Showing posts with label GNEX. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GNEX. Show all posts

Do We Need All Those Conferences?

9/23/2015 Unknown
It seems like every week - sometimes even daily - there is some form of industry conference to attend. With the rise of digital networking, many believed that the need for face to face interaction would diminish. After all, it's much easier to watch a webinar in the comfort of your office, then to deal with the hassle of airport lines and rental cars. And there's all that time and extra work to prepare to leave and to catch up on when you return. But conferences are not diminishing, in fact, the opposite is true - they are big business in all industries and the timeshare industry is no exception.

Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor indicate that conventions and other such events are expected to expand by 44 percent from 2010 to 2020. That’s well beyond the average projected growth of other industries. The timeshare industry is following the convention trend. We've got GNEX, SOIC, Regional ARDAs, Fall ARDAs, Annual ARDA, the Canadian Resort Conference, and the list goes on. 

Are They Worth It?

The Good

  • Networking
Conferences offer networking opportunities. Connections are made that can be good for your business. Even if it isn’t right away, that cocktail you had with a business owner may result in a beneficial future relationship. 
  • You might learn something
Conferences can be a valuable learning tool. People new to the industry can gain valuable knowledge from the seminars and workshops.Veterans can update their skills and keep on top of trends.
  • Exciting and Stimulating
Conferences can be exciting, especially if you are a speaker and you get a lot of attention as you expound your views for all to hear. As a participant, there's usually something to take away from the conference that stimulates.
  • Regional conferences 
Regionals can be especially helpful for those working at resorts who can't get away to attend the bigger conferences.

The Bad
  • Too much of the same thing
With so many conferences, information is often repeated. The same speakers tend to be at all conferences.
  • All about the location
Conference planners are determined to find the most fascinating location for the conference. Sure it's fun, and our industry is all about great locations, but how much actual work is getting done?
  • Lost productivity
Who’s minding your business while you are away? That time away from the business can mean a loss of productivity. First, there’s all the prep work you need to do to get away for the week—you might have to train someone else to do your job or to take over responsibilities, and when you get back, more time is needed to catch up on all that you missed. 
  • Too much hype
There really is a conference industry for those companies that don't want to plan their own. The conference industry is so big that it has its own conference and industry awards. Ever notice how many vendors set up shop at the conferences and post their company names all about? They are sponsoring conferences to sell their products and fortify their connections to members of their distribution chains. Sometimes it seems like this interaction is overshadowing the true purpose of conferences.


We'd like to hear about what you think. Is our industry having too many conferences? Could we spend the time more productively? Comment below with your views!

Labels: , , , , , , , , , 0 comments |
Bookmark and Share
edit post

New and Improved Features from TripAdvisor Enhance Online Reputation

2/25/2015 Unknown
This week's Global Networking Expo (GNEX) included a presentation by TripAdvisor's Mark McCullough, Senior Territory Manager-Americas.  Mark's topic, Online Reputation Enhancement and how several TripAdvisor features can protect your online brand reputation and help your business to grow. 

Just for You

One of TripAdvisor's newest features is called "Just for You". This feature offers travelers the ability to zero in on the perfect hotel based upon their individual preferences. It's easy to use - when travelers search for hotels in their chosen destination, they are given a variety of filters and tags to select their travel preferences: price range, location, hotel class, brand, amenities and travel style. The more the user interacts with the Just for You feature, the more it adapts to the user's individual travel preferences. The site becomes the default ranking. Just for You keeps adapting and improving its recommendations the more the user uses the site. It only takes three easy steps to complete a search:
  1. Select travel preference tags on the Just for You Page
  2. Search for hotels and destinations on TripAdvisor
  3. Write a hotel review to share your travel experiences

Questions and Answers

The Questions and Answers feature for the hospitality industry allows resort managers and owners to interact with potential guests before they travel. Visitors input questions of concern into the system such as: Is there access to high-speed internet? Do you have supervised activities for children? Do you offer a gluten-free menu? The resort is notified with an email that the question has been made. You can then provide timely answers with that personal touch that encourages the guest to come your way.
TripAdvisor suggests several tips for answering the questions. Those include: respond quickly to reach travelers when they are planning their trip, be brief in your response,  emphasize the positive - take no answers and turn them into something positive by offering help or an alternative.

Management Responses to Reviews

Another feature that TripAdvisor offers to the hospitality industry is a guide to adding management responses to reviews. A 2013 TripAdvisor survey showed that responding to both positive and negative reviews demonstrates to former and prospective guests that you are interested in feedback and take your customer service seriously:
  • 77 percent of respondents said seeing a management response to reviews makes me believe that the establishment cares more about its guests.
  • 62 percent of respondents said seeing management responses would generally make me more likely to book that establishment over one that didn’t respond.
It may be even more important to respond to negative reviews as quickly as possible. Be careful in the wording of your response. In a recent PhoCusWright survey, 70 percent of respondents said that an aggressive or defensive Management Response to a bad review made it less likely they would book the establishment again. Be sure to thank the reviewer, address the specific issue and highlight the positive. 

Mobile App


TripAdvisor recently added new features to its free phone app. In addition to its many current applications, a newly designed city overview page has city descriptions of worldwide destinations, enables users to plan day trips by searching for popular cities nearby their intended destinations, and search for accommodations near a landmark. Research shows that mobile apps with phone tabs increase instant bookings by 44 percent. 
Labels: , , , , , , 0 comments |
Bookmark and Share
edit post

Record Attendance Expected at GNEX 2015 Global Networking Conference

2/18/2015 Unknown
The Global Networking Expo (GNEX) expects record attendance at its 2015 conference and 5th anniversary celebration February 15th-18th in San Diego, California. Senior level executives from over 100 companies are already registered to attend the conference that GNEX is calling, "a sharp networking focused and debate oriented gathering of timeshare industry professionals."

