Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

My gut reaction is that the hotel management won't be very receptive to this unless there's something substantial in it for them. You'll have to be ready with a strong pitch to get them to even listen, let alone to say yes.

If I'm right, then a face-to-face meeting is probably your best shot. It's too easy to ignore an email message.

This doesn't mean the chances of success are very high, even with the face-to-face presentation and a serious incentive. But if there is a chance at all, there's nothing that will be any better than showing up (with an appointment) and pleading your case.

Side benefit: You'll learn first-hand what the objections are and be able to adapt/negotiate on the spot.

I'd phone to start with . Much will depend on the outlook of the hotel and how well you can persuade them as Michael says. The hotel may have a house magazine, or house information TV channel that would take adverts, or a local guide/directory which could also take adverts. Some hotels have small gift shops and may be interested in the possibility of selling your products and allow point of sale material. you may be allowed to insert flyer material into newspapers/magazines the hotel provides to its guests. You may also want to look outside the hotel for poster opportunities, or consider advertising on the side of airport taxis.

Many hotels with luxe clients already have a shop/option for such items in an on-site locale, so you'll have to either share in the revenues or alternative to get them to agree to this. If you do contact in person or over the phone, have a nice slick example prepped that you can quickly share to show the quality of your presentation, so it doesn't make the hotel appear cheap/tacky.

Great advice above. You'd also do well to connect with the kinds of magazines that are distributed in the hotels you're looking to connect with. Ad locations in the hotels themselves may be tricky to source and place. Advertising in related publications may be a better place to start. You'd also do well to consider the type of ads you'll run: lead generation ads, direct response ads, awareness (brand-based) ads—and how you'll track their efficacy. Advertising is one thing, having somewhere you direct those eyeballs (and their wallet holders) once they've seen your ads is another.