Matt's Blog

As you may know, I own a small business - The Quail Park Lodge.  We have over 500 reviews on TripAdvisor.  If you are not aware, TripAdvisor will be spun off from its parent company Expedia this month and shareholders are quite happy about it.  TripAdvisor has 50 million reviews and counting, the site has a huge impact on my business!!

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I am an enthusiastic geek when it comes to mobile applications and have a complete fascination with how Smartphones are changing both consumer behavior and business marketing strategies.

In pursuit of more mobile marketing knowledge I recently attended the Puget Sound Marketing Associations luncheon featuring Scott Townsend with Urban Airship.  He had originally titled it 'Why Your Marketing App Will Fail" but then changed at the last moment to "Battle For Screentime" as he thought the original was too negative.  I liked it.   It caught my attention and I've consolidated the information he presented here.

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If you haven't already figured out, I love wine tasting, touring and everything surrounding the business and hospitality of wine.  Years ago when I first recognized my lick-lipping appreciation and enthusiasm, I was at an Australian wine tasting event in Woodinville, WA.  I was still trying to figure out my pace, tune my senses and figure out the differences which made me either slow-down and savor, or swirl, spit and move on.  That particular afternoon, I began discussing this with the representative who was pouring the Yellow Tail Chardonnay (it was the first year of it's release) and the advice I received has stuck with me for over a decade, "If you like it just spit backwards."

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There is no doubt that user-generated content and the Social Web have had a major impact on the hospitality industry.  When sites like TripAdvisor first grew in popularity, we found ourselves taking a reactive approach: how can we be sure that our reputations are not damaged by negative reviews? Today’s trends show that this content is not only here to stay but is also growing.  We have the opportunity to use this to our advantage.

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I believe that I would have to agree - the belly rules the mind!   According to Contiki Holidays 2011 Style Miles Report, Austrailian Gen Y'ers age 18 - 35 are letting their taste buds lead them to their next travel destination.

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There is no question that times are tough and it seems as though everyone is looking for something to distinquish them from their competition. If there is one thing to be aware of, numbers prove it’s the little things that are keeping customers – and employees – satisfied.

In the fast-food business, average employee turnover is somewhere between 300-400%.   So,  what is about the  British-born fast food chain Pret a Manger, where average turnover is a remarkable 60%?

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Do I...Don't I?  There isn't enough time.  Whats the ROI?    These are the questions I continually ask myself when it comes to fully embracing a social media strategy and my decision has pretty much been "I don't".  However, if you are just dabbling or embracing a full blown social media strategy, the following report should be a great interest to you.

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Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit this wonderful exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and was drawn to it after reading an article in which the curator, Henry Urbach, said, “I asked myself, what is it about wine that it seems to connect with so much else in our culture?”   Naturally I couldn’t agree more and planned a business/social trip to SF so I could visit the exhibit.

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Do Tourism and Wine Always Go Together?   I original thought that was a no-brainer, but after thinking it through some more and putting myself on the side of the winery owner, I have a new perspective.

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Like a favorite pair of shoes or a classic movie you love to watch on a rainy Sunday afternoon, we all have a favorite wine, from a certain region or state, which we love to go back to time and time again.  Some days, however, we want to kick off the shoes and run barefoot through the grass or grab a bucket of popcorn and watch the latest thriller.  The same can be said for wine!

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