My Media Exposure ? Breakdown!!

It is hard to imagine a world without iphones ipads ipods or any other i's for that matter! changes in the last 20 years has seen a explosion in technology and mobile comunication...

Many businesses worldwide have grown their businesses and reputation by using the latest media technology. For example, Amazon.com and eBay.com are one of the world’s largest retailers. Customers can’t visit the store itself, because there is no actual tangible store, however, they can access their online shop/store 27/7 everywhere in the world. We all, without exception, are exposed to media. I did a little analysis about how much time I spend in front of TV, using phone, internet and radio in a week.

  

My results:

I spend around 2 hours a day in front of the TV, mostly as a background,  watching news and othe current affairs programmes, I source most of my news content from TV news bulletins .  I use Internet 2 hours a day, the hours really differ in summer and in winter time.  I use Internet not only for communication with friends ie facebook and twitter but also for e-mails,  and music, but also for my research for college. However, my phone is used regularly everyday, and radio only in my car on the way to and from college, work etc 

 

 

other interesting facts at Cheryl Reif dot com!!!!

www.cherylreif.com

 

My Experiences at DKIT continued......

My Intership

My internship was with the Ballymascanlon House Hotel, Co.Louth from April 8^th 2010 until September 2010. This internship opportunity is perhaps the most important and critical component in The 2nd Year Bachelors of Business Degree in Hospitality Management at DkIT, as it is the opportunity for me to apply, in a real world setting, what I’ve learned in The Institute and core classes during the year.

An internship is not just a summer job. It is an extension of the Academy classroom instruction and curriculum, further developed and challenged in a business environment, supervised by business leaders in a real-world setting, resulting in a broad, relevant, enriching educational experience. Done correctly, internships provide the context in which a student’s classroom learning is applied. But the internship doesn’t stop at just applying classroom skills in a work environment. We are exposed to a broad view of work experiences and situations, which could be in that Industry. We are also exposed to a broad array of soft, workplace skills, teamwork, decorum, ethics, creativity, time management, ingenuity, problem-solving, comportment, critical thinking and a solid understanding of the importance of excellent written and oral communications skills. This combination of benefits provides an invaluable foundation for any career in the future.

The Learning curve involved within Ballymascanlon was very helpful. Being a member of a professional team afforded me the opportunities to learn not only from myself but from others within the team. My self-confidence grew and I relished working in a team. Also During my time in Ballymascanlon I witnessed firsthand the operations of departments and the huge amount of time and effort put into staging different events within the hotel from weddings numbering 50 to 250 to dinner dances, charity fundraisers and corporate events.

Overall I have found the role to be most challenging.  Job satisfaction was good. The degree to which I felt positively or negatively towards aspects of my position varied the work settings depending on department. Skill sets varied to the degree to which job being executed. To be honest clearing table and mopping floors takes no great skill set but its relevant was as important as strategies within management. Being valued by your peers no matter what the job undertaken leads to satisfaction within the workplace; I felt this area needed improvement within the middle management structure in Ballymascanlon. However Company policy and administration is applied in a professional and efficient manner.

 

Ballymascanlon House Hotel Website

Over View of Intergated Marketing & E-Tourism Applcations!

In rebranding The Fairways Hotel we aimed to achieve the goals set out in our report. Our primary aim for the business is to increase and maintain employment, add value and in the private sector while driving profits up over a period of five years.  Our strategic was to include expansion, market leadership, complete rebranding, and brand-building.

Our business objectives will be clearly detailed in a step by step plan. Achieving marketing objectives through applying integrated communication Mix of both on-line digital technologies and more traditional off-line communications tool. To develop and operate high quality, value for money accommodation and conferencing facilities to national and international clientele. To ensure that The Fairways Hotel & Resort  is equipped and operated to a quality threshold in excess of brand standards which positions us as best in class in the market. To provide outstanding customer service on a consistent basis, while ensure that we attract, develop and retain the highest quality workforce? These measures need to be SMART in order for the business and our stholders to know what progress we have made towards achieving the objective.

My Experience at DKIT 2009-2012

Background

After spending 10 years in Barcelona., Managing Irish bars and restaurants there I decided it was time to come back home and open a new chapter in my life. The idea of returning to education had always appalled to me and when a friend suggested that I build on my experiences abroad in hospitality I decided the time was right to try 3rd level education. I learned Spanish fairly easily and enjoy meeting new people, so the idea of the classroom didn't intimidate me at all. I must say I enjoyed the course and found it educational and interesting, somethings I would do differently but in the end I look back on the experience and will miss the buzz of assignments and deadlines. The course has lead to me securing a job as a Conference and banqueting manager at the Ballymascanlon Hotel, a Post I wouldn't have achieved without my contacts at DKIT.

Part Two to Follow....

interesting  report/
The 5 Golden Rules of Social Media
Facebook page? Check! Twitter account and dedicated hastags? Check! Competitions, discounts and giveaways? Check! Any real, measurable and abundant ROI from social media campaigns?

