Perfect Storm Delivers Big Results for Northeast Ski Resorts

Perfect Storm Delivers Big Results for Northeast Ski Resorts

If you think you have read all there is to know about snow after this past weekend, think twice. The story that will be hitting the airwaves and print media this week will revolve around a “Perfect Storm” of love, sport and cabin fever. While the traditional ski areas missed out on the monster storms of last weekend the Northeast resort managers are still having images of dollar signs dancing in their head! Here’s why….
Ever so often the February calendar aligns Valentine’s Day (February 14th) with the official President’s Holiday weekend (a quasi non-decipherable combination of President’s Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays), this year celebrated on February 15th. This tends to make the 2nd weekend in February the most popular weekend for ski resorts. Add a 30 inch snow storm 7 days earlier and a possible repeat three days later in the big cities of Washington DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia and you have the making for historic lift lines at the Pocono and Lehigh Valley ski areas this upcoming weekend, not to mention $200+ room rates in the surrounding resorts and inns. If the room you want has a hot tub or fireplace you can guarantee it is not available! So if you are a skier or a romantic and have not made plans for this weekend, I say forget it. Do something romantic close to home, enjoy the long holiday preparing your taxes or painting the bathrooms. You can take that ski trip any of the other 4 weekends between now and St. Patrick’s day,and I promise you the lift lines will be shorter and your wallet a little fatter after the trip.

28% of Group Sales Inquiries are Lost, Ignored or Abandoned

28% of Group Sales Inquiries Are Lost, Ignored or Abandoned

The same could be said about Group Sales Managers. In today's tough business climate do you find your sales ppl Lost, Ignored or Abandoned? Just popped into my head after reading this alarming statistic on group sales lost.
Might want to shop your phone inquiry, electronic rfp systems etc.

Enjoy -



Ft. Lauderdale – May 12, 2009: An independent test conducted on 750 hotels found that even in this time of declining hotel revenues, 28% of new group sales inquiries are lost, ignored or abandoned. The test was conducted by Quality Track International in April 2009.
Don Bundock, CEO of Quality Track International, says “This result was surprising when you consider the revenue challenges hotels are currently facing. These results did not vary significantly from the first time we conducted this test in 2007 even though the economy is much more difficult now.”
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“Frankly, under the current conditions, we expected to see an increase in effective and efficient inquiry handling. These results reflect the national average. There are many properties that are missing out on as much as 50% of their demand” continued Bundock.
All properties tested were from major brands. Each of the 750 properties tested received four individual group sales inquiry calls. The immediate availability of a Sales Manager was documented but if no one was available, a message was left and the time lapsed to the return call was calculated.
The test was conducted using the Quality Track SMART Call program. Sales Manager Access and Response Time (SMART) Calls maximize the effectiveness and responsiveness of a sales team. Quality Track clients on the SMART Call program are proven to respond to 95% of all sales inquiries in 4 hours or less.

Hotels representing 15 brands from all tiers were included in the current test. Quality Track does not publish individual brand results publicly. Brand and property reports are available to verifiable brand managers on request.

About Quality Track International, Inc.: Quality Track International is an innovative provider of a full range of mystery shopping and performance development tools to the hospitality industry.

For more information or to request brand reports contact: Mr. Donald Bundock, CEO, Quality Track International, Inc., at (416) 693-5426 or by e-mail at Don.Bundock@QualityTrack.com