olive

With the holiday season in full swing, I can’t think of a better destination to spotlight for this week’s hotel feature than the The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, California. A true architectural gem, this historic property is celebrated for its intricate design, storied past, and unforgettable ambiance. 💎 Did You Know? The Mission Inn began as a modest 12-room adobe boarding house in 1876 but blossomed into the sprawling masterpiece we know today under the vision of Frank Miller. Inspired by Spanish mission architecture and European grandeur, Miller transformed the property into a cultural landmark. Here are a few captivating highlights from the Mission Inn’s incredible history: - Architectural Marvel: The Mission Inn showcases a blend of Spanish Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance Revival styles. Its eclectic design features hidden courtyards, stained glass windows, and the stunning "Famous Fliers’ Wall," adorned with autographs from aviation pioneers. - Hollywood’s Playground: This iconic hotel has hosted luminaries like Charlie Chaplin, Bette Davis, and even U.S. Presidents, including Richard Nixon, who held his wedding at the Inn. - Cultural Legacy: A mecca for art and history lovers, the Mission Inn is home to countless artifacts, from Tiffany stained glass to priceless religious relics. It even features a chapel with a 25-karat gold leaf altar from Mexico. - Holiday Magic: Each year, the Festival of Lights transforms the hotel into a dazzling winter wonderland, featuring millions of lights, festive décor, and holiday-themed events. 💡 Fun Fact The Mission Inn is often referred to as the “Crown Jewel of Inland Southern California.” Its charm and uniqueness have earned it recognition as a National Historic Landmark and a beloved retreat for travelers near and far. 🎨 Timeless Elegance, Modern Luxury While steeped in history, the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa seamlessly blends its heritage with contemporary amenities. From its award-winning Kelly’s Spa to its renowned fine dining experiences, the hotel offers a perfect balance of old-world charm and modern-day comfort. 🌅 Why It Matters The Mission Inn isn’t just a hotel—it’s a storybook brought to life. Its ability to celebrate its past while evolving for the future is a testament to the power of hospitality. It’s a reminder of how a property can transcend being a mere destination to become an enduring symbol of culture, community, and connection. ✨ Your Turn What are your favorite hotels for a holiday season visit? #HotelHistory #LuxuryTravel #HistoricHotels #Wanderlust #CaliforniaDreaming #HotelStories #DirectBookings #HotelMarketing #MakeHotelsGrandAgain #MissionInn #FestivalOfLights

Thrilled to see the exciting momentum continues in the independent hotel space with the recently announced Lark x Life House joint venture! This strategic combination brings together Lark's renowned portfolio of distinctive properties and Life House's innovative, tech-forward approach to hotel management. For hoteliers looking to elevate their guest experience while optimizing operations, this tie-up showcases how traditional hospitality excellence and modern operational innovation can create something truly special. I, for one, am looking forward to watching how this partnership shapes the future of independent hospitality! Congrats Robert Blood, Megan Kennedy, Peter Twachtman, and the entire Lark and Life House teams. What a way to end 2024! #HospitalityInnovation #HotelTech #Partnerships #HotelMarketing #BoutiqueHotels #StayIndependent #DirectBookings #LarkHotels #LifeHouse https://lnkd.in/gDVDrnN2

Continuing my weekly posting of some of the coolest job openings in our industry 🤙 . Reach out if you'd like to be featured. Job links in the comments. PM Hotel Group - Regional Director - Revenue Management Hotel del Coronado - Assistant Director of Revenue Management Remington Hospitality - Divisional Vice President - Revenue Appellation - Director of People and Culture HHM Hotels - Director of Revenue Management (Hotel Nia) Schulte Hospitality Group - Director of Revenue Management (Hotel Colee)

🚨 As a fast follow to my post from this morning, looks like we have another OUT for 2025: "Junk" Fees. The FTC just announced a game-changing rule: All mandatory fees: resort fees, cleaning fees, service charges, etc. MUST be displayed upfront in search results. No more hidden surprises at checkout. What does this mean for your hotel? 👉 Pricing transparency is no longer optional, use it as a competitive advantage. Guests will see the true cost early, forcing hotels to shift focus from “low base rates” to delivering real, all-in value. 👉 Direct booking strategies become even more critical. Guests want clarity and trust (something OTAs can’t always deliver). My take? Hotels that adapt quickly by: optimizing their direct booking experience, focusing on total value, and building transparent guest relationships will thrive. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

