Hotels, Hotels and more Hotels...

 

So here it is my second blog... we're now 6 months in and half way through our Manchester Masters journey (How time flies...did I use that cliché in may last blog?... never mind!).

 

My second placement was with Expotel Hotel Reservations Ltd, a corporate HBA (Hotel Booking Agent.... get with it!). When I first arrived I was surprised to learn, (and they weren't shy about telling me), that they are the largest HBA in the UK, booking over 2 million room nights a year and managing big name clients such as Virgin Media. I worked as part of "The Commercial Team" which comprised of the Commercial Director, rates negotiation team and two commercial executives (one for Hotels and one for Travel). For my first two weeks there was no visible marketing function as the previous marketing manager had quit shortly before my arrival (At the time this seemed like a bad omen as to how fun/interesting my marketing experience was going to be at this company). A new marketing manager was hired however and it turned out to all contribute toward a very unique and rewarding experience. Because the new marketing manager had no prior experience of the role we both found our feet simultaneously and I learnt what she learnt because whatever questions I had, she did too!

 

My main role at Expotel was to keep on top of their newly developed website which went live two days after my arrival. The aim of the site was to increase functionality in terms of the amount of users the site was capable of handling at any one time, but also to give Expotel a platform on which to launch into the highly competitive and extremely value led world of consumer leisure travel. – One of the best experiences I gained from working for Expotel was my visit to World Travel Market 2009. I suggested that Expotel should be participating in more of these types of events in order to grow their client and partner base. I then went on to organise our trip, which involved; booking a stand at WTM, organising the design and build of a stand and, most importantly, getting 7 employees (including the CEO) down to London for a week. All in all it was a fascinating week in which I learnt the 'Hard Sell' of business, met numerous new contacts and had a lot of laughs (especially with our biggest rival Expedia on the stand across from us – see picture of Dave our commercial exec below). The biggest perk of working in the hotel industry has to be the free hotels – during WTM I got to stay in a four star hotel for a week and we went on numerous "Fam Trips" which basically involved free food, drink and room. All we had to do to keep the hotels happy was to have a look round the hotel and chat to the sales/hotel manager for the night – good times!

 

So bring on 2010! – it's saddening to think two placements have gone, but exciting to think i've got two still to go! – Next up, Creative Spark a Branding and Web Design agency in the city centre... who knows what the next 3 months will bring...

 

Cheers,

 

Tom