Have A Little Faith

Technorati Tags: travel,airlines,communications,hospitality,hotel points,hotels,loyalty programs

When it comes to hotel brand loyalty, the 2011 forecast does not look good. According to an annual survey by TripAdvisor, there was a severe drop in hotel brand loyalty this last year, the amount of people saying they are loyal to one hotel name dipping from 59 percent to 39 percent. Travel experts and analysts speculate that the economy could be the main reason for the decline, the recession causing more people to question prices even on quality products. Another reason people are changing their tendencies is due to more access to other options. With all the social media and review-based websites out there, people have a wealth of information available to them, which makes it easier to make frugal and savvy decisions.

So what is keeping people faithful to their brands? Rewards programs. A huge factor in maintaining client loyalty, hotel reward programs provide quality benefits, upgrades and services that make for a more intimate experience. But no matter what a hotel gives to a client, it all comes down to how the brand interacts with the guest. All the upgrades in the world cannot replace a friendly customer service experience, and guests appreciate personal attention that can make them feel like the only people in the hotel.

One of the biggest mistakes airlines have made is their lack of effort to reach out to travelers and make them loyal customers. Unless someone is a frequent flier on an airline, he or she will probably not receive the kind of treatment that will make them feel appreciated as a client. In fact, the main reason people say they are not loyal to airlines is because the company has not done anything to deserve the loyalty.

A hotel brand taking the necessary steps to show its appreciation for its customers is Preferred Hotel Group. Their I Prefer program lets travelers sign up for free and take advantage of special services right away. Where other reward programs require customers to build up points or stay a certain number of nights before cashing in on upgrades, I Prefer gives them automatic benefits at no fee. Who wouldn’t want to get extra amenities or priority check-in or exclusive offers just for becoming a member? The program also offers online booking rewards, like complimentary breakfasts and rounds of golf. There are a number of exclusive hotel deals and partner companies offers that members can take advantage of, all for no cost.

With loyalty rates dropping by 20 percentage points this year, hotel brands need to find ways to make their customers feel special; that their business is greatly appreciated. Every guest is looking for a memorable vacation, and hotels need to go out of their way to provide that. Some people are happy with a few extended amenities, such as 24-hour access to hotel facilities, free coffee in the rooms and the lobby, free wi-fi and complimentary food. Others are looking for better customer service and a welcoming atmosphere. Still others feel that competitive prices and discounts are essential to win their loyalty. When it comes down to it, though, every guest is looking to be amazed with their hotel experience, and even if the smallest gesture can win them over, it’s worth doing.

Jump on JetBlue for Last Minute Travel Deals

If you are looking for a last-minute travel deal this weekend, then head right on over to Jetblue.com for their Cheeps: flights for $10 to and from certain cities. This deal is going on for one day only, or until seats run out, so you have to hurry.

You can choose from a variety of different flights, like Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau, Bahamas, or D.C. to Boston. However, there is a catch. You must depart from the predetermined city on Saturday, November 13 and return on either Monday, November 15 or Tuesday, November 16. You also have to book by 6 p.m. Eastern Time today, November 9. There are only 25 seats available on each flight, and they are going fast.

Obviously, not everyone can take full advantage of this travel deal. JetBlue has hubs in New York, Boston and Lonf Beach, so many of the flights depart from those locations, or other airports nearby. For those who do not live close to these locations, it will be difficult to schedule the trip, since getting another flight is necessary.

For those in the general vicinity of the cities selected for this deal--and who have the flex time to dedicate to a last minute trip--should make a bid for these cheap seats. It's not often that an airline is so generous with their fare prices, especially this close to the holidays. Of all the discount airlines, JetBlue certainly has some great offers, such as the month-long travel pass they sold earlier this year that let people purchase one pass for a set price that allowed them to book any flight on JetBlue. This was the second year that the airline featured the pass, and it was definitely a success. These $10 cheap seats are yet another attempt from JetBlue to get people to see the worth of their service. By offering lower fares, more people will fly their airline and get to see what sets JetBlue apart. It's certainly a smart marketing strategy, and I for one am becoming more and more interested in booking a flight with them.

Unfortunately, the Cheeps are not a convenient deal for me, but I encourage others to check it out and book a flight. Because one of the best things about spontaneous travel is that it can catch you by surprise.

Deal of the Week

I apologize for not posting a deal last week. Life got a little crazy with starting the new internship and everything, but I am getting back on track. So here we go, a new week and promising deals to go with it.

This week's winner is....

