Adrian Loveridge
Airbnb has taken yet another step in its quest to broaden its influence beyond accommodations, according to a recent article in the industry news source, TravelMole. It has led a US$13 million funding round in the dining booking app Resy Network Inc, which values that company at around US$70 million, not bad for a business that was only founded in July 2014 from US$2 million in seed funding and currently employs only about 30 persons.
Resy currently lists around 1,000 restaurants in 50 US cities and handles reservations via a real-time cloud-based system for around 1.5 million diners each month. With the interest expressed by Airbnb, it is inconceivable that the concept would not be taken globally within the foreseeable future and considering our culinary offerings on Barbados, it just might be prudent to become involved as a destination, in the early expansion stages.
Airbnb had already agreed a strategic partnership in November 2016 as parts of its ‘Trips’ expansion into activities and the collaboration will see a restaurant booking option added to the existing Airbnb platform.
It the words of Airbnb’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Brian Chesky, ‘Many of our most-treasured travel memories come from experiencing the local food. Helping people find and book incredible local restaurants is a key part of us moving beyond just accommodation to focus on the whole trip. We cannot think of a better partner that Resy to help make this possible’.
Resy CEO, Ben Leventhal, added ‘Resy and Airbnb share a vision for how people experience local venues. We’re committed to building a product that allows anyone, anywhere, anytime, to live like a local.’
So from a consumer viewpoint, what is the attraction of booking through the Resy portal? To quote its own website ‘Resy is re-inventing hospitality using technology. That means you get the best booking experience and reservation selection anywhere. Short story, if you want that booth on Friday night at 8pm, then that’s what you get. No begging, no wait-and-see, no phone calls. Two taps and the table is yours. The best restaurants in the world use Resy to take reservations. Grab a seat, because not all reservations are created equal’.
Clearly with dining out, literally eating up a substantial proportion of a holidaymakers budget, I can see the appeal in wanting to secure the best table position possible, especially as in many cases of our restaurants boast enticing ocean views. While, there must be inherent costs to the individual restaurant partners, being part of this form of marketing just might open up and stimulate new avenues of business and awareness.
Many industry observers view this further Airbnb involvement in Resy as merely the tip of the iceberg. What next? Tours, attractions, activities, car rental, the world is their oyster and it seems only logical that other areas of the tourism product will be fully investigated and exploited soon.
Airbnb should be encouraged by govt as alternative to the continous love afair with brand names,it will also ensure that more forex comes into Bim.
Same issue different island.
Since a big gain in Tourist arrivals on our shores there have been a seismic shift in Adrian loveridge negative articles relating to Sandals.
Once before a day or a week would not have gone by without Loveridge poison pen articles via media about Sandals Barbados
Any one who believes that the concessions to Sandals are inappropriate should first be honest in their evaluation and consider the positive effect of the commercialization of barbados over international media by sandals .
Such commercialization if had to be undertaken by govt at taxpayers costs would run the govt into millions of dollars yearly
The increase in visitor arrivals has almost NOTHING to do with Sandals as they still only have 280 rooms. The same number as Couples and Almond. As and when the additional rooms are online then we may be able to give them credit. 280 rooms is 280 rooms and accounts for around 560 people per week. FULL STOP. Again to repeat, what proportion of Sandals revenue ever gets to Barbados?
My point is that of relating money spent by Sandals via the commercialization of barbados as Tourist destination by the Sandals group to attract visitors to our shores
Money which is a cost savings to govt annually contributing to govt revenue and money which when compared to the concessions given to sandals is money well spent
You make no point because a rising tide raise all boats. Tourism arrivals have increased across the Caribbean and cannot be attributed to Sandals alone. The Barbados wanted to attract a name brand hotel and was willing to pay for it with a washpan of concessions. This is a hotel where a significant % of monies remain offshore.
American Airlines is banning carry-on bags and overhead bin use for basic-economy passengers
For all intents and reasons one can keep kicking the Concession bucket down the road but it is disingenuous to say that Sandals have not given back monetary to the revenue of barbados in jobs in purchasing power of local products and in the commercialization of the islands ,
That financial aspect means that monies remain on the island and cannot fiscally be placed off shores
Annually when all of the above is tabulated is a substantial cost savings to govt for whatever years or period of time Sandals remain on the island even past the twenty five year granted for concessions to Sandals with an fonancial outflow that positively affects the island overall
The “positive effect of the commercialization of Barbados over international media,” could also be attributed to other international brands such as Fairmont, Hilton, Sandy Lane and Elegant Hotels.
