Tattoo Time
The hipster haven isn`t alone in its outré attempt to attract attention—and guests. To buoy average occupancy rates that dipped below 60 percent this summer, luxury hotels enticed their guests with offers like:
The free use of Mercedes, BMW and Porsche convertibles
Room rates determined by the day`s high temperature
Late (6:00 pm) check-out and a $75 voucher for a spa treatment
"One reason for all the promotions," notes Martín, "is that hotel owners are trying to draw business without cutting room rates—a move that could lead to a backlash from customers once the hotels try to raise the rates again in better economic times."
Such tactics can increase traffic. According to Bill Doak, general manager of the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, discounts and special packages accounted for 20 percent of guest sales last year.
Word of warning: Just be sure the numbers in your promotions add up to real savings. When Martín did the math on the Hotel Erwin package, he discovered the $399 tab trimmed only $5 from an estimated non-package price of $404.
The Po!nt: Make those special offers truly special. "Everybody is out to save money," Doak told the Los Angeles Times. "We need to respond to that if we want to stay in business."
Source: Los Angeles Times. Read the full article here.
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Source:
http://www.marketingprofs.com/short-articles/1449/would-you-like-a-tattoo-with-t