CHINA: 12-NIGHT ESCORTED TOUR W/ YANGTZE CRUISE, +AIR--$1899

We're heading to the Orient! Spend 12 days exploring the jewels of China, from the Forbidden City to the Great Wall. This deal from Gate 1 Travel will get you from Los Angeles to Shanghai, up the Yangtze river, over to Xian, up to Beijing, and back again for less than $2000. The whole deal includes:

• Roundtrip air
• All internal flights
• 12 nights of accommodations
• 3 nights at Bund Riverside in Shanghai.
• 4 night cruise up the Yangtze on the Century Star.
• 2 nights at Grand New World Hotel in Xian.
• 3 nights at the Jinglun Hotel in Beijing.
• 24 meals
• Sightseeing tours
• An english-speaking tour guide
• Entrance fees

You can depart on September 16, October 7 and 28, and November 18. Book this package by going online or calling and entering the promo code TZC250.

But hurry, cause this deal will probably go fast!


This week's runner up is....

GREEK ISLAND VACATION: 8 NIGHTS & AIR--$1199

Now the only reason this came in second is because I have been to Greece before, so I thought a place I had never gone to--China--would be a better winner.

Anyway, this trip sounds absolutely incredible and I personally am dying to go. You can spend 8 nights on the Aegean Sea, gazing at the beauty that is Greece. Europe Vacations provides you with:

• Roundtrip flights from New York
• 2 nights at the Candia Hotel in Athens--steps from the Parthenon
• 3 nights at the Kamari Hotel in Mykonos
• 3 nights at the King Thiras Hotel in Santorini
• Ferry service between islands
• Daily breakfast
• All hotel taxes

This deal is good on select dates in April and May. Spring in Greece still has warm weather and there are not as many people. Book this trip online or by calling and enter the promo code TZGRE1. Book by March 2.

Enjoy a relaxing journey through Greece for a very reasonable price!


Another deal that caught my eye was a sweet hotel deal in Mexico. Check it out!

Deal of the Week

I come bearing deals....and this week with all the snow that's been coming down, I'm sure most people are eager to steal away somewhere warm and exotic. I've got just the thing.

This week's winner:

8-NIGHT RIO DE JANEIRO, BUENOS AIRES & IGUAZU w/ AIR--$999*

South America is calling! With Brazil hosting the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, clearly it is the place to be. So why not see what all the fuss is about, and while you're at it...head on over to neighboring Argentina for a taste of "The Paris of the South" in Buenos Aires. This package from GotMyFare.com includes:

-Airfare to Rio, Iguazu and Buenos Aires

-Eight hotel nights: three in Rio de Janeiro, two in Iguazu, three in Buenos Aires
-Transportation between airport and hotels in each city
-Half-day guided tour of Corcovado Mountain, home to the Christ The -Redeemer monument

-Daily breakfast

-Half-day guided Tour to H. Stern Jeweler Museum

-Iguazu Falls tours on both Brazilian and Argentinian sides
-Panoramic city tour of Buenos Aires
-Exclusive discount coupons for shopping in Buenos Aires
-Free admission to the floating Casino de Buenos Aires

Sounds pretty sweet, doesn't it??

Departure dates for this trip are April 15; May 6, 27; June 14; Aug. 9; Sept. 3; Oct. 12; Nov. 9. Book by Feb. 19.
 
*This is the lowest price and is only available if you fly out of Miami. To see the price from a different city, you will need to check the website.
 
 
This week's runner-up:
 
ISRAEL 3-CITY GUIDED VACATION w/ AIR--$1299
 

"I'm just wandering around Jerusalem." Wouldn't you love to utter those words. Well, with this package from Gate 1 Travel, you could. Venture to the port of Caesarea or the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth. It's all possible for a very reasonable price. The full package includes:

 

-Roundtrip airfare from Philadelpia or Boston to Tel Aviv

-Airline fuel surcharges
-Six nights' hotel accommodations (one in Tel Aviv, two in Galilee, three in Jerusalem)
-Seven meals (six breakfasts, one dinner)
-All transfers
-Sightseeing per itinerary in a modern, air-conditioned motor coach
-Service of English-speaking tour manager
-Optional sightseeing tours at discounted prices

If you're not tempted, well then something's wrong with you.

Departure dates are: April 23; Oct. 1, 8, 22. Additional dates, April-December, for +$90.

Book this trip by going online and entering promo code TZDELTA270. This will sell out fast, so book asap!!


So I hope I delivered some tasty deals for you to salivate over, but if you were left unsatisfied, here are a couple others that caught my eye that you may enjoy. 6 nights in Barcelona, 5 nights in Hawaii, or an exploration of the Galapagos.