Sandals has 280 rooms, did you check the hotel’s occupancy levels before you wrote that shiite?
So to attributing the increase in tourist arrivals specifically to Sandals is being extremely disingenuous.
In keeping with your modus operandi of defending the DLP in this forum, you are only defending this inept administration’s decision to offer Sandals 40 years of tax free concessions.
Seriously ! Fairmont and other local named hotel brands have not been ambitious in their advertising of Barbados when compared to The Sandals brand.
A brand which has not spared no expense in showcasing barbados world wide by their agrressive advertising
It is almost laughable that a person who touts their profession in an area of accounts cannot understand the duplicity of the many areas of financial gains for Barbados that the country has derived from the Sandals brand in jobs and local spend including advertising which cannot but be a plus for tourist sourcing
A truth which cannot be dismissed or disregarded looking through any political lens
So Sandals is the saviour of Bims tourism product…….now I have heard it all…….numbers up spend down…….what a saviour.
Firstly, your ignorance of the hotel industry caused you to erroneously categorize Fairmont as a “local named hotel brand.”
FAIRMONT is NOT a local hotel brand. FAIRMONT is an INTERNATIONAL BRAND that has a CUMULATIVE TOTAL of EIGHTY-TWO (82) HOTELS & LUXURY RESORTS located WORLD-WIDE, with 44 in Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico and USA; 9 in Europe; 18 in the Africa & Middle East; and 11 in Asia Pacific, which is by far MORE than Sandals hotels.
Why do you think Fairmont Royal Pavilion can boast of having occupancy levels averaging at least 90% year-round? Clearly, YOU DO NOT “understand the duplicity of the many areas of financial gains for Barbados that the country has derived from” international brands.
Secondly, since your political rhetoric has proven you do not have any knowledge of Fairmont, you cannot state as a fact that Fairmont has “not been ambitious in their advertising of Barbados when compared to The Sandals brand.”
It is also ludicrous for you to suggest Sandals is SOLELY RESPONSIBLE “for the many areas of financial gains for Barbados that the country,” when you do not have any information relative to Fairmont’s contribution to the tourist industry or how much funds it allocates to advertising Barbados.
You comment on issues because it is POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT for you to do so, in your feeble, misguided attempts to defend the DLP, and not because you have a requisite knowledge of the subject. In this instance, you are essentially ATTEMPTING to SUPPORT and JUSTIFY government’s decision to give Sandals 40 years of tax free concession.
“A truth which cannot be dismissed or disregarded looking through any political lens.”
My statement pertaining to other named brands as local is not to be descriptive or taje away from the brand importance but to state a truth and questioned how much adverstising power Hotels like Fairmont has been influential is selling barbados as a preffered Tourist
destination
Also when one questions concessions granted to Sandals there is also a convenience of forgetfulness to the millions of dollars over the years that many Hoteliers were granted some of which was never paid back. In finances a loss is a loss and every penny adds up whether in concessions or monetary loans at taxpayers expense not refunded
The ACs continue to expose their ignorance in tourism related matters.
You cannot mention the word “TRUTH” or “QUESTION” how much advertising power Hotels like Fairmont has been influential is selling Barbados as a preferred Tourist destination,” especially when you do not KNOW of or HAVE any INFORMATION pertaining to Fairmont’s ADVERTISING POLICY.
Your common sense should tell you that a regional hotel chain would not advertise to sell a specific island “as a preferred tourist destination,” especially if it has many other hotels in other islands. What Sandals would do is to advertise those Caribbean islands in which its resorts are located, while highlighting places of interests or beaches, etc of those islands, to give potential tourists a choice (market demographics) or cater to a specific desire (market segmentation).
In other words, supposed “condition A” is specific to Barbados. Sandals, through advertising, would exploit that “condition” to solicit potential tourists into staying at Sandals resort.
Additionally, for example, Sandals Grande Antigua is located in Dickenson Bay, Antigua; an island that can boast of having 365 beaches. What is there to tell you that Sandals would not spend more to advertise Antigua than Barbados?
To suggest that because hoteliers were granted “millions of dollars over the years,” “some of which was never paid back,” justifies government’s decision to give Sandals 40 years of tax free concessions is not only ludicrous, but indicates a myopic way of thinking. TWO WRONGS will NEVER make it CORRECT.
If we were to take you argument to a logical conclusion, those hoteliers that never repaid “the millions of dollars over the years,” if the hotels are still opened, would have contributed to VAT, PAYE, other duties and taxes towards which Sandals and its management have a 40 year period not to contribute.
You and the DLP should tell Barbadians what are the cost benefits to Barbados relative to this Sandals arrangement?