Guys,

A recent EyeforTravel survey of APAC travel brands shows that despite 67% claiming to have deployed social media initiatives, more than half admitted confusion or inability to effectively rack and measure ROI.

One respondent describes ‘For all its potential, social media keeps me up at night.. It feels a little bit like jumping in at the deep-end without arm-bands and being expected to swim’
Social media experts explain how brands can move beyond deploying social media for ‘engagement’ or to ‘raise awareness’ and instead concretely generate incremental revenue and real ROI. Excerpts below;

Hotel Social Media and Review Analytics for Service and Sales

1) Identify where social media will save you money

Social technology can increase efficiency. Using social media and review analytics could also save you substantial amounts of money in customer surveys, business intelligence, and market research. Exposure from social campaigns could replace some of your investments in advertising and PR, saving money from budgets there as well.

2) Count inbound leads from social media

Many hotels are using social media listening tools to pick up on conversations with people looking to buy what they are selling. Hubspot research showed companies that blog generate 88% more inbound leads than those who do not blog.

3) Measure for sales conversion improvement

Social media - and online customer reviews in particular - play a key role in optimizing sales conversion rates." Brian Ferguson, EVP at Expedia, quantifying the ADR impact as well: “A 1 point increase in a review score equates to a 9% increase in average daily rate (ADR).” Measure the increase in revenue directly attributable from using social media in the sales process.

4) Track progress towards business KPIs and strategic objectives

Insights from the social web can play a key role in reaching strategic business goals such as improving guest satisfaction or increasing the percentage of direct bookings. When you understand the financial impact of reaching larger business goals such as these, quantifying the contribution of social media towards reaching that goal becomes easier.
(EyeforTravel and Greg Tilston published a good overview of social KPIs on the EyeForTravel blog.)
“The online reputation of each of our brands is a key success indicator for us. Online reviews not only give us insights into our daily operations, they also directly influence our revenue and profitability.” – Luis del Olmo, EVP and CMO of Melia Hotels International

5) Measure campaigns

Driving email newsletter subscriptions? Need to increase the number of inbound links to your website for SEO purposes? Want to increase visitor time on your website? Campaign or project-based ROI might ultimately be the best measure of return on investment. Especially if you compare the cost associated with reaching a goal with what it cost you in the past using other tactics. Martin Soler at WIHP wrote a good article if you want to learn more about this:

My Tech Fast Experience!

Colin Cooney’s “Tech Fast” met with gasps for Techno Mad Events Students at DKIT! Most if not all could never imagine life without their iphones, ipods, ipads!!! I on the other hand remember when music was bought on vinyl, TV was in black and white and my parents delight at a new rotary dial telephone (see picture)Rotary Dial TelephoneRotary Dial Telephone

So the idea of giving up the internet and mobile devices was no big problem for me, and I have to admit I try my best to be “Tech Free” at weekends when possible! So when we participated in the IHI Irish Hospitality Management Games in Dublin earlier this month, it was an ideal opportunity not to use mobile devices and we lasted 2 full days without mobiles facebook, twitter and all other tech devices!!

How did you get on???…

http://www.failteireland.ie/Tourism-Education

Maybe there something for someone on the Failteireland website!!

"You Know What The World Still Turns"

Technology Fast!

Did You Know!!

160 billion emails are sent daily, the first public mobile call was made on 3rd April 1973. there are more than 4 billion mobiles in use and 3 million are sold every day.

The Gathering - be part of it

The Gathering is a unique chance for us all to join a countrywide, citizen-led initiative to reach out to Ireland's global diaspora and bring them home for an unprecedented year-long celebration of all that is great about Ireland, Spread the word!!

Who would you bring to your Gathering in 2013?

who would you bring to your gathering in 2013???

The Gathering Ireland is a chance to join a citizen-led initiative to reach out to Ireland’s diaspora & bring them home for a year-long celebration.

http://www.thegatheringireland.com/Home.aspx

The g Hotel, Galway

Read Atttached:http://www.hospitalityenews.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/2845-five-stars-for-g-hotel.html

The G Hotel in Galway will today join an elite group of only 12 others in Ireland to be awarded five stars by the AA.The hotel's restaurant -- Gigi's -- has been awarded two AA rosettes in recognition of its fine dining. The hotel achieved its five-star status following a series of unannounced visits by AA inspectors -- and last week learned that it had made the grade. "This really is a very prestigious award for the hotel," said a delighted Triona Gannon, general manager. The hotel opened in November 2005 and was designed by renowned milliner Philip Treacy, from Ahascragh, Co Galway.

To-day April 23rd sees the re-release of ABBA's last studio Album, ABBA - THE VISITORS!