Deal of the Week

Another good week of deals, which, once again, made it difficult for me to choose. But after much deliberation, I think I have determined the best one.

And the winner is....

SINGAPORE & BALI UPSCALE VACATION W/ AIR-- $1199

Usually this price would cover only the flights, but now thanks to Globotours, you can book a 5-night stay in Singapore and Bali. The package includes: roundtrip airfare from LA, San Fran, New York or Houston; 5-night hotel accomodations (2 nights in Singapore, 3 nights in Bali); transfers between hotel and airport; a half-day Singapore tour; a half-day Denpasar tour; and complimentary daily breakfast in Bali. For this price you get to stay at the Furama Riverfront Hotel in Singapore and the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa in Bali. What makes it better? You can travel on dates through June 5 if you book by February 15. But you have to depart on Mondays-Thursday. (Note: flights out of New York and Houston are a little more expensive, and there may be additional taxes--but nothing over $100.)

So take this opportunity to experience the diverse culture of this region, and bask in the sunlight as you lay on the beach.

This weeks runner-up is....

COSTA RICA JUNGLE & BEACH PACKAGE W/ AIR--$779

Enjoy lush rainforests, gorgeous beaches, and epic volcanoes compliments of LatinAmerica4Less. This deal gets you roundtrip airfare to San Jose from Miami--other departure cities will cost more;--hotel accomodations in San Jose (1 night), Tortuguero National Park (2 nights), Arenal Volcano (2 nights), and Manuel Antonio National Park (3 nights); daily breakfasts and two lunches and dinners; a boat tour of Tortuguero National Park; a hiking tour of Arenal Volcano; a tour of Manuel Antonio National Park; and any transfers necessary during the trip.

Departure dates vary, but they are available into next January, so you have time to prepare. However, to get this price, you have to book by February 2. All bookings have to be done over the phone.

And just like last week, there were a couple deals that almost made it, so I have to mention them.

1. A Greek Island 8-night Spring Vacation-- $1299.

2. Rome 6-night Vacation w/ Air-- $649

Last Minute Travel on Halloween...

...make sure you read the fine print.

When I heard from Travelzoo that JetBlue was offering all nonstop U.S. routes on Halloween for $31 each way, I thought it was too good to be true. So I clicked the link to see what the deal was.

Turns out, there are a couple technicalities:
1. You have to book the flight TODAY! That's right, the deal only lasts until 11:59 p.m. tonight, Oct. 20.How can anyone in one day figure out where they want to go--on Halloween of all days--and get it booked in time?
2. The price is only valid on flights that depart after noon on Oct. 31--so if you wanted to leave in the morning so you could get to your destination earlier and have more time to spend there, it's not an option.
3. It claims that the cost is $31 each way, but according to the website, the price is applied to a one-way ticket. How are you suppose to get back? And since the price only applies to the day of Halloween and ends at 11:59 p.m. on the 31st, you have to pay for a full price ticket for the return flight--unless you want to fly there and back in one day, but who wants to do that?

Personally, I'd rather save myself the money and the hassle and just stay home for Halloween. I appreciate a good travel deal as much as the next person, but this doesn't sound like much of one to me.

Take Advantage While You Can

It's a good time to travel, but not for long. Airlines are making changes to their businesses in order to avoid dropping ticket prices. There is a growing consensus among executives that lowering seat prices just to maintain market share is not smart. Rather than sell seats below cost, airlines are thinking of shrinking through capacity cuts and consolidation.

There are plenty of good deals still out there for the budget traveler, and people need to pounce now in order to take advantage of the cheap prices. Why not get more bang for your buck on a trip to New York? London? Greece?

An especially good way to find the best deals is to surf around the internet on all those budget travel sites. You know the ones I'm talking about: travelocity, expedia, hotwire. But there are plenty of other sites that many may have not heard about before.

• Travelzoo: A top travel publisher that researches the best deals out there. They even have a top 20 list of the cheapest--most legit--deals.
• Vayama
• Mobissimo
• Sidestep
• Bing- recently relaunched travel website from Microsoft
• Kayak

There are plenty of others I am sure, but these will provide smart shoppers with options so they can compare deals. But personally, I think Travelzoo does a great job of finding sweet deals for you.And while you have to sign up, it's totally worth it to receive prime deals and prices.

So while companies are looking to increase fares in the near future, there are still decently priced tickets being offered right now. So grab them while they're still hot!