Something for everyone

Known as the America's finest city, San Diego is the perfect choice with plenty of social venues to encourage networking. The city has year-round picture perfect weather, gorgeous beaches and waterfronts, excellent restaurants and entertainment, and is a loyal military city. As one of the highlighted activities, GNEX attendees will party onboard the famous USS Midway. Guests can sip a drink on the flight deck while admiring the spectacular views of the surrounding bay and city, take a private tour of the Admiral's Quarters, or take a spin in the 360 degree flight simulators in the hangar bay (preferably before you sip that drink).
Also expected to be a popular event during the conference kickoff on Sunday, participants will have an opportunity to drive exotic cars on the GNEX custom designed autocross track at a nearby stadium. Drivers have a chance to drive 0-60 in a little over 3 seconds in cars with price tags averaging $250,000 or more.

Time to learn too

Lest you forget that you are there to learn something—there is also a strong lineup of speakers with many important concepts to share. GNEX refers to its conferences as, "The Global Meeting of Minds" and claims to deliver some of the most open dialogue between industry leaders in recent history. Its concentration on networking has helped to create many new business relationships and strategic partnerships through an interactive, collaborative environment.

Session topics

Get ready for updates and information you'll need for a successful 2015 in sessions on the 2015 financial outlook, improving profitability through inventory management, and help with growing your business with online brand reputation. You'll also have access to a session that fills you in on the results of the 2014 Timeshare Owners Study, and another that provides updates from a panel of industry leaders on the best routes for industry growth. 
Improve your marketing skills in a session that discusses which marketing strategies work to produce membership growth. Or take in another session that fills you in on customer profiling—considered the future of all marketing. And much more.

Speakers

The sessions feature speakers who are industry leaders. You might recognize such names such as Fermin Cruz, VP North American Business, DAE, Elianna Jones, Corporate Marketing Director, staySky Vacation Clubs and Bob Kobek, CustomerCountTM Surveys. You can also catch Mark McCullough, Senior Territory Manager, North Americas, TripAdvisor, Jon Fredricks, CEO, Welk Group, or Gregory Crist, President and CEO, National Timeshare Owners Association. Just to name a few.

Don’t Miss It!



Don’t miss this opportunity to update your knowledge of the latest timeshare information, and enjoy getting reacquainted with your fellow timeshare professionals, and meeting new ones.
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0 comments |
Bookmark and Share
edit post

David Siegel Named “Best Industry Leader” at GNEX 2014

2/26/2014 Unknown
Just a couple of years ago, David Siegel, CEO of Westgate Resorts, was being met with ridicule due to his documentary expose, "The Queen of Versailles." This year, he was named "Best Industry Leader" at February’s Global Networking Expo (GNEX) 2014. 
Perspective Magazine, the industry’s leading global independent trade publication, bestows over 30 awards at their annual GNEX conference. With judging by a panel of industry experts and peers, Mr. Siegel had to meet the tough criteria of the award’s panel and beat serious competition in order to win. The criteria states that the winner must, "be an exceptional motivator who demonstrates true commitment to excellence and the advancement of the industry. The winner must also be a determined leader who shows loyalty to employees and lifts their company to success beyond the challenges of the current marketplace."

The Queen of Versailles

Some mocked Mr. Siegel about Lauren Greenfield’s 2012 documentary, "The Queen of Versailles." The queen is Mr. Siegel’s wife Jackie, a one-time Florida beauty queen and the star of the documentary. Versailles is the name given to Siegel’s 90,000 sq. ft. palatial home, whose construction of, and Siegel’s subsequent financial challenges in building it after the 2008 economic crisis, was followed in the documentary. 
Overall, the documentary received a number of positive reviews from critics including a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95% out of 100 reviews being positive, and an average score of 8/10. A voter consensus statement read, "The Queen of Versailles is a timely, engaging and richly drawn portrait of the American Dream improbably composed of equal parts compassion and schadenfreude." Jackie Siegel, as the main star of the film, received overall positive reviews for her candor and no-holds-barred narration. The documentary also received awards for best directing at the Sundance Film Festival, and a nomination for best documentary of 2012 by the International Documentary Association.

Lawsuit

Mr. Siegel filed a civil action before the Sundance premiere against the documentary’s director Greenfield. Siegel wasn’t happy with the way the film had been described in promotional materials. He also claimed that Greenfield had not obtained a proper release from the subjects of the film, mainly David Siegel and Westgate Resorts. In January 2013, the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, stayed the suit pending arbitration. Judge Anne C. Conway stated that Siegel’s testimony was, "inconsistent and incredible and therefore lacking weight," even going on to say that his position was "quite bizarre in light of his subsequent conduct."

Early Start

Mr. Siegel began his career earlier than most. Last year, Siegel was a featured speaker at GNEX 2013, spoke about his first job of delivering papers out of a red wagon when only four years old. At age 10 he raised pigeons for the military, and later his entrée into retail operations was selling TV’s in a less than desirable neighborhood.  Siegel also talked about risk taking and opening his first resort at the West Gate of Disneyland that quickly became a success. Now the company has over 10,000 guest rooms at 28 full-service resorts in premiere travel destinations throughout the U.S.

Empire Builder

Mr. Siegel is adept at bouncing back from adversity, and no one can deny his success in the resort industry. Always outspoken, and somewhat of a renegade, his entrepreneurial spirit has served him well throughout his career. In the past 30 years, he has built CFI Westgate Resorts into the largest privately owned company in Central Florida. Timeshare, real estate, construction, hotel and apartment management, travel services, telecommunications, retail, transportation and more are all part of his massive business empire. 
Labels: , , , , 0 comments |
Bookmark and Share
edit post