Question

Topic: Advertising/PR

Creative Way To Collect Business Cards

Posted by Anonymous on 1/26/2007 at 5:29 PM ET 250 Points
I am the DOS at a hotel and want to get business information from corporate travelers so I can follow-up and gain more business from others traveling with their company. I would normally rely on my staff to ask for business information before checking guests in but we have had a lot of turnover and I am having to do it on my own. I am trying to think of creative ways to get people to tell me why they are here, where they are going and who they are with.

Guests don't have any incentive to provide that info right now because our rates have changed and they can book the same rate, without giving business info. Games, contests, prizes, discounts, questionairs... any ideas?
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 1/26/2007 at 6:23 PM Member
    Think WIIFM. What's in it for me.

    Do a loyalty program, create a newsletter, a birthday or anniversary club.

    Carol

    Sell Well and Prosper tm
  • Posted on 1/27/2007 at 2:47 AM Member
    hello,
    from the title of your question i thought you need a away to collect business cards, but when i read your question it seemed to mr that you want to know personal information, like why they are here where they are going???? which you care for ?? because there is a different way to collect each of them.

    maybe i can help if you can be more specific
  • Posted on 1/27/2007 at 3:33 AM Member
    WELL THIS IS NISHANT FROM PUNE . I HAVE VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION FOR YOUR PROBLEM.
    1. THEY CAN ONLY GIVE U SUCH DETAILS IF U CAN GIVE THEM SOME HELP IN THEIR BUSINESS REVENUE.
    2. how?? HELP THEM IN THEIR BUSINESS PROBLEM FOR WHICH THEY ARE TRAVELLING .. FOR THAT TRY TO BECOME FRIENDLY WITH THEM.. A SMILING FACE AND A GOOD HANDSHAKE IS WORTH 1000 SUCH CONTESTS AND PRIZES.. HE CAN OWN ALL THESE THINGS, BUT A CORPORATE GUY NEEDS COMPASSION AND LOVE WHEN HE IS FAR AWAY .. GIVE HIM AND TAKE WHATEVER U WANT.. BEWARE OF MAINTAING THE TRUST WITH HIM... SEE THE AMAZING RESULTS...
    WAITING FOR UR RESPONSE
  • Posted by michael on 1/27/2007 at 1:35 PM Accepted
    Trisha,
    I think about the number of places I stay. Many have the old fishbowl "leave your card for a free "something" from a local vendor". The problem with this is that, unless the traveler is in the same city regularly, there is no incentive to give a business card.

    I would suggest a more aggressive approach toward reservations that come in. They give a phone number and e-mail address....in most cases...but I have never had someone contact me and say "looking forward to seeing you. Can I make a recommendation for eating, entertainment, worship, exercise etc"

    Michael
  • Posted on 1/27/2007 at 7:14 PM Accepted
    I think I would resent anyone asking me for this kind of information without knowing exactly what they were going to use it for ... even if it meant I had to pay for my own breakfast (or whatever).

    I would level with your guests and have an opt-in system: "If you would like to learn about special meeting facilities, room rates and corporate discounts, please fill in this questionnaire and leave it at the front desk" (or something like that).

    You'll probably get fewer people volunteering information, but they'll all be genuinely interested.

  • Posted on 1/27/2007 at 10:40 PM Member
    EVERYONE LOVES CHOCOLATE! Giving out a Box of gourmet truffles...or something of the sort could give men and women incentive to pass along their business card to you. I work for the hospitality industry as well, and I know for sure that chocolate sells....people love chocolate. And now...with all of the talk about dark chocolate and the health benifits...it's becoming more and more popular. Check out www.astorhosptality.com. They sell chocolate to hotels. I hear their chocolate is high quality and reasonable....
  • Posted by Harry Hallman on 1/28/2007 at 10:43 AM Member
    You could do an online instant win game that allows them an opportunity to win something meaningful. To be included you have to fill out a questionnaire online.

    You could also make a deal with local restaurants and merchants where you give the visitor something free (or heavily discounted if they fill out your questionnaire.


  • Posted on 1/29/2007 at 12:19 PM Author
    Hi everyone,

    Thank you all for your suggestions. I don't actually need the guest to tell me exactly why they're here or who they are doing business with but that is the information that I will try to obtain when following up with them/their company.

    My desk is located in the lobby so I have a chance to greet guests when they come in and check out. I try and treat my existing corporate travelers with chocolate and little gifts but just need a way to find out who else is traveling on business so I can get to know them and treat them as well.

    I like the idea of calling on future reservations. Do you think that that would be a good time to ask what brings them to the area? I hate to bother them before they even stay here. So you know, I am far from aggressive when it comes to sales. I try not to be too harsh and let the customer determine my approach.

    I also like the idea of the "opt-in system". I was at the bank the other day and they had an application for a cc taped to a large chocolate bar. I was trying to think of a way that I could use that idea without giving a whole bunch of chocolate bars away for free to guests outside of my target or who have no intention of returning the info.
  • Posted by michael on 1/31/2007 at 2:01 PM Member
    Trisha,

    Do you have MOD duties also? That can often give you a better opportunity to ask questions.

    You can call or e-mail, whichever you are more comfortable with. You may not get specifics about what brings them to the area, but making suggestions about things that are helpful can is really appreciated.

    One time I needed to find a battery for my laptop and the phonebook in the room was 2 years old. The person at the desk had no idea where the closest officemax-type store was.

    Michael
  • Posted on 1/31/2007 at 4:14 PM Author
    I like the idea of calling on future reservations. I will think about it further and try some next week. I want to impress those who need my help/suggestions but don't want to bother those who don't. Also, I guess that I should only call first time guests, as if they have been here before- they have already seen the area. If they have stayed a couple times I guess I could say "I know you've been here a couple times in the past but...". This is a great idea. Thanks.
  • Posted on 2/5/2007 at 10:23 PM Member
    How about just put a short questionnaire in their room and ask your staffs to pick it up next morning? People won't mind if the questionnaire is reasonable, and take just about 2 min to complete. However, be sure that their request, if any, is found in the answer, then it must be dealed with timely.

    And also the managers could walk around, politely asking selective customers about their satistaction of the hotel, and reasonably include the business cards quesiton the talk.
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