Oh...It's On

As people pass by one another on the street, casually they state, "it's on." Phoning friends, workers, colleagues, just to say those two words. Scene after scene, people are challenging...something. But what? What exactly is "on?"

The fight for better travel fares, that's what.

Southwest is presenting their summer deals with new commercials promoting new low fares to certain cities around the U.S. With airlines reporting a decrease in ticket sales of about 9% this summer, they are looking for anyway to get people traveling again. What better way than cheap plane tickets?

Some of their summer deals include: Chicago to Boston $89 (one way); Chicago to Cleveland $49 (one way); Denver to LA $79 (one way); Tampa Bay to New York City $114 (one way), the list goes on and on. You have to admit, some of these prices are pretty appealing, and maybe worth jumping on. Summer is the best time for deals, because more and more people are inclined to take time off and enjoy the gorgeous weather. Southwest, however, has always been known for their low fares. But I'm sure there are plenty of other airlines providing discounts and cheaper flights. You just have to search for them.

As for me, I'm seriously considering taking on the economy with a cheap flight somewhere. One of the cities on my list of places to visit is Boston, where one of my best friends happens to live. For $89, I could visit a city I've never seen and spend time with a good friend...talk about killing two birds with one stone.

Cruising away from it all

It may be June, but Chicago doesn't seem to care. With clouds gathered in the sky, temperatures around 50 degrees, and rain every other day, it sure doesn't feel like summer. Chicago weather definitely likes to mess with its residents, and many aren't thrilled with this game of hot and cold.

So many are getting away to the warmer climates. Prices for cruises are insanely good right now, and people are taking advantage. One of those people happens to be my boyfriend, and as I type he is enjoying his five day cruise in the caribbean which stops at George Town, Grand Caymen, and Cozumel, Mexico. And I'm stuck here in the cold and gloomy weather finishing up classes and working. Envious doesn't even begin to describe my feelings right now. But if I had the chance like he did, I would have grabbed it in a heartbeat.

I've only been on one cruise ship, and that was about six years ago on a senior class trip in high school. The boat was smaller than many of the cruise ships I had seen, and probably lacked many of the amenities that the luxury boats provided, but it was a blast all the same. Admittedly, the location played the biggest factor--it was a three day cruise of the Greek islands. Plus, I had my best friend traveling with me, which makes everything more enjoyable. Traveling on a boat is an experience in itself. I was used to getting around by car or plane, where you are trapped in a confined space for a certain amount of time. The cruise ship got me to where I wanted to go while I sunned myself on the deck, sipped pina coladas with my friends, and wandered around to the various buffets. It was heaven. And while disembarking on the islands we visited was exciting and eye opening, it was just as fun jumping back on the boat to make our way to the next destination.

Time and money do not permit me to book a cruise right now, but it is just another thing I'm adding to my list of travel goals. This, of course, will not be a first. But I would love to experience one of these larger cruise ships that tower over my special little boat and trips that last longer than two nights. Also, there are plenty of different locations cruises venture to, and all of them sound like incredible places to visit.

First stop: Dubai/Emerates.

A $500 discount and 2 dozen fresh oysters

With a deal like that, who could say no?

I know I would certainly consider taking someone up on that offer. And with elaborate beach front houses on the scenic east coast being rented for cheap this summer, a $500 discount would do wonders. In a New York Times article posted today (which is conveniently located on the left hand side of my blog), rentals for beach front vacation homes is down significantly from last year. The reason for the sluggish behavior is that people are taking their time before they jump into a commitment. They are shopping around for the best deals, more bang for their buck. Luckily for people who are wanting to rent, there are incredible deals right now because people are desperate to get their properties occupied for the summer. Another positive, many locations are still available for holidays--4th of July and Labor Day.

So what about those oysters? Just another perk for the renters. People are thinking of anything and everything to lure in travelers. But the economy is what it is, and it's less likely that beach homes will be rented out for the entire summer as they have been in the past. And with properties still available this late in the game, and at such great prices, it's worth taking a look at the deals you can get.

There is a condo in Garden City Beach, South Carolina, that is being offered for a week as just over $1,000. Even for a graduate student, that's doable. I'm not saying I'm putting the payment in right now, but if I had the money, I would seriously consider it. I love South Carolina, and I haven't been back there since I was a kid. And as for the other various destinations along the east coast, I've never been to Cape Cod or Maryland or any of those beaches. So just for the fun of it, I may look at some of these websites and float away in the hopeful bliss of my imagination. One day in the future I will make the commitment and rent a vacation home on the beach...but I doubt the deals will be this sweet.