Industry Insiders Launching New Travel Website Designed Just For Hospitality Professionals
HospitalityGrapevine.com Provides Exclusive Travel Offers to Industry Professionals
Denver, CO - Hospitality Grapevine, a new members-only website connecting hotel and industry professionals to exclusive industry-only travel deals, has been launched.
"It's no secret that industry professionals enjoy traveling and rely on relationships built through the years to secure favorable rates on accommodations," say Kathryn Troy and Trevor Stuart-Hill, who are principals in the hospitality marketing and revenue management firm Revenue Matters LLC. "But it's equally true that we in the industry can't always count on getting special deals. We recognized this need and created Hospitality Grapevine to help expand this ‘insiders' network."
They explain the website's goal is to allow those in the hospitality field to search for and secure industry-only rates. At the same time, suppliers have a need to sell excess inventory at certain times throughout the year, but need to ensure that they don't risk jeopardizing higher-rated business segments.
"This venture grew out of recognizing the process we went through in making our own vacation plans when you are in the industry, it is annoying to pay full rates. We found we were vacationing where we knew someone – our joke is that we enjoy the lifestyles of the poor and well connected!" says the entrepreneurial-spirited Troy with a laugh. "But I kept wondering: 'Why isn't there a special source to give those of us in the industry exclusive deals without having to keep asking our colleagues for a favor?' We see Hospitality Grapevine as the perfect win-win solution," adds Troy. Widely recognized as a leader in the field of Revenue Management, Stuart-Hill sees the venture as a sure-fire way for suppliers to build revenue during need periods through an exclusive and protected channel.
"Our back-end validation process helps assure that Grapevine members truly are associated with the hospitality industry," says Stuart-Hill. "Additionally, suppliers themselves have complete control over their offers, everything from pricing and inventory availability to booking method and check-in credential requirements."
During this introductory phase, there is no cost for suppliers to post travel deals. The goal is to have at least 100 active offers from around the globe ready and available each day by the time the site "officially" launches this summer.
"I encourage my colleagues across the industry to preview the site, then to post special offers and to use the easy online form to sign up for a free membership themselves. I am hopeful everyone coming to the site will pass the word along to their colleagues as well so that they, too, can take advantage of these exclusive deals; that's basically the Grapevine factor," adds Troy.
The website is a one-stop, turn-key system set up to handle direct inquiries from other hospitality associates seeking professional courtesy discounts by simply referring them to the Grapevine where they will find the posted offers. Troy says that professionals from branded and independent companies alike, from all corners of the globe, can become a Grapevine member at no cost. "I like to think of Hospitality Grapevine as a matchmaker. It is an efficient service that quickly connects busy professionals to exclusive travel and related offers that are only available to our members."
Within its first week of launching, Hospitality Grapevine caught the industry's attention adding members from 23 states and 19 countries. For more information, visit www.hospitalitygrapevine.com.
SOURCE: Hospitality Grapevine