By the way, have you ever worked in the tourism industry?
If not, then I don’t see any point in continuing this “discussion with you, because your comments would be based on FACT, but “hear say” and “political speculation.”
Will Bim get these???
http://ow.ly/OlnB3089VFT
Would you like to see something similar in Barbados?
Sandals’ overwater villas feature in the New York Post
Leading Caribbean hotel resort chain Sandals recently unveiled its over-the-water bungalows with the acclaimed venture now being featured in the…
loopnewsbarbados.com
What you should do is bring an argument that can prove that the estsbilshed hoteliers had a policy in place equal to that of Sandals that could have attracted tourist to barbados .instead of your usual political sound bites and twisted retorts to galvanize useless support for your mouthings
But you are the one who presented the argument Sandals is responsible for attracting tourist to Barbados, NOT ME.
Therefore, the ONUS is on you to “prove that the established hoteliers had a policy in place equal to that of Sandals that could have attracted tourist to Barbados.
I only showed your contribution was “absolute rubbish” and that you do not know anything about the tourism industry.
You can never bring anything to substantiate the shiite you post to BU, but use political rhetoric and generalized statements to support and justify the nonsense that this inept DLP administration has bestowed upon Barbadians.
It is ironic that whenever anyone presents an alternative perspective, which differs from that of the DLP, you accuse them of being political, and this against the background of you posting ONLY pro DLP contributions.
There isn’t anyone who contributes to this forum who brings the “usual political sound bites and twisted retorts to galvanize useless support for your mouthings” than YOU!!!
I hope you don’t commit suicide when the DLP loses the next general elections.
Sandals Barbados ad right now on CBC Canada TV.
Does anyone know what the BTMI does in Canada?
Listen negro the the proof of the onus lies in the fact that locally or internationally none of the big brand hotels mentioned have never done an appreciative job in comparison to Sandals by way of advertising locally or internationally.
Sandals has out paced and outsmart every one of these named brand hotels on the island with a barrage of incentives to lure tourist to this tiny island
Ok i will give the Crane a small edge out of respect that their advertising program has gain some leverage due in part to to some travellers guide contest which also has been beneficial to barbados imagev
But for the most part other sophisticated brands are sleepers in their content and ineffective by methods of attractiveness to generate long term visitors interest in the island.
None so blind as those that refuse to see…….unfortunately that leads to all sorts troubles,even falling over cliffs.
You yes you Vincent do you understand the power of advertising nit wit.?
@Hants January 19, 2017 at 2:40 PM #
Does anyone know what the BTMI does in Canada?
Here is a job fah yuh. I can tell you they take up office space in the Consul Generals office on Sheppherd, along with Invest Barbados. And love a conference, trade show or presentation. I am sure Mr Griffoot would love to see your report!!!!
Advertising is a powerful tool and a marketing strategy used world wide to build consumer confidence in a product
Only a fool would snicker or dismiss the economic power of advertising
Sandals brand would not be known world wide without the appartus of marketing which has converted Sandals into a well known household brand
Govts across the carribbean have wisely tagged onto the Sandals brand as an additional support for reliable and a safe marketing startegy on behalf of their country
@ NorthernObserver.
BTMI hard at work.
http://www.salontourismevoyages.com/en/exhibitors-list/#thecaribbean
Ottawa.
http://www.travelandvacationshow.ca/list.html
Plus there was the big fete in TO last year
http://www.paxnews.com/news/agency/barbados-water-returns-milestone-year
I have seen them in the past at shows out west too.
Today 50% of most media budgets at targeted at digital and social media, but I don’t come across them too often. The lady in the house who is an expert in the area, tells me their twitter feed is awful.
AC
How do you know Sandals spends more money advertising Barbados than any other hotel?
Could you please give me the name of the website where I can read information relative to how much more money Sandals spends advertising Barbados than, say for example the Hilton, in which the government is a share holder?
Or could you post the financial statements of Sandals & Fairmont Royal Pavilion, so we could make a comparative analysis of each hotel’s advertising costs as it relates to Barbados?
Just cut the long talk and speculation and bring the proof, if you want us to take you seriously.
What the hell does ac know. Some of you spend too much time on ac, and avouch DLP yardfowl.There is no argument against the DLP she will ever agree.
David submit your research that can substantiate your above statement, BTW how come you never attack the BLP brigades that frequent this blog
Thomas Lynley
i never sated that Sandals spend more money on adverstising than any other Hotel in Barbados
This what i said
the fact that locally or internationally none of the big brand hotels mentioned have never done an appreciative job in comparison to Sandals by way of advertising locally or internationally.
