Expedia named the Dominican Republic the Top Destination in the Caribbean and we are thrilled as Sublime Samana (pictured here) is one of 3 properties we represent in that country.
I recently read that Expedia Travel named the Dominican Republic the top destination of the year in the Caribbean. This news is particularly exciting as three of our luxury hotel clients, Casa Bonita Tropical Lodge, Sublime Samana Hotel & Residences and Casas del XVI are situated in this spectacular country. Over 4.6 million travelers visited the Dominican Republic in 2013 and this data helps provide a comprehensive overview of the destination as well as generate numerous press-worthy angles. Tracking hotel, destination and travel trends is easier than you might imagine and particularly worthwhile if you are a hotel, tour operator or even a destination!
Let Google Alert You
Google Alerts are a simple way to alert you to trends that coincide with your travel-related business. Setting up Google Alerts is easy and they will go straight to your designated mailbox. Using Casa Bonita Tropical Lodge, a boutique eco-luxury hotel in Dominican Republic, as an example, track the major key terms such as: “casa bonita tropical lodge”, “casa bonita dr”, “Dominican republic travel”, “eco travel”, “luxury eco travel/hotels”, “Dominican Republic travel statistics”, etc.
Whether you are a GM, Sales Director or even an owner, tracking travel statistics and trends related to your property is vital so that you can stay informed and use this information in promotional materials when appropriate.
Pro Tip: Make sure you are specific in your google alert terms and not general or you will be barraged with anything related to the topics you choose. “Casa Bonita DR” is an exponentially better Google alert than “casa bonita,” which will give you many unwanted updates!
Read the Glossies & Browse Online
Staying informed on hotel and travel trends means doing some research (but don’t worry, it’s enjoyable!). Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, Departures, National Geographic Travel are terrific resources for tracking trends. Additionally, the travel sections of major newspapers like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post have weekly sections devoted to travel (often highlighting new and burgeoning trends).
I love reading these publications because I’m often inspired with ways to tie-in our hotel PR clients to hot trends. The travel industry is so robust that you may not even realize how promotable your property is until you pick up the paper!
Checking the online versions of the top travel publications is also key. The NY Times has a terrific online version and The Huffington Post Travel page is one of my favorites and is always keeping up with the most relevant trends in the hotel and travel sphere.
Taking Action With Information
So, say you are a hotelier in the Dominican Republic. You now know that 4.6 million (yes, million) people traveled to your country last year. You also know that Expedia Travel named the DR the top destination in the Caribbean. Of the 4.6 million visitors, 1.5 million were US travelers. Put this all together, my friends, and you have newsworthy content.
Capitalize off this information (that you collected through Google Alerts and followed in print and online) by collaborating with your PR team to promote this trend. We love utilizing these statistics, trends and awards to promote our clients and get them the spotlight they deserve.
Have other ideas on how to track hotel and travel trends? Sound off in our comments section below!