Hong Kong and New York, October 22, 2015 - With hotels increasingly challenged by the growth of third-party intermediaries and the further commoditization of the hospitality industry, more than 100 of the industry’s leading practitioners from the fields of revenue management, marketing, sales and distribution came together at Hong Kong’s Hotel ICON for a day of spirited discussion and networking focused on how hotels can create value in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
The occasion was the first Revenue Strategy Forum, a thought leadership educational meeting jointly organized by Hotel ICON and Duetto, the market leader in hotel profit optimization technology.
Participants discussed how owners and operators can identify and manage their Revenue Strategy to optimize each hotel's channel mix in this dynamic and challenging digital landscape, to achieve greater profitability and retain and create market share.
Topics discussed at the day-long conference included:
From Revenue Management to Revenue Strategy
Moderator: Patrick Bosworth, CEO & Co-Founder, Duetto
Panelists:
- Philip Schaetz, SVP of Sales and Marketing, Dorsett Hospitality International
- Jeannette Ho, VP Revenue Management, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International
- Stefan Wolf, Senior Vice President Revenue & Distribution Strategy, Onyx Hospitality Group
- Dr. Basak Denizci, Associate Professor of Financial & Revenue Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The session focused on how hotel owners and operators must formulate a holistic Revenue Strategy bringing together revenue management, sales and marketing, distribution, loyalty and other revenue-generating functions to drive market-share gains.
Disruption 2020: The Digital Marketplace
Moderator: Sean Seah, CEO, APD Greater China
Panelists:
- Bernard Quek, CEO GHS
- Sally Osbourne, Director of Strategy and Business Development, Hotel ICON
- Raphael Cohen, Co-Founder and CSO, HotelQuickly
- Frederick “Fritz” Demopoulos, Founder, Queens Road Capital
The session focused on how content has become the primary driver in the digital economy, analyzing the impact of factors such as pricing, transparency and one-stop shopping. It also looked at how innovative companies have become “winners” in the new era by delivering consistent value, great experiences and maintaining loyalty and extending customer relationships.
The day’s thought leadership discussions were complemented by valuable networking opportunities and a memorable closing reception.
Richard Hatter, General Manager of Hotel ICON, said, “The hotel market in Asia is becoming increasingly competitive, with a crowded field of international brands and pricing pressures from outside the industry. As a teaching hotel, Hotel ICON was very excited to partner with Duetto to host the region’s first ever Revenue Strategy Forum. It brought together thought leaders from throughout the region to discuss how the emerging discipline of Revenue Strategy can help hoteliers enhance profit, performance, and ultimately, improve our guests’ hotel experience — as we maximize the value of our hotels’ best assets.”
Opened in 2011 for the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hotel ICON’s mission is to train and develop the next generation of elite hotel managers. Through exposure to best practice, students gain a first-hand insight into the commercial realities in hospitality. Hotel ICON — with five-star finishes – is managed to the highest standards of good governance to maximize profits, which are invested in education.
“We were proud to partner with Hotel ICON and Hong Kong Polytechnic University to launch the Revenue Strategy Forum, an event that exceeded all expectations,” said Patrick Bosworth, Duetto’s Chief Executive and Founder. “Focusing on industry disruption and how hotels can adapt, we learned both that the change is accelerating exponentially – and that industry leaders are becoming increasingly open to tackling the challenges head on, embracing a wide range of new solutions inspired by the emerging discipline of Revenue Strategy.”
For more information on Duetto and its industry education initiatives worldwide, visit www.duettocloud.com.
About Hotel ICON
Unlike any other, Hotel ICON is an upscale Hong Kong hotel in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui East. Standing as a testament to Hong Kong’s creative energy and vibrant arts scene, Hotel ICON showcases work from the city’s celebrated designers and the world’s most acclaimed architects. Offering the ultimate in comfort and committed to service excellence, Hotel ICON’s 262 stylish guestrooms, ranging in size from 36 to 80m, comprise seductive extras, including complimentary wired and Wi-Fi internet connections, smartphone with unlimited mobile data and an ultra-slim 40” Ultra High Definition LED TV. Located on level 9, Hotel ICON’s Angsana Spa is a tranquil oasis while the harbour-facing outdoor swimming pool and fitness centre allow guests to exercise while enjoying views of Hong Kong Island’s spectacular skyline. With a maximum capacity of 580 persons, Hotel ICON’s grand Silverbox ballroom is the ideal venue for a celebration or theatre-style conference. Hotel ICON houses three restaurants: Above & Beyond, The Market and GREEN, providing guests with exceptional quality of the food and impeccable service. wallpaper* magazine included Hotel ICON in its 2011 list of the world’s Best Business Hotels and DestinAsian included the hotel in its Luxe List 2011. The premier hotel has also won in four categories including the Top 25 Hotels as well as the Top 25 Best Service Hotels in China in the 2015 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards.
For more information on Hotel ICON, please visit www.hotel-icon.com.
About Duetto
Duetto delivers the most powerful revenue strategy solutions to the world’s leading hotels and casinos, allowing them to better manage pricing, revenue and business-mix decisions with superior, actionable data.
The unique combination of hospitality experience and technology leadership enables Duetto to provide new insights on pricing and demand as a true cloud-based software-as-a-service. With solutions that address the challenges of today’s distribution landscape, Duetto’s applications are a GameChanger — optimizing profit and guest loyalty.
Nearly 1,000 hotels and casinos in more than 50 countries have partnered to use Duetto’s revenue strategy solutions.
michael@mfcpr.com or (212) 808-6559