So you missed the first free seminar Digital Distribution Strategy in Madrid? Didn’t you? You naughty-naughty boy! Well, the good news is that I was there to report everything that happened and the very good news is that there’s another DDS event in less than one month!

So what’s #DSS anyway?
Distribution Strategy Studio (DSS for short) is a series of free events organized by RateGain exploring news and trends in travel distribution and revenue management. They will take place all around the globe so, no matter where you live, we will hunt you down and give you the opportunity to listen to amazing speakers from companies such as Trivago, HotelsCombined, Mirai, Xotels, Wanup, MM-One and, of course, RateGain and me. All the events will be “numerus clausus” so you may want to register as soon as possible by clicking here.

#DSSMadrid
During the first leg of the event, we heard Alejandro Gómez Losada, Director of Sales at RateGain, speaking about how the travel marketplace has dramatically changed over the years and how hotels can stay competitive in this ever-changing landscape. I continued with a short lesson on brand consistency and how hotels can protect themselves from mirror marketing and brandjacking. Yann Fruchart, VP Global Business Development Xotels, highlighted the need of a scientific approach to revenue management and how AI will reduce human error in rate and distribution strategy, while Irene Herrera, market manager of HotelsCombined.com, took us to an interesting journey into the travel metasearch space. The event went on with an illuminating take on loyalty programs evolution by Rosa Montero, CCO  at Wanup, and ended with Gustavo De Felice, Digital Manager at MM-one with his cool analogy between surfers and travelers.

Here are  the best quotes of the day:

Here’s a glimpse of DSS Madrid

#DSSBerlin

Winter is coming, and so is DSS: from the sunny Madrid to the Mitteleuropa’s Berlin, Distribution Strategy Studio organized a sparkling double appointment titled “Revenue Management & Online Distribution Landscape: What’s Next?” for the 6th of March, just the day before ITB begins. Make sure to be there at 4:30 for registration, caffeine refill and networking, and listen to the welcoming words of RateGain’s Director of Sales, Alejandro Gómez Losada.

True to the experience, not to the brand: Wanup

Brian Garvan, Regional Director at Wanup will take the stage with a speech about the benefits of a loyalty marketing strategy. Did you know that a good loyalty program can increase your direct booking by 20%? And what about the different approaches for leisure, business and bleisure travelers? Baby boomers? X Generation? Millennials? Check his speech to get all the answers you always dared to ask!

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True to the experience, not to the brand

Brian Garvan

In Brands We Trust: RateGain

Alejandro will jump on stage again, we really love this guy, don’t we?

“Common Revenue Opportunities that Hotels Miss & How to Tap Them” is the title of his speech. I had the pleasure to listen to it first hand and it is mind-blowing. You will learn how to deal with your distribution mix and reputation management in an effective and profitable way.

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Effective rate parity control means increased direct bookings, price integrity, and brand trust
Alejandro Gómez Losada

Vertical Search: Mirai

It’s then Mirai’s turn, with its CEO, Pablo Delgado speaking about how to build a successful metasearch strategy. During his speech, you will learn how to get the best out of your campaign, how to choose the right technology and understand the different meta players and their markets. And, most importantly, you will realize that the metasearch landscape is constantly changing, so focusing on previous tests can be useless.

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Metasearch is not just “plug & play”

Pablo Delgado

WipeOut: MM One

Gustavo De Felice, International Digital Consultant at MM One, will make you surf a few waves… Metaphorically, at least. Who’s the surfer? He’s the person who choose to travel. And how does it organize his travel? By multiple touch-points on his booking journey.  Get the whole speech in order to catch the wave.

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A perfect Business Intelligence system that is able to manage in real time thousands of variables with high grade of customizations and interactions

Gustavo De Felice

The light at the end of the booking journey: Simone Puorto Consulting

Ok, it’s my turn! “The evolution of searches in Travel: How to stay competitive in a constantly changing market” is the title of my speech. I will guide you through the booking journey of today’s traveler and explain how to get the best ROI from each step. Want to know how to take control of your hotel, fight brandjacking and mirror marketing? I could have some answers for you…

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87% of your guest will discover the hotel before visiting your official website.

Make sure the brand is consistent in all distribution channels

Simone Puorto

Capitalize on every stage of the online journey: Trivago

“Get online or miss bookings: how to position your hotel in 2018 online” is the straight-to-the-point title of the presentation by Trivago’s Industry Manager, Raissa Benchoufi.
Know your guests and create unique experiences, this is the bottom line for any profitable campaign on metasearch. Do you know how long in advance different travelers search for their stays? What’s their budget and what filter do they use? If the answer is no, don’t miss Raissa’s speech.

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Capitalize on every stage of the online journey
Raissa Benchoufi

You gotta fight, for your right, to paaaaarty!

We know that’s a lot of info to process, so get ready to chill with our after-work exclusive party: free drinks, great food, and a groovy DJ Set to leave you hangover for the first day of ITB.

Are you ready for the challenge?

We are…

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