Take a look at this brilliant video, done for LG’s Play the Impossible campaign.

I love the way they play around with the landmark. Not to mention the way they use a movement reminiscent of the numerous photographs out there playing with perspective (sun between your fingers anyone?).

The two youngsters are soooo right as Londoners having a bit of fun and I especially like the shy visitor that one of them teases.

Would love to see more of this.

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Found it: Guardian Viral Video Chart: London’s turning

A lovely surprise this morning in Trafalgar Square. (more…)

You remember our clients, newly elected Cllrs Saima Mahmud, Mark Rusling and Ahsan Khan at Hoe Street ward in Waltham Forest, London (we blogged about it).

We had been discussing their website header pic for some time and one of their constituents obliged them with taking a marvellous picture the other day. (more…)

Here is a little video we put together following our recent interview with the BBC correspondent, Malcolm Brabant about tourism and hospitality in Greece (read the relevant blog post).

We hope you’ll enjoy.

Since we’re on the subject, the Press Release on the BBC report (English and Greek) went out today.

The excellent podsafe track is ‘Your face is not enough’ by 3 Blind Mice.

A few days ago we had a chat with the excellent BBC correspondent, Malcolm Brabant about tourism and hospitality in Greece which was broadcast on BBC World today.

Having read our whitepaper, Malcolm Brabant’s question was simple: What went wrong and how do you fix it. In the subsequent discussion we maintained – as we always do – that the solutions are there, if only hospitality professionals are willing to look deeply into their policies and what travellers actually need – instead of what we may think they do.

For us, it’s all about the long term solutions, the policy, the investment of time and good work that can show travellers, travel agents and the market that the Greek hospitality professionals are in it for the long run.

Take a look at the video which Mr. Brabant has uploaded on his YouTube channel.

Our heartfelt thanks – it is great to be given an opportunity to add a note of optimism in all the doom and gloom.

I really wish I could use a photograph of John Cleese from Fawlty Towers in this post or some of his memorable lines to the German tourists (you have to watch it if you haven’t even though I can’t imagine anyone has missed it).

I digress.

Visit Britain just published some tips on welcoming overseas visitors to the UK.

Britain’s national tourism agency has extensively revised its markets and trends profiles as part of its campaign to help enhance cultural awareness, avoid misunderstandings and boost UK performance in caring for customers.

I love the fact that the tips have been written by VisitBritain staff, who are natives of the countries featured. It gives a more personal touch to the advice and even though they can never be absolutely true for everyone they can provide a sufficient guide for people to err on the side of safety rather than just outright insult visitors. I would heartily recommend going through the profiles, even if you are a native of the country in question (or especially then) – you’ll find some surprising bits of info! (more…)

Since we have been asked by online friends to write some of our thoughts on hotel pricing policies and differences in prices from one sales channel to the next, I wrote the other day about some fundamentals of Computer Reservation Systems.

I noted in that blog post that prices for the same hotels might be different from system to system for a variety of reasons such as contracting obligations, seasonal offers etc.

| How competition affects hotel room prices |

A hotelier will have a different ‘at the door’ price than the one offered via an Internet booking service due to basic competition. If the price is not competitive the Internet booking service has no incentive to include the hotel. This is why one might find a room cheaper on a web booking service and more expensive when calling the hotel. This is not always the case, but when it is the difference should normally be minimal.  (more…)

The development of electronic commerce has facilitated the online presence of many small and medium hotels. Online holiday bookings are now the norm and hoteliers who are not part of this trend are definitely missing out.

|Hotel pricing policies|

We have been asked by online friends to write some of our thoughts on hotel pricing policies and differences in prices from one sales channel to the next. I am happy to oblige – however before we get into pricing I thought it might be useful to go over some fundamentals. (more…)

So I’m having a catch up with a client today and we eventually come to the newsletter issue. They have progressed from the initial work we did for them and it’s time to keep in touch with their audience.

Normally I don’t support newsletters. However, each company is different and – crucially – the audience has different needs. So we analysed things a bit, I asked questions that needed to be asked and we decided on some next steps.

Newsletters are a tricky thing. I find that it pays to first think about what you want to achieve with them. Our client has genuine content and genuine updates that need to be sent out, which is why we think the newsletter is a good idea. (more…)

The Greek campaign is progressing and Theodora is doing her thing these days.

You will recall that we have started an outreach campaign aimed at Greek hoteliers. As part of that campaign Theodora is on the phones talking with small and medium hotel owners and managers up and down the country.

When we approached her to do the work she was a bit worried. “Is this about sales?“, she asked to which we most emphatically answered “No“!

The principles are simple. Introduce us, discuss, connect. The whole point of the campaign is outreach and engagement rather than sales.

| Introducing SoMaFusion |

We are a relatively new company and there is something intrinsically different about us when it comes to hospitality. Our hospitality services are specialised and offer the whole spectrum – from digital communications to pricing policy. Not something you find often.

(more…)