Recommend September 2015 - (Page 12)

Destination Hotels hoteldesk With Destination Hotels' new signature touchpoints, guests are encouraged to discover the local area they are visiting, such as at Aspen's The Gant. michelle marie arean Authentic. ocal feel. egional flavor. Immersive experiences. hese are concepts many hotel brands are now using to describe their properties, but Destination Hotels, according to arie orres, v.p. of branding and marketing, has been conducting business this way for over four decades. he hotel company, made up of over 4 upscale, luxury, and independent properties, focuses on the destination, not the facility. hough estination Hotels is currently evolving as a whole with a new logo, signature touchpoints, and a new website, as well as like-minded brand partners, it allows each property to showcase the destination as they see fit. hat said, the brand s new signature touchpoints Destination Taste, Destination Discovery, Destination Suitcase provide a cohesive way to deliver those experiences. Destination Taste showcases a savory snack or candy amenity offered to guests that showcases the local flavor of the destination. Destination Discovery, meanwhile, helps guests discover the destination through wellness activities such as a Walk, Run, and Drive tour where the hotel provides guests with pointers highlighting destination-specific tasks such as the best place to see a sunset, or where the best tacos can be found. orres points out that many properties have gotten creative, such as in California, where some hotels offer Walk, Run, and Surf, providing guests with optimal surfing spots only locals would know about. estination Hotels also recently launched brand-wide food tour travel experiences available at most resort properties. So who would be the ideal estination Hotel guest According to orres, someone who values individuality, is sociable, down-toearth, and seeks uni ue experiences. " e call our target audience interested independent. e want to help guests curate a uni ue experience as a local," says orres. hich brings us to one of the aforementioned signature touchpoints, Destination Suitcase an online mobile app that will be available for all properties in early 2 1 (currently available at four). hen you book a stay for your clients, they ll receive a "suitcase" of discovery opportunities including suggested books on the destination, favorite hiking trails, or suggested restaurant reservations. "It s a suitcase of discovery and meant to correspond with a local tip of the area or something the destination has to offer," says orres. Along with Destination Suitcase, the new mobile app will also implement a new way to use room service by re uesting food to 12 september 2015 go, or to be delivered to a guest's cabana or poolside versus their room; spa appointment scheduling will also be available. uests will be sent geo-targeted push notifications for instance, if they re near the bar area they ll be sent a drink special, be notified of happy hours, or meet and greets. By the way, those "interested independent" travelers don t have to leave their kids behind, as all properties are kid-friendly and have either a kids camp or kids club, as well as kids menus with healthy options. ach property also has a director of all things fun, whose job is to create memorable family experiences good for kids of all ages. . . . b ut th at' s not all With a new brand logo comes a new website that allows users to have access to more content based on the experiences and locations they re interested in. here s a new blog with content highlighting each destination including a 2-day trip local guide series. A new platform for agents is also in the works (expected to launch in early 2 1 ), including education on the various properties as well as incentives. " e really want to educate the agent community on who we are and what we offer what the differences are in luxury hotels and the rest of the collection," says orres. estination Hotels, incidentally, offers FA s throughout the year, and orres points out that percent of their business is transient customers, of which 3 -35 percent is composed of agent bookings. If you think with all these changes, estination Hotels will sit back and rest on its laurels, think again. According to orres, there s a lot more to come. " e re establishing our urban portfolio with hotels in San Francisco, Houston, and Silicon alley and a lot more is coming from us on the urban side of our portfolio." hat means more leisure experiences at the urban properties, including nightlife, and food and beverage. " ur customer base is interested independents. hey like to travel off the beaten path they re not looking for experiences that everyone goes to. hey go to travel professionals to get the recommendation on that hotel experience that s not expected," points out orres. ● c ontac t i nf or mati on Destination Hotels: destinationhotels.com recommend.com http://www.destinationhotels.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2015

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: Destination Hotels
Tour Talk: New Offerings Abound
Heritage Travel: In the Footsteps of History
Family is the Focus in Mexico
Guatemala Travel Planner
Hawaii: Falling into Paradise
B Resort & Spa, Lake Buena Vista
The Buzz in Caribbean Family Travel
Escorted Tours That Pack a Punch
Family Adventures
Cruising, Family-Style

Recommend September 2015