Chairman's Corner
Mark Carrier
Dear Fellow IAHI Members:
Summer is nearly here. Memorial Day 2010 will mark the launch of this important and telling season. Will we benefit from a recovering economy and truly begin the climb to financial stability for our hotels and the industry?
We held our second Board Meeting of this year in April with an aggressive agenda and aligned discussions with IHG leadership, representing was Jim Abrahamson, Tom Seddon and other key executives.
Some highlights:
§ Your IAHI Committee Chairman reported on the progress of their work groups and be assured that their efforts address a wide range of important issues. We invested collaborative time on our procurement initiatives and on priorities associated with our work force needs.
§ Revenue driving initiatives were reviewed in detail with a focus on the six largest “big rocks”.
§ IHG unveiled the new Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express advertising campaign “Stay You” that is designed to position the brands effectively. On a worldwide basis nearly $100 million is being invested through system funds over the coming months. The overwhelming consensus was positive for the marketing program and we look forward to the results. Supporting the advertising campaign is a strong Priority Club Rewards promotion called “Hit it Big!”. This program is geared toward our most loyal guests and we strongly recommend that you promote it at your individual hotels. Here are a few ideas on how you might do that.
§ For the first time we welcomed participation by Nigel Greenaway, leader of the newly formed Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea IAHI Committee We were also honored to have Chairman Jia, representing IHG owners of Greater China, join us. We are truly evolving into a global organization that transcends borders and cultures for a common goal.
Now an issue near to my heart, by now, I hope you have heard about Celebrate Service, a week dedicated to recognizing the hard work and dedication of the more than 330,000 IHG employees around the world. Celebrate Service Week will be held July 26 through August 1. The time will pass quickly so begin thinking about how you will recognize your employees. As owners, we invest considerable capital into our properties, but that investment means little to guests who are not receiving exceptional service. Employees who are committed to outstanding service deserve recognition and, in turn, they will continue to be our ambassadors.
Please continue to visit the IAHI blog for the latest information on the hotel industry and IAHI in particular. We are changing the blog in the coming weeks to be more reflective of our members. You will soon find articles and postings from a variety of sources, ranging from IAHI staff members to Board members. This is an excellent venue by which we can share information and ideas in real time.
Let’s keep the communication flowing.
Best regards,
Mark Carrier