LGBTQ tourism may seem like a new phenomenon, but it’s far from it. In fact, one could argue that Hanns Ebensten, also known as the father of gay travel, set the wheels in motion with He Travel and its first gay-only tour of the Grand Canyon in 1973. Given that June marks Pride Month—a time to celebrate LGBTQ achievements but also to create awareness of the issues and struggles that persist in societies around the world—we felt compelled to reach out to hoteliers of the LGBTQ community to hear their insights into this segment of the industry that’s grown and…

Last November we revealed the recipients of the trivago Awards 2019: the winning hotels and alternative accommodations providing the best guest experiences and online booking journeys to today’s travelers. Now we’d like to introduce some of the hard-working and forward-looking hoteliers behind these award-winning properties. The aim of these interviews is twofold: Both to recognize the passion and dedication required of running a hotel, as well as to bring to light the common challenges all hoteliers are facing. For this issue, we spoke with Melanie Harvey, PR Director and General Managerof trivago Award-winner ibis budget London Whitechapel. The marketing executive of…

To all the new-to-the-scene hoteliers out there looking for ideas on how to get a nascent hotel business up and running and wildly successful as quickly as possible: we hear you. And to get you the best advice possible, we called in our on-the-ground specialists: Jamie Patterson and Matt Chojnacki, who recently took over managing the exquisitely renovated, 10-suite 19th-century-castle-turned-luxury-guesthouse in Poland called The Palace at Osowa Sien. The wife-and-husband hotel management team shared with us their innkeeping experiences. Even better, they revealed the hotel business initiatives that are quickly making The Palace at Osowa Sien a must-stay spot for…

Hotels around the world are discovering how to increase direct bookings with trivago’s Rate Connect: the tool that enables them to promote their website rates on their trivago profiles. With features such as optimized budget recommendations and automated CPC bidding, Rate Connect is not only making it possible for hotels to win back their direct bookings — it’s making it cost-effective and easy as well. Here’s a look at how one independent hotel was able to take control of its direct business and distribution with just a booking engine, a Rate Connect campaign, and a little entrepreneurial passion. Wellness Center…

In any business, success comes from drive and passion more than anything else. That said, motivation can wane at times. What better way to restore your focus and reinvigorate your imagination than to read about an inspiring role model? To help keep your motivation high in seasons to come, we’ve crafted a select list of inspiring hoteliers just for you. Frank Fiskers is Inspiring Hoteliers Sustainability Twitter @frankfiskers & @ScandicGlobal Follow him if you appreciate no-nonsense management with a focus on eco-friendly sustainability. He’s considered to be one of the hottest people in the hotel industry for his ability to drastically grow the bottom-line…

Stroll along the olive-strewn mountain passes of the northeastern corner of Corfu, and you may stumble upon its hidden gem and oldest village: Palea Perithia (Old Perithia). At first glance, you wouldn’t know that a once prominent Greco-Venetian town lay just below the rounded peak of Mount Pantokrator. But there’s a village there that embodies the Greek spirit and traditional Corfiot way of life—its secludedness betrayed by a salmon-pink belfry that contrasts Corfu’s signature blue skies and marks the start of the hamlet. When you follow the dirt path down from the church, you’ll discover the 130-building settlement; a striking mix of…