Hotel & Tourism
SMARTreport #32
2016 Winter Edition
5
of criteria. Our teamgoes to the property,
meets with the owner, and sees if there
is an interest for them to join, because
we want to build on the value creation
we can bring to the hoteliers. Another
factor is that of technology, where we
are building on ideas to help hoteliers
create points of differentiation and
Return on Investment in this respect.
Do you have an example of what
you could term a “perfect example”
of a “tempting place”?
Yes. There’s the Madulkelle Tea and
Eco Lodge in the centre of Sri Lanka.
It’s a “must see” if you are in Sri
Lanka. It is unique in that the traveller
sleeps in a luxury tent perched upon
a hilltop, facing the green valley and
the distant knuckle mountains. The
360° view over the beautiful natural
surroundings from your room is a
highly emotional experience, just like
waking in the morning and finding you
are in the clouds. The cuisine is local
and authentic, with a hint of French
savoir-faire in the service. Evenings are
spent fireside with jazzy music sipping
cocktails.
In France, there is Château Pape
Clément, which belongs to Bernard
Magrez. It’s a property in the middle of
the vineyards, made unique by the fact
that it’s Mr Magrez’s home. Each room
has its own decoration with artworks
from famous artists. Afterwards you
cannot drink anything but Château
Pape Clément, because you have
experienced it.
How does your relationship work
with travel advisors?
It’s so important, because it is often
difficult to identify great independent
hotels that are very much sought after
by their clients. So we help them by
clarifying the market, and gaining the
loyalty of their customers. We give
them training, bring the hoteliers to
visit them, and the hotels provide extra
VIP advantages for their customers.
Just recently we organised an event
in Paris where 14 hotels were present,
and we invited travel advisors to come
and meet them. We also provide them
with a programme, which includes a
dedicated portal through which they
can book directly with net rates and
advantages, and extensive descriptions
of the hotels, with articles and a lifestyle
magazine that serves to inspire them
when dealing with the end customers
•
AS WE ARE IN
THE DIGITAL WORLD,
WE BRING OUR
HOTELIERS ANOTHER
WAY TO STRUCTURE
THEIR SALES AND
MARKETING ALIGNED
WITH A DIGITAL
APPROACH, GIVING
THEM ACCESS TO
TECHNOLOGY
Madulkelle Tea Eco-Lodge,
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Château Pape Clément,
Pessac, France
