.com Wins Golden Click Web Award

(12/12/2001) Fairmont Hotels Launch E-Business Strategy

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