I remember it the first time around and still have the original vinyl released in 1982!! The Visitors, as a Deluxe Edition is not only the original album, you also get seven bonus tracks and a exclusive DVD compromising of rare and previously unreleased material. The Visitors, as an ABBA record, is somewhat different to what you might expect. Gone is the “lighter” music of Waterloo and Mamma Mia! and its place we have When All Is Said And Done, a song that depicts Benny and Frida slowly going their separate ways. The Visitors, the opening song, does a tremendous job of allowing you to know within the first few bars that this record is more “mature” than previous releases with the instinctive synth and pulsating beat. Head Over Heels and Slipping Through My Fingers are more fine examples of this. The major hit single is One Of Us, with its beautiful intro to an amazingly catchy chorus.

Here's a link to "When All Is Said And Done!" Released in April 1982, 30 years ago, it stills sounds as fresh today as it did back then !!

The bonus tracks is where you get to embrace what this Deluxe Edition is about. Songs like Should I Laugh Or Cry, previously a B-Side, Cassandra and The Day Before You Came are the picks here. They all fit in perfectly with the original album. We are even giving a very special track, From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel. It may only be a demo, however what it most definitely isn’t is filler as this is the standout song from the extras.

Enjoy!

Recently, After 2 days locked away in the Fitzpatrick’s Castle Hotel, Killiney, Co Dublin, A team of 5 students, representing Shannon College of Hotel Management was selected as the outright winner of the Irish Hospitality Institute (IHI) Business Management Game 2012, in association with Champagne Taittinger and Fáilte Ireland. Congratulations Shannon and commiserations to my fellow team mates,  at DKIT! We did ourselves proud!!

http://www.eyefortravel.com/social-media-and-marketing/5-golden-rules-social-media-roi

The 5 Golden Rules of Social Media

Facebook page? Check! Twitter account and dedicated hastags? Check! Competitions, discounts and giveaways? Check! Any real, measurable and abundant ROI from social media campaigns?

Guys,

A recent EyeforTravel survey of APAC travel brands shows that despite 67% claiming to have deployed social media initiatives, more than half admitted confusion or inability to effectively rack and measure ROI.

One respondent describes ‘For all its potential, social media keeps me up at night.. It feels a little bit like jumping in at the deep-end without arm-bands and being expected to swim’
Social media experts explain how brands can move beyond deploying social media for ‘engagement’ or to ‘raise awareness’ and instead concretely generate incremental revenue and real ROI. Excerpts below;

Hotel Social Media and Review Analytics for Service and Sales

1) Identify where social media will save you money

Social technology can increase efficiency. Using social media and review analytics could also save you substantial amounts of money in customer surveys, business intelligence, and market research. Exposure from social campaigns could replace some of your investments in advertising and PR, saving money from budgets there as well.

2) Count inbound leads from social media

Many hotels are using social media listening tools to pick up on conversations with people looking to buy what they are selling. Hubspot research showed companies that blog generate 88% more inbound leads than those who do not blog.

3) Measure for sales conversion improvement

Social media - and online customer reviews in particular - play a key role in optimizing sales conversion rates." Brian Ferguson, EVP at Expedia, quantifying the ADR impact as well: “A 1 point increase in a review score equates to a 9% increase in average daily rate (ADR).” Measure the increase in revenue directly attributable from using social media in the sales process.

4) Track progress towards business KPIs and strategic objectives

Insights from the social web can play a key role in reaching strategic business goals such as improving guest satisfaction or increasing the percentage of direct bookings. When you understand the financial impact of reaching larger business goals such as these, quantifying the contribution of social media towards reaching that goal becomes easier.
(EyeforTravel and Greg Tilston published a good overview of social KPIs on the EyeForTravel blog.)
“The online reputation of each of our brands is a key success indicator for us. Online reviews not only give us insights into our daily operations, they also directly influence our revenue and profitability.” – Luis del Olmo, EVP and CMO of Melia Hotels International

5) Measure campaigns

Driving email newsletter subscriptions? Need to increase the number of inbound links to your website for SEO purposes? Want to increase visitor time on your website? Campaign or project-based ROI might ultimately be the best measure of return on investment. Especially if you compare the cost associated with reaching a goal with what it cost you in the past using other tactics. Martin Soler at WIHP wrote a good article if you want to learn more about this:

Mobile Comerce / Wireless Technology



What is Mobile Commerce?

Mobile commerce (also known as mobile e-commerce or m-commerce consists of two primary components. The first is the ability to use a wireless phone or other mobile device to conduct financial transactions and exchange payments over the Internet. The second is the ability to deliver information that can facilitate a transaction -- from making it easy for your business to be "found" via a mobile Web browser to creating mobile marketing campaigns such as text promotions and loyalty programs. 

Why Should You Care?

Just as the Internet and e-commerce revolutionized the way we promote, market, shop for and buy goods and services, wireless devices and mobile commerce are poised to create another revolution in the world of commerce.

Intersting Link to website on future trends in Mobile Commerce! http://gigaom.com/mobile/four-mega-trends-shaping-the-future-of-commerce/