Luxury Hoteliers Magazine 4th Quarter 2019 | Page 27

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT A RECENT PROJECT YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED? We’ve recently launched phase 1 of our adaptive website solution across the global Nobu portfolio. We are getting rid of the concept of a dedicated homepage. We are adding virtual wallets as part of our payment gateway and providing guests with data-based recommendations. Over time our websites will be individually targeted and personalized based on behaviors, interests, geography, look-alike modeling etc. The business objectives are to increase guest engagement, interactions, services, conversions, and purchase confidence and efficiency. WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST LEARNING CURVES? WHERE WOULD YOU ADVISE HOTELIERS TO START WITH DIGITAL REVENUE OPTIMIZATION. We all know digital (data, ecommerce, technology, marketing etc.) plays a critical role in driving today’s business growth and success, but it is changing the way people (re) think their hotel business and how to incorporate digital—which is still one of the biggest learning curves. Business isn’t about making money, it’s about maximizing profit. We need to challenge the processes and the mindsets of the past and the current and incorporate digital (not as an add-on to whatever has been done) but instead to rethink what and how you are operating your hotel business. Reshaping the current environment will produce a future of improved efficiency, increased effectiveness, lower costs, broadened reach, and higher returns. I recommend hoteliers should always focus first on their lowest hanging fruits. What digital channels, efforts and/or markets bring in the most business success, in terms of profits? How can you do more on these channels to ensure even higher returns? Nobu Hotel Palo Alto ILHA 27