The golden rule of traveling was always to book early, and the earlier the better. Jump ahead to today’s world of flexible work schedules and mobile-savvy globe-trotters and you’ll find that more and more people are choosing to book shorter, spur-of-the-moment trips on the fly. Here we unfold seven savvy strategies to attract last-minute bookers to your hotel. Know Your Demo – Who are these spontaneous bookers? Mostly millennials. According to data from Hotels.com, 1 out of every 2 millennials take last-minute vacations. This generation likes to explore new places and are well versed in how t ..read more

Craving an increase in RevPOR? Get your fill of guests (and locals) in your restaurants. With nearby eateries pulling out all the stops to tempt diners, we know that’s easier said than done. But just a few tweaks to your F&B operations and menus can have you leveraging seven of the latest culinary trends to seat more and more patrons. A Feast For The Senses It’s not enough to whip up great tasting food. Restaurants need to engage and delight all five senses. Make sure you’re giving thoughtful consideration to mood-enhancing music, aromatic ingredients and aesthetically-pleasing color pale ..read more

You can learn a lot about a destination by how it looks and how it makes you feel, but you can also tell a lot by how it tastes. And in 2024 the appetite for culinary travel is absolutely ravishing. People are traveling to locales not only to see the sights but to experience the culture, and that means the menus too. Hotels and destinations should be aware that food tourism is on the way up, waaaay up. Virtuoso reports that there has been a 70 percent increase in travelers booking trips that focus on food and wine. What are people craving? Authentic cuisine that embodies the true local flavor ..read more

At Dana, our core belief is this: A brand is not just a logo, symbol or tagline – it is a living entity, a collection of perceptions and beliefs that live in the hearts and minds of your customers. And, like any living entity, a brand has to grow and evolve. Sometimes the need for change is obvious (check out our Brand Reckoning blog here). Other times, not so much. So let’s explore the more subtle scenarios that should trigger a rebrand. Not Business As Usual Have you changed your business model or shifted your focus in a substantial way? Then it’s time for a rebrand. A perfect example of th ..read more

Sustainability has been shaping society for quite some time now, and we’re seeing examples of it incorporated into wellness and hospitality more and more each year. Millennials, the generation that travels most frequently, have made it clear that they are willing to pay more for items and services that carry a lighter carbon footprint, while approximately 72% of Gen Zers are more likely to buy from a company that contributes to social causes. In addition, according to Booking.com’s 2023 Sustainable Travel Report, approximately 76% of respondents want to travel sustainably over the next 1 ..read more

People just can’t get enough of social media. Sprout Social has the usage stats to back this up: reporting an estimated 4.89 billion worldwide users visiting, on average, seven different channels a month to rack up 151 minutes spent on social media daily. (Because if you’re not scrolling while simultaneously streaming your favorite TV show, are you even doing it right?) So we’re diving in to three heavy-hitting social media channels as well as two types of content below to uncover how they engage different generations to help you make informed target marketing decisions. Facebook With slightl ..read more

Everybody is blogging these days. Most successful bloggers will tell you that the trick to blogs that excel is two-fold. One, talk about something you’re passionate about. And two, talk about something you know. Local travel. Global travel. Get-away-for-the-holidays travel. You name it. Here, we’ve assembled eleven tips we use to put engaging travel blogs on the map. Be a Storyteller Bring your destination to life with vibrant words, vivid colors, and touchy-feely adjectives that focus on the true embodiment of your location. Take your audience to the locale without them ever leaving their lap ..read more

Revenge travel, brocations, babymoons, staycations, bleisure…you’ve heard about them all, and they’re still around. 2024 follows suit and ushers in some interesting travel trends that will be popping up on your radar soon. Dupe Travel – The TikTok beauty trend has manifested its way to the travel industry, this time offering budget-friendly alternatives to destinations that carry a bigger price tag. Spotted on Expedia’s list of destination dupes for 2024: Taipei, Taiwan, which is a Seoul, South Korea dupe, Memphis, a dupe for Nashville and Curacao, a dupe for St. Martin. Dry-Tripping – 2024 i ..read more

Can you imagine someone asking why Instagram is part of your marketing efforts? Of course not! Because Instagram delivers proven engagement with your audience and holds huge sway in travel inspiration. Yet many marketers DO question whether or not TikTok should be part of their social media strategy. Well, we’re here to unpack the platform’s positive impact on tourism and hospitality brands. It’s Experiential Smart marketers use TikTok to showcase more of the experience a visitor can enjoy. Destinations, resorts, hotels and vacation rentals go all in on the platform’s algorithm, rom ..read more

Did you know that Coachella 2023 lured over half a million music fans into the California desert? And, earlier this year, SXSW drew nearly 350,000 participants to Lone Star’s capital city? The thought of all those room nights is a hotelier’s dream come true. But, even if your property isn’t located in Indio or Austin, there are festivals and events taking place all across the map (some near you!) – and all throughout the year ­– that attract enthusiastic fans in need of overnight accommodations. So we’re unpacking 5 winning ways to get their heads in your beds. Friends In High Places Let’s st ..read more