Wireless access in hotels: luxury or necessity?

Written by: Claude Péloquin on 18 May, 2007

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Over the past few years, hotels have invested heavily in order to satisfy their clients’ internet access needs. However, although the demand is obvious, customers’ willingness to pay is less so. Also, because a growing number of clients now travel with laptops, wireless networks are becoming increasingly popular. Do hotel owners have to resign themselves [...]

Putting HR and tourism in context

Written by: Michèle Laliberté on 14 February, 2007

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Understanding the environment in which tourism is evolving will help us understand the challenges facing human resources, for owners, managers and employees. However, when human resources issues themselves are in the midst of dramatic change, everyone in the industry is impacted. The world is changing: society is changing, tourism is changing, tourists themselves are changing, [...]

What’s to be done with your VIC?

Written by: François-G. Chevrier on 16 November, 2006

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The existence of the internet and the increased number of information tools available at destinations mean fewer queries are being addressed to VICs (visitor information centres) and tourist information desks. Many such information offices are becoming all‑purpose tourist service centres, just to survive. However, this may not be the solution for all. Perhaps some of [...]

Family travel and Generation X parents

Written by: François-G. Chevrier on 13 March, 2006

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In the last few decades, family realities have changed dramatically. While amenities popular with children (like a hotel pool) are still very important when planning a family vacation, the demand for family travel has been affected by the fact that parents from Generation X now head young families. Having had their children much later in [...]

Mobilize your staff to surpass customer expectations!

Written by: François-G. Chevrier on 30 November, 2005

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In today’s very competitive marketplace, many tourism-based organizations would like to differentiate themselves by trying to provide service that surpasses customer expectations. If they are to succeed, these businesses must first mobilize their human resources to offer customers superior service quality and a distinctive experience. With customer service now the cornerstone of a value-based, rather [...]

Authenticity – What do they really want?

Written by: Michèle Laliberté on 20 October, 2005

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The search for authenticity is a predominant trend driving tourism because travellers are looking for unique experiences that are part of our vibrant and varied world. Quebec is not Venice, the Inuit are not like the Aboriginals of Australia and a sugaring off party bears no resemblance to a traditional raclette party in a Swiss [...]

“Seduce” your clients!

Written by: Michèle Laliberté on 14 September, 2005

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Within ten years, more than half of the world’s population will be living in cities. Tourism regions can get ready to capitalize on the business potential represented by stressed-out urbanites. Mutually beneficial relationships could develop between city-dwellers in need of a short-term getaway and the surrounding areas, rich in wide-open spaces and numerous opportunities for [...]

Commentary from Michael Nowlis on the hotel classification

Written by: Michael Nowlis on 13 June, 2005

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Michael Nowlis is Managing Director of Tourism Control Intelligence. He has rated hospitality establishments for various guides and trained AAA inspectors. Why make things simple when you can make them complicated?  Such a rhetorical question summarizes the obfuscation created by tourism authorities, intergovernmental organizations, travel companies and trade associations in their discombobulated initiatives to classify [...]

Up close and personal

Written by: Michèle Laliberté on 8 May, 2005

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As has been said before, the quest for authenticity has become a general trend. Beyond the major natural attractions and must-see sites, travellers visiting foreign countries are interested in experiencing the local culture and soaking up the lifestyle. Rural tourism fits in nicely with this desire for immediacy, but the trend also represents an opportunity [...]

Defining a tourist experience

Written by: Michèle Laliberté on 23 March, 2005

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What exactly is a “tourist experience”? The concept is both vast and abstract. Does it refer to that special something that travellers talk about upon returning home? Is it what makes people select your destination above others in a very competitive market? We need to establish just what it is that makes our product stand [...]







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