ABSTRACT
Networking is a key to getting new referrals for business in our hospitality industry. It just has to be part of everyone’s marketing effort, at every level of our business. Making the sale is not only getting the contract signed—it is everything that goes into establishing a credible relationship with a prospect. Regional sales team meetings, as well as corporate sales meetings, would take longer and would not be held as frequently as local property sales meetings. Sales personnel should look forward to attending these meetings as an opportunity to learn more about how to conduct business, get feedback on their performance, as well as be motivated to become more productive in their functions. The economy continues to challenge sales and bookings, so that at some point, perhaps sooner versus later, a variety of hoteliers have to look at the world a bit differently, and not through the typical lenses.