Sandals has out paced and outsmart every one of these named brand hotels on the island with a barrage of incentives to lure tourist to this tiny islandnt
My comments speak of strategy in their marketing programs , However one wants to speak of monetary value . One can point as an example advertising via international media specifically Television where one minute of advertising can cost millions of dollars
ac January 20, 2017 at 7:34 AM #
“Sandals has out paced and outsmart every one of these named brand hotels on the island with a barrage of incentives to lure tourist to this tiny island.”
Could you PLEASE SUBMIT the SUBSTANTIATING EVIDENCE to SUPPORT your ABOVE comments?
Where can we FIND this INFORMATION you are presenting in this forum as FACT and TRUTH?
It is blatantly clear that you DO NOT have any EVIDENCE to SUPPORT your claim and are only using generalized statements to make it appear as though you have intimate knowledge, when in actuality it’s your feeble attempt to justify why this inept DLP administration gave Sandals years of tax free concessions.
I stated my evidence in my last comment which is indisputable. Furthermore i have yet to see any evidence via international media specifically Television where any ither brand name hotel outside of Sandal has advertisement with an emphasis to showcased Barbados by name or any other reference.
Any how if you have evidence to present instead of silly attacks to deflect i would retract my comment
Btw You Tube does not count as International news media via Television
This is what you wrote in your “last comment”:
1) “the fact that locally or internationally none of the big brand hotels mentioned have never done an appreciative job in comparison to Sandals by way of advertising locally or internationally.”
The above is a GENERALIZED STATEMENT and cannot be CONSIDERED as EVIDENCE, unless you can PRESENT the SOURCE of your information.
2) “Sandals has outpaced and outsmart every one of these named brand hotels on the island with a barrage of incentives to lure tourist to this tiny island.”
Again, ANOTHER GENERALIZED STATEMENT that CANNOT be CONSIDERED as EVIDENCE, UNLESS you can PRESENT the SOURCE of your information or the STATISTICS to VERIFY your claim.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT MY REQUEST THAT YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND?
Stop DEVIATING from the issue, and PRESENT the EVIDENCE by posting the source of your information, IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT…
Surely if you interpret my request for you to present STATISTICS or the SOURCE of your information for me to read as “silly attacks to deflect,” it clearly demonstrates you are only writing shiite on this issue, in an attempt to defend the DLP and their granting Sandals 40 years of tax free concessions.
If you know you cannot comply, why continue to comment on the issue?
Artax continual clubbing of the “ac” must now be considered as abuse. He is decimating the yard-fowl population.
I am beginning to feel for ac.
Artax i know what i said no need for your version
The truth is cannot bring proof to verify your comments
ac January 20, 2017 at 11:46 AM #
“The truth is cannot bring proof to verify your comments”
@ ac
It’s not MY comments you have to verify………. it’s YOURS!!!!!!
Anonymouse – The Gazer January 20, 2017 at 10:51 AM #
Chuckle…..not sure what can be done with a person arguing wrong and strong,methinks Artaxs’ way is the best akin to the teachers of a 100 years ago beating sense into what they saw as hard ears pupils,except in this case we have some one refusing to remove the blinkers which are causing all the abuse.
Negro u say i am wrong so prove yourself right . i dont think so.
On previous occasion u have found some type of article to prove your comments .it is obvious on this issue u cant find any .
Generalities my a ss
AC you amuse me from time to time.
I have no issue with Sandals, or the fact they use extensive advertising, successfully, to promote their product. Once we appreciate they are promoting SANDALS, the destination isn’t relevant once you pick Sandals.
That said, there is another person, whose enterprise is also in the accommodation and tourism business, and who is known to strike equally advantageous deals but whom you slam at every turn. I speak of D.J.Trump.
Northern agree that Sandals is promoting their products but as a part of that promtion location is relevant
Not saying or pretending that Sandals business would not be of first preference for them in competing .But then again who would not place their interest above all else
However the Fact which most here would like to dismiss is the Barbados attachment to Sandals wherby the island reaps some of the tourist sourcing done by the Sandals brand by way of advertising
While not measurable, the benefit to Bim is not invalid.
I know when I used to watch the TV, printed ads and it was always Sandals-Sandals in destinations other than Bim, it was as if it were a lesser destination. Today it is on par.
And I think it has more value than simply advertising the destination, which is the common method of most destinations. By advertising accommodation along with location it gives the traveler an immediate call to action versus the “contact your travel agent”, which is a dying trade.