The hospitality landscape is changing faster than ever. If you're not adapting, you're falling behind. Is your hotel ready for 2025? As we close out 2024, it's clear that the playbook for hotels is evolving. Hotels that embrace technology, digital transformation, and new ways of driving revenue are set to thrive. Those that don't? They risk falling further behind. Here's the ultimate insider's guide to staying ahead in the new year: 📈 What's IN for 2025: 1️⃣ Hyper-Personalized Digital Experiences: AI-driven platforms that predict and cater to individual traveler preferences before they even check-in. 2️⃣ Ecommerce Mindset: Every touchpoint in your guest journey, from first click to check-out, is a sales opportunity. Hotels that act like retailers (bundles, upsells, memberships) will unlock new revenue streams. 3️⃣ High-tech AND High-touch: Frictionless stays driven by smart integrations. Think: mobile check-in, booking journeys that feel more like Netflix recommendations instead of generic suggestions. 4️⃣ Guest-centric Digital Design: In 2025, your website is your lobby. Hotels that invest heavily in intuitive, visually stunning, and conversion-optimized websites will win. 🚫 What's OUT: 🛑 One-Size-Fits-All Websites & Booking Engines: Generic templates are done. If your website and booking engine (they should be the same, anyway) don't feel tailor-made for your property, you're missing out on direct revenue. 🛑Blind OTA Reliance: OTAs can bring heads to beds, but hotels relying only on them are handing over profit AND guest relationships. 🛑 Manual, Siloed Systems: Outdated tech stacks slow you down and frustrate staff and guests alike. Integration is non-negotiable. 🛑 Transactional Thinking: Guests aren't just bookings, they're long-term brand advocates when you deliver value beyond a room key. 2025 is the year of the digital-first hotel. Hotels that treat technology as a growth engine with capture more market share, protect their margins, and redefine how they connect with guests. What are YOU prioritizing for 2025? Drop your thoughts in the comments below 👇 #HospitalityTech #DirectBookings #Ecommerce #HotelIndustry #HotelMarketing #DigitalTransformation #HotelTechnology

Continuing our weekly posting of cool jobs in our industry 🤙 . Reach out if you'd like to be featured. Job links in the comments Ensemble Investments, LLC - Director of Revenue Management - La Bahia Resort and Spa Aparium Hotel Group - Area Director of Revenue Strategy Rosewood Hotel Group - Performance Marketing Manager, Global Omni Hotels & Resorts - Senior Director, Revenue Management One&Only Resorts - Director, Revenue Management

I was recently catching up with a founder about cold outreach strategies and she mentioned that you should treat early-stage sales exactly like you treat fundraising. Try whatever you can, not to come in cold. It got me thinking, Sales, Fundraising, and Recruiting Are the Same Game for Early-Stage Startups. As a founder, your to-do list spans everything from closing customers to pitching investors to building your team. But here’s the thing: no matter what hat you’re wearing, it’s all about relationships. In the world of startups, sales, fundraising, and recruiting all follow a similar playbook: 🚪 Warm intros win. A strong referral doesn’t just get you in the door—it establishes trust, credibility, and momentum before the conversation even starts. 💡 Here’s how they overlap: Sales: Warm intros help you skip the gatekeepers and reach decision-makers faster. There are tons of bozos hitting up prospects daily. A warm intro at the very least establishes you as a real person with a real company. Fundraising: Most VCs won’t even respond to cold emails and even if they do, they’ll dump you on an associate.  A warm intro says “this is worth your time” to the investor and gets you to the decision maker. Recruiting: For leadership positions, the best talent often isn’t looking for a job. Have you ever seen a CTO posting on LinkedIn? A warm intro gets a great person on the phone, then it’s your job to close. From the opposite angle, if you are recruiting, getting an intro to the CEO will help you bypass any arbitrary filters or recruiter screens that block even amazing candidates. So, how can you maximize the power of warm intros? 🔗 Invest in your network. Relationships compound over time—start building them before you need them. 🤝 Give before you ask. Offering value to others builds goodwill, and that often comes back to you in unexpected ways. I once helped another startup founder with a few candidate intros that led them to hire their head of product. Months later, we raised $750k of our round from intros directly from this founder 💬 Handle intros with care. Treat every introduction as a gift—respect the time, effort, and trust that went into it. At the end of the day, startups are powered by connections. Even if you’re in the thick of building your company, don’t neglect investing in relationship building. Let me know the best intro you’ve gotten in the comments below👇 #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Sales #Fundraising #Recruiting

