Digital marketing top of the agenda for hoteliers

Dubai / Emirates Business

From a survey of UAE hoteliers, organisers of The Hotel Show Dubai discovered that a strong digital marketing strategy is at the top of the agenda. Undertaken by dmg events to identify which topic would be of the most interest to UAE hospitality industry professionals in an external training course, the results of the survey were unanimous.
“Developing a Digital Marketing Strategy for Revenue Optimisation”, a certified training masterclass in partnership with MODUL University Dubai, will take place at the 17th edition of The Hotel Show Dubai 2016, set to take up an entire day of the events’ popular Vision Conference.
Gary Williams, Event Director of the dmg events hospitality portfolio, said: “In a digital world, there is no denying that digital marketing is here to stay. It should form an integral part of a hotel’s marketing strategy, at a time where the presence of a hotel’s brand profile is no longer enough to drive revenue. An adaptation of a more robust marketing strategy is now inevitable. Hotel reservations and associated experiences are some of the most popular subjects for online reviews; and this continuous stream of consumer-generated content is typically regarded as more reliable, unbiased and popular than the content produced by hoteliers.”
MODUL University, established in Vienna in 1908, has over 100 years of legacy in hospitality and tourism education in Europe. The Dubai campus in Jumeirah Lakes Towers is set to welcome its first cohort of students this September.
Martin Kubler, lead Lecturer at MODUL University Dubai and CEO at sps:affinity who will conduct the training session, commented: “This masterclass will deliver insights and expertise needed by today’s hoteliers to optimise revenue through digital marketing channels including social media, mobile and web. The session will cover: Strategies to optimise your hotel’s online presence, identifying and managing your online audiences, developing and managing online sales funnels; current best practice in online and social media promotions.”
The “Developing a Digital Marketing Strategy for Revenue Optimisation” certified masterclass will be held on September 17, from 9.30am to 3.30pm, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Hoteliers that book before the 6th August will pay an early booking fee of US $200. Find out more and register to attend at: www.thehotelshow.com.
The Hotel Show Dubai (September 17-19, Dubai World Trade Centre) is a pivotal business forum for the hospitality industry in the Middle East and Africa. Working with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, industry associations, and partners, the 2016 event includes visionary features, extensive educational content (through the Vision Conference and TecSec Summit) and other knowledge sharing platforms together with senior level networking; co-located with The Leisure Show – the region’s only event dedicated to its growing leisure industry.