March 22, 2011
QR Codes for Hotels
An overview of QR codes
QR codes are becoming increasingly popular in the UK as marketing tools for business. They are used widely in Japan and neighbouring Far East countries where 85% of consumers have phones capable of reading them, and we are seeing clear signs of a massive uptake in the West. They link the offline world to the online world, providing a quick, easy link to mobile content. Use of smartphones and other mobile devices is increasing at a staggering rate.
Benefits of QR codes to tourism
There are many applications for QR codes in the tourism sector, and used effectively they can bring benefits to a previously untouched mobile audience, such as:
• Being able to deliver rich media (video/audio etc) through printed marketing material on demand;
• Being able to choose which medium is most relevant;
• Using content specifically for people on the move;
• Providing information in different languages.
It is important to note that we should not deliver duplicate content to our mobile audience. We should consider where and when our users will respond best to mobile content that adds value to their situation. For example:
Example 1
Let’s take self-catering as an example. You may have information in each unit that displays things to do in the area, events, and other information relative to a customers’ stay. This is time-sensitive information or it may change for other reasons, and you would have to update this information regularly in every unit.
Your audience is mobile, they are away from their computers but need information. QR codes provide a quick, effective way to get relevant information on a familiar device. Using our example above, a simple database of activities, and things to do can be used to deliver this information in a friendly format. Remember, one QR code, all year-round, updates made at a central point and the data can be reused on the main website to give SEO benefits.
Points to note: QR codes are targeted at existing customers and information is an added extra that adds value to the stay and builds brand loyalty.
Example 2
Let’s take a hotels outdoor activities centre as another example. There’s fun, action, adventure – ideal content for a video, but out and about, your brochure is competing with other brochures. A QR code can link to a two-minutes video, instilling the sense of adventure that can be had at your hotel activity centre. This is mobile content at its best, a multimedia advert, with no hardware costs. Website URLS can essentially do the same thing, but it’s not happening, typing URLs on a mobile keyboard is still too fiddly, QR codes are, easy, slick and fun.
Points to note: Opportunity for video sells and content can be changed depending on season, promotions, locations.
QR Codes and Hotel Special offers
QR codes are great for special offers and coupons. There needs to be an incentive, particularly when the initial download of an app is required, and coupons do that without printing coupons off. But if the promise of an offer warrants that extra effort, it will reflect on the resort. So, for example, you could say, scan this QR code to get £10 off, or a free drink, or any other offer, or even, scan this code to see what special offers we have on this week, then you could vary the offers without changing the codes.
Contact Us Now for more information on setting your hotel up with QR codes.
April 7, 2010
The Royal Garden Hotel to launch their new restaurant in May
The Royal Garden Hotel in London Kensington is proud to announce the opening of thePark Terrace restaurant and bar at the beginning of May. The launch follows the success of the critically acclaimed restaurant Min Jiang on the tenth floor, opened in September 2008.
The Park Terrace restaurant will be located on the ground floor of the hotel, offering stunning views of Kensington Palace Gardens. Divided into three areas: a restaurant serving à la carte British cuisine, with a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients; a lounge area offering a more informal dining option with all day dining and afternoon tea; and a bar which will provide the focal point of the room, visible from the hotel lobby with an extensive selection of wines, beers, spirits and contemporary and classic cocktails. The restaurant and bar manager will be Jorge Canela, who has worked at the Royal Garden for the past four years.
Steve Munkley
Steve Munkley the executive chef of thePark Terrace has worked closely with local suppliers to create a superb menu. Delightful dishes include:
Starters
Cromer Crab Ravioli
Samphire and Shellfish Bisque
Organic Beef Fillet Carpaccio
Main Courses
Lavender and Herb Crusted Rump of
Suffolk Organic Lamb
Pan Roasted Cornish Halibut
You can enjoy a very reasonable award winning dinner in the Park Terrace which will be priced at £26 for two courses and £31 for three courses.
The restaurant will also offer a spacious private dining room, with space for up to 36 guests. Bespoke menus will be available in consultation with Steve Munkley, starting from £31.00 per person.
Lunching in London?
An excellent value lunch will be priced at £15 for two and £19.50 for three courses.
Or if you are looking for something a little more casual guests will be able to choose from a variety of dishes throughout the day lounge area, such as Beer Battered Bristol Channel Cod, Spiced Potato Wedges and Pea Purée or Potato and Herb Gnocchi, Roasted Squash and Spicy Sausage with Tomato Salad.
Afternoon Tea
Park Terrace will also offer a traditional afternoon tea featuring sandwiches, cakes and scones from the award winning Park Terrace pastry chef.
Park Terrace Bar
The Park Terrace Bar
ThePark Terrace Bar, headed up by Vilmos Csehi will offer classic cocktails with contemporary British highlights such as the Kensington Martini.
Offering picturesque views over Kensington Gardens combined with excellent value British cuisine, Park Terrace looks set to be a great addition to the Kensington dining scene.
April 6, 2010
POSH New Face for the Royal Garden Hotel Website
The Royal Garden Hotel in London Kensington, one of the most prestigious 5 star hotels in London, has launched its new hotel website to coincide with the launch of its exciting new image from its extensive hotel refurbishment.
The Royal Garden Hotel creation and launch of the new hotel website was managed by the POSH Agency, a new age team of online experts who work exclusively with hotels. The POSH Agency help hotels to increase and maximise sales revenue from online marketing efforts. The new hotel website, launched on 1 April, offers exciting new ecommerce features and designated section offering hotel special offers in London to loyal guests and prospective customers. An important feature of the new website is the online photo gallery, complete with images of the recently renovated areas of the Kensington hotel, which is soon to be accompanied by a full interactive suite of online hotel videos and 360-degree tours of the hotel facilities.
The Royal Garden Hotel overlooks Kensington Gardens and offers travellers a 5-star luxury hotel without the stuffiness expected of 5 star hotels in London. This well known UK hotel enjoys stylish rooms, a hotel spa, 10 London meeting rooms and modern function room and events venue, plus two award-winning restaurants – including the acclaimed Min Jiang Chinese Restaurant on the 10th floor.
Jenny Arnold, founder of the P.O.S.H. Agency which is now working for the Royal Garden Hotel managing ecommerce activity and online growth, explains: “We love working with the Royal Garden Hotel in London and are very excited to be part of the launch of its luxurious new look. Imagery and interactivity are therefore at the forefront of this exciting new hotel website. We wanted to instantly show the comfort and quality of this fantastic newly refurbished hotel whilst offering great support and information to help customers find their perfect hotel stay.”
The recently reopened hotel lobby ensures a memorable welcome upon arrival. The contemporary, modern feel can be seen on the 10th floor in the critically acclaimed Min Jiang restaurant and in the bedrooms and suites on the seventh, eighth and ninth floors which are now decorated in a palette of neutral calming shades, complimented with rich fabrics. New features include iPod docking stations and media hubs. Modernisation work is currently underway on the fifth and sixth floors to continue the phasing-in of the contemporary designed bedrooms.
Visit the new website now at www.royalgardenhotel.co.uk and enjoy some of the fantastic hotel special offers.