Skift’s 2024 Hotel Distribution Outlook by Pranavi Agarwal and team has sparked some heated debates. If you haven’t read it yet, do yourself a favor—it’s a must-read. A few stats jumped out at me: ✅ 80% of hoteliers said direct bookers are more likely to become return guests than OTA customers. ✅ Independent hoteliers want to go from 44% direct bookings today to an ideal 65% mix. ✅ Despite this, only 34% are prioritizing investment in booking engines, while 63% focus on marketing campaigns. ✅ OTA commissions are as high as 30% for independents—not including promotions. Skift predicts that direct digital channels could overtake OTAs by 2030, but there’s a catch: big hotel brands will likely drive this shift as they dominate supply and have been investing in direct booking strategies for years. Independents need to step up if they want to survive—and thrive—in this battle. Here’s what I think needs to happen now to solve this existential crisis: 1️⃣ Price parity matters. Ensure your best rates are on your website. Buyers are savvy and will price-shop across multiple sites. Offering slightly lower direct rates or member exclusives beats paying 30% OTA commissions every time. Plus, direct channels = more upsell and cross-sell opportunities. 2️⃣ Upgrade your booking engine. Stop settling for “good enough” booking engines that are after-thought products in an all-in-one solution. Travelers expect seamless, intuitive, personalized, digital experiences. Archaic systems hurt your brand and tank your conversions. 3️⃣ Promote direct booking benefits. Don’t bury perks like loyalty programs, spa credits, or room upgrades in the later stages of your booking funnel. Make them prominent and compelling. Visitors need clear reasons to book directly with you when the OTAs are giving them rewards. 4️⃣ Revamp your website–CONSTANTLY. In other industries, websites are updated weekly (if not daily!). A three-year redesign cycle doesn’t cut it anymore. Your site is your storefront, treat it that way. 5️⃣ Create accountability. Ask your team: Who owns the direct booking strategy? Who’s responsible for the website? If these roles are different people, that’s a problem. Alignment here is critical. 6️⃣ Think about Groups. Group travel is increasingly moving to platforms like Airbnb for its ease of use. Hotels need fully digital group booking solutions that eliminate the need for phone calls and RFPs. The future of independent hotels depends on bold action now. Are you ready to compete, or will you let OTAs and big brands define your fate? #HospitalityTech #HotelIndustry #DirectBookings #OTAvsDirect #HotelStrategy #DigitalTransformation #TravelTech #FutureOfHospitality #HotelMarketing https://lnkd.in/gJGkm_-s

For my second hotel feature post, I couldn’t think of a better place to highlight than the Hotel del Coronado. A timeless gem with a storied past, an unmatched beachfront location, and most importantly, a hotel I grew up going to regularly when my grandparents lived down on Coronado. 💎 Did You Know? The Del’s history began in 1888 when entrepreneurs Elisha Babcock and H.L. Story envisioned a grand resort “that would be the talk of the Western world.” When it opened, the Hotel del Coronado was the largest resort in the world and one of the first buildings lit by Thomas Edison’s incandescent lightbulbs. Room rates (which included 3 meals a day!) started at about $2.50 per day. Other important firsts: - In 1891, President Benjamin Harrison visited the hotel during his train tour of the country, the first time in history that an in-office United States president had visited San Diego. - In 1904, The Del made history when it unveiled the world’s first electrically lit, outdoor, living Christmas tree. - In 1970, President Richard Nixon hosted the first state dinner held outside of the White House at the hotel. Over the years, it became a Hollywood darling, hosting stars like Marilyn Monroe (who famously filmed "Some Like It Hot" here), and even royalty and presidents. It’s a place where the glamour of the Gilded Age meets the casual elegance of California’s coastline. 🎨 From Historic Treasure to Modern Luxury Recent renovations have meticulously restored its Victorian charm while introducing state-of-the-art amenities, ensuring that today’s guests experience both its historic character and the height of modern luxury. The iconic red-roofed towers, sprawling beachfront, and enchanting ambiance continue to set the stage for unforgettable moments. 🌅 Why It Matters The Hotel del Coronado isn’t just a resort; it’s a living piece of history that showcases the power of storytelling in creating exceptional guest experiences. It’s a testament to how a destination can evolve while staying true to its roots, connecting past and present in a way that resonates with travelers across generations. ✨ Your Turn Have you visited the Hotel del Coronado? Or is there another hotel that’s left a lasting impression on you? I’d love to hear about it! Let’s share and celebrate the stories that make these destinations so unforgettable. (and ps. the holiday season is the best time to visit. The ice skating rink on the beach is not to be missed!) #HotelHistory #LuxuryTravel #BeachResorts #Wanderlust #HotelStories #DirectBookings #HotelMarketing #HotelTechnology #GrandHotels #MakeHotelsGrandAgain

🚀 To us, personalization isn't just a buzzword, it's the key to unlocking direct bookings and the true potential of a hotel's website. In this great sit-down with The Modern Hotelier guys, I dive into the power of personalization for hotel websites. From targeted offers to dynamic, AI-powered booking experiences based on guest preferences, the possibilities really are endless. Imagine a booking experience that feels less like filling out a form and more like a concierge welcoming you personally. At olive, we believe that every hotel can turn their website into their most powerful channel, one that knows the guest and anticipates their needs. 💡 Why care? Because the future of hospitality lies in building direct, meaningful connections with guests. And it all starts online. I'd love to hear how you approach personalization! How are you personalizing your guests' experience, whether online or on property? Let me know in the comments below 👇 #HospitalityTech #HotelMarketing #DirectBookings #ArtificialIntelligence #Personalization #BookDirect