THE MAGAZINE OF THE WORLDWIDE HOTEL INDUSTRY
EDITORIAL Jeff Weinstein , Editor In Chief 1.312.274.2226 E-mail : jweinstein @ hotelsmag . com
Ann Bagel Storck , Managing Editor 1.312.274.2209 E-mail : astorck @ hotelsmag . com
Nathan Greenhalgh , Associate Editor 1.312.274.2229 E-mail : ngreenhalgh @ hotelsmag . com
Dani Friedland , Managing Editor , New Media 1.312.274.2223 E-mail : dfriedland @ mtgmediagroup . com
Queenie Burns , Vice President , Design 1.312.274.2216 E-mail : qburns @ mtgmediagroup . com
Bert Ganzon , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2227 E-mail : bganzon @ mtgmediagroup . com
Steve Vanden Heuvel , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2218 E-mail : svandenheuvel @ mtgmediagroup . com
Michelle Villadolid , Freelance Design E-mail : mvilladolid @ mtgmediagroup . com
Bill McDowell , Vice President , Editorial Director 1.312.274.2201 bmcdowell @ mtgmediagroup . com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORs Mary Gostelow , Adam Kirby , Oriana Lerner
PUBLIsHING Dan Hogan , Vice President , Publisher 1.312.274.2221 dhogan @ hotelsmag . com
INTERNATIONAL ADVIsORY BOARD
Nakul Anand Executive Director , ITC Ltd ., Gurgaon , India
Stephen Bartolin Chairman and CEO , The Broadmoor , Colorado Springs , Colorado
Eric Danziger President and CEO , Wyndham Hotel Group , Parsippany , New Jersey
Geoffrey Gelardi Managing Director , The Lanesborough , London
Kirk Kinsell President , the Americas , IHG , Atlanta
Alex Kyriakidis President and Managing Director , Middle East and Africa , Marriott International , Dubai
Christopher Nassetta President and CEO , Hilton Worldwide , McLean , Virginia
Monika Nerger Chief Information Officer , Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group , Atlanta
Paul Sistare President and CEO , Atlantica Hotels International , São Paulo
Susan Terry Vice President Culinary Operations , Hyatt Hotels North American Operations , Chicago
EDiTOriAL AND PrODuCTiON OFFiCES , HOTELS Marketing and Technology Group , 1415 N . Dayton Street Chicago , Illinois 60642 USA 1.312.274.2200 ; fax : 1.312.266.3363 edit @ hotelsmag . com
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Where There ’ s
I mention this not only because we want a strong voter turnout , but also due to the fact that I have been spending more time lately thinking about the status of one side of the ballot — the independents . As I look at the hoteliers nominated in that category , I am heartened by their spirit and longstanding tenacity to operate more or less on their own in a world dominated by brands . The good news for the independent-minded is that I am starting to truly believe your selfsufficiency is now being rewarded as a result of something that might actually go against your grain : technology .
Yes , technology is making independent hotels more competitive . I won ’ t go as far as to say it levels the playing field , but today creative marketers who know how to best use social media and other Webbased tactics are competing much more effectively . Then , when you take into account how much mobile platforms are being utilized to buy goods and services , independents that understand how to best optimize for mobile have even more
a will ...
This month HOTELS launches its 34th Hotelier of the World awards program by listing nominees for both the corporate and independent awards . I urge you to review the candidates ( p8 ) and then go to HOTELSMag . com / how2014 and vote ! Certainly , these industry greats all deserve to win , but because we make this a peer vote we can only feature the readers ’ two choices on the cover in November .
upside potential .
Take the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina , featured in this month ’ s story about mobile technology ( p46 ), which redeveloped its website using responsive design technology to give users an optimal online experience no matter what device they
Editor In Chief use . Given that the resort ’ s mobile and tablet traffic has increased 130 % over the past 12 months , Pinehurst Director of Marketing Kerry Andrews says the shift has given him some piece of mind in the non-stop digital battle for market share .
Next month , we will further examine the state of independent hotelkeeping as well as the new soft brands being marketed to lure stalwart independents and how the ongoing battle for business between brands and independents is evolving . At the end of the day , I hope we will find out there is greater opportunity and a more level playing field ahead for the likes of independents nominated for this year ’ s Hotelier of the World award . I know they have the spirit . Now they must learn how to use their new toolboxes .
www . hotelsmag . com April 2014 HOTELs 5