It is measurable because it gives barbados an advantage in cost saving compared to if barbados goes solo would cost taxpayers millions of dollars for a sixty minute spot on international TV.
By measuring, I meant the number of tourists who were drawn to Barbados by the Sandals ads, but who did not stay at Sandals. Not the costs, they are clear.
By the way….you deftly avoided my comparison of Butch to DJT?
Word of mouth was always seen as having greater value than advertising
I CHALLENGE you to INDICATE WHERE in ANY of my RESPONSES to your political rhetoric on Sandals, I WROTE you were WRONG? And as such, since I never mentioned you were wrong, I DON’T have to find “some type of article” to prove your comments as being wrong.
You wrote statements suggesting as FACT, Sandals goes “above and beyond” the international hotel brands in Barbados to promote the island. All I asked you was to present the evidence to support your claim.
Instead, you PURPOSELY continue to AVOID my request, while shifting the “goal post” mentioning things I never wrote, as a way to save your “generalization ass.”
However, what I have once again PROVEN is that you are DISGRACEFUL, DISHONEST, LYING, HYPOCRITICAL yard-fowls, which is clearly EVIDENCED by your contributions to this issue.
@ ac
In a previous comment you wrote: “ac January 20, 2017 at 7:34 AM #: Sandals has outpaced and outsmart every one of these named brand hotels on the island with a BARRAGE of INCENTIVES to LURE tourist to this tiny island.”
Would you care to NAME these “barrage of incentives,” especially taking into consideration, for example, Sandals’ decision to choose Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum as the rum of choice “over and above” Barbadian rums, such as Mount Gay, Cock Spur, Old Brigand or ESA Fields?
“ac January 20, 2017 at 2:45 PM #: It is measurable because it gives Barbados an advantage in cost saving compared to if Barbados goes solo would cost taxpayers millions of dollars for a sixty minute spot on international TV.”
Are you DISCOUNTING the cumulative total cost of advertising done by the hundreds of hotels, apartments and guest houses in Barbados that also advertise and promote the island?
I meaning only if a survey was done by the barbados Tourism management would there be an official record stating if barbados benefits from Sandals advertising
However i would venture to say that if Sandals marketing strategy was not successful inclusive to that of mentioning the name barbados they might have withdraw some of their advertising via international tv .
Therefore by Sandals continuing that type of advertising it suggest that there is a measure of success in attracting visitors to our island how much can only be related to Sandals competitive marketing strategy
@Artax
“Sandals’ decision to choose Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum as the rum of choice”
Sandals is a BRAND. When I go into McDonald’s in Belgium or Shanghai, I expect to be able to order a Big Mac. Appleton 12yo is a premium rum, higher rated on most rum review sites than any Bajan Rum.
And it has wide brand acceptance across the Americas. I haven’t seen a Cockspur rum in an Eastern Canada store in 7+years. Mount Gay is reasonably widely available, though their aged products are hit & miss to find.
Further Appleton 12, is 12 year old rum. Mount Gay XO (formerly Extra Old) is a blend of rums between 8 & 15 years, while Cockspur Bajan Craft 12, is a blend between 4 & 17 years old, blended “to taste like a 12 year old”. Both are good rums….but, Appleton has better brand recognition amongst the majority of Sandal’s customers from the Americas. Plus Stewart is Jamaican?
Good decision in my books.
Similarly in blended Scotch, they pick JW Black, not Chivas. In single malt they pick Glenlivet, again along with Glenfiddich the best KNOWN (vs the best).
They select the best they can negotiate and go with it across the board.
@ Northern Observer
It is stupid to compare buying a hamburger from McDonald’s or chicken from KFC with a hotel.
It is clear you do not understand the hotel industry.
A hotel will stock all types of alcoholic beverages to cater to their guest. However, the host country’s beverage is given first choice.
Adrian Loveridge could substantiate or better explain my point. Or you could read TripAdvisor’s comments whereby guest expressed concerns about the unavailability of local rum.
I agree with Thomas Lynley. A part of the tourist experience is sampling the local fare; and of course, people preferences are restricted to what is readily available. So that Appleton has an advantage in a Sandals setting.
First of all Sandals did not “choose” to promote Appleton over any other Brand. This decision came about as a business agreement between the Appleton estate and Sandals
The Sandals brand is built on Business projects that are done not by speculation by within a frame work that can project a positive image for their brand businesses and brands like Appleton who can appreciate the benefits of seizing the opportunity of having their product displayed along side the Sandals Brand .
Foot note Demera Distillers the guyana based company of El Dorado aged rum had a similar agreement with Sandals for two years