November 18, 2020
Back in November 2017, over a year after many large U.S. hotels launched systematic direct bookings, a Caliber Labs report pointed to the fact that hotels were winning. Online travel agencies are finding it increasingly difficult to compete with increased competition. Collecting data from its database of more than 25.000 hotels in the United States, Caliber Labs found that there had indeed been a change in consumer behavior towards the hotel’s official website versus online travel agencies such as Booking and Expedition. More and more consumers prefer to book accommodation directly than through a third party. Source: Caliber Labs It is too early to declare the real winner of the so-called “battle for booking”, but if we had to single someone out, it would be consumers. With more choices and options, it is clear that in the end they are the real winners. So, if an independent hotelier can find a way for his business to thrive without the help of online travel agencies, that way will always be the most profitable. Attachment: Book Direct Campaigns 2.0: THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF LOYALTY 2018 But there are also third parties that threaten the duopoly of Booking and Expedition, and those are companies like Airbnb and Google. What happens when alternative or private accommodation services join the “fight”? And going beyond the “fight for booking”, the hotel industry must also understand that reservations are only one part of the battle. The industry must not forget the experience of guests, given that it is the main trigger of guest loyalty and motivator for their return. Source: Caliber Labs Not only do direct booking campaigns encourage consumers to book accommodation directly, but the study also showed that these campaigns are much more beneficial to hotel owners than previously thought. Direct booking campaigns generate more revenue for hotel owners, even with discounts, than online travel agencies do. So if hotels, or online travel agencies, really want to win the battle they have to take into account the product they offer, but also the overall experience that travelers have and how it changes their perception of the brand. Even with these large direct booking campaigns, consumers still feel that the best price for a hotel will be obtained at online travel agencies rather than on the hotel’s official website. In the tourism industry, the question often arises as to who wins the so-called “direct booking” wars. Are they hotels or travel agencies? Or Google or consumers? But some of the statistics suggest that trends are changing.
On the May 26, 2019, Guyana would also be celebrating its 53rd Independence AnniversaryTHE Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTYSC) MS is planning a Day of Sports to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the National Milling Company (NAMILCO).The event will take place on Independence Day.NAMILCO, founded in 1969, is currently sponsoring a series of activities to mark its anniversary and has joined hands with Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation to host the Day of Sports at the Albion Community Sports Complex.The day’s event would comprise a softball match between RHTYSC members and NAMILCO staff, a volleyball competition to be organised by the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) for teams in Berbice and an athletics competition among invited schools.The RHTYSC has established an Organising Committee, consisting of its members, teachers and experienced sports organisers to make sure the event is a success.The committee has invited eight primary schools and nine secondary schools to participate in the event – based on their performance at the annual Guyana Teachers Union Athletics Competition.The primary schools are: All Saints, St Therese, Rose Hall Town, Port Mourant, Tain, Leeds, Cropper and McGowan Memorial.The secondary schools are Skeldon, Central Corentyne, Manchester, Lower Corentyne, Corentyne Comprehensive, J. C Chandisingh, Port Mourant, Berbice Educational Institute and New Amsterdam.The events for male primary school students would be 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1200m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay while the females will be 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 4x100m relay.Male secondary schools athletes would be involved in 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, 1500m cycling, 3000m, cycling, high jump, shot put, javelin and discus.The events for female secondary schools athletes are 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, 1500m cycling, 2000m cycling, high jump, javelin and discus.Each school would be allowed one athlete per event while an athlete would be limited to only two events for the day.Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster stated that the winner of every primary school event would receive an educational package worth $3 000 and the runner-up $2 000.The winner of every secondary school event would take home $5 000, an educational grant and the runner-up $3 000.Trophies and medals would also be given to the top two winners of each category.The top primary and secondary schools would collect a $50 000 educational prize while each student would also collect a large quantity of NAMILCO exercise books.Attendance to the event is free.
Political correctness, Congressional stalemates and fake news are concepts that have permeated political discourse in the last two years, seemingly changing the landscape of American politics. (From left) Politico reporter Carla Marinucci, Norman Lear Center Director Martin Kaplan and Annenberg professor Karen North spoke at a panel moderated by Annenberg professor Laura Davis. Emily Smith | Daily TrojanOn Wednesday, more than 50 students, faculty and community members gathered to discuss these changes in American politics in “The Un-Civil War,” an all-day conference hosted by the USC Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics. Billed as an opportunity to “advance a bipartisan conversation about civil discourse in modern American politics,” the event consisted of four 90-minute panel discussions featuring three to four experts at a time in fields of politics, sociology, technology and journalism. By bringing together points of view from multiple fields and perspectives on the political spectrum, the event aimed to start a conversation about American civil discourse and offer examples of how to move forward while agreeing to disagree. “I hope that today we can shed some light on the un-civil war that too often stains our politics today,” Unruh Institute Director Robert Shrum said in his opening remarks.He noted that the conference fell on the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, and lauded King’s actions as a remarkable example of the power of civility in the political sphere. The four panels tackled the history of political civility, the modern rise of “alternative facts” and the impact of technology and the impact of media on the American political landscape. Though panelists approached these issues from different angles, many agreed that the era of President Donald Trump is unlike any other. “We shouldn’t get too overly hysterical about what’s happening today, however, in our lifetime … I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like we’re seeing today,” said Mickey Kantor, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and campaign chair of the 1992 Clinton-Gore presidential ticket. “I think it follows eight years of grace and dignity in the White House … and now it’s almost like they threw cold water in your face at about three in the morning, when you’re faced with what we’re seeing in today’s rhetoric.” Many panelists touched on the impact of technology and the internet on political discourse. “The thing that has struck me the most … in what’s taking place in politics today, has been how detached we have become from fact,” USC professor Margaret Gatz said. She then presented data on the cognitive distortions and filter bubbles that can lead people to believe falsehoods. USC professor Peter Mancall said that the modern political discord could be a step toward progress. According to Mancall, there has been a “vast expansion of people in the political discussion” in the past centuries.“That has led to all sorts of uncomfortable moments, but in some ways … I sort of celebrate the fact that there are more people involved in the discussion than there ever were before,” Mancall said.At the end of the panel, audience members eagerly questioned the panelists, preparing themselves to take the lessons learned at the conference into the larger world. “It’s great that Unruh Institute puts together these events where you can talk about real time issues outside of the classroom with professionals of the field,” said Melanie Franceschini, a senior majoring in political science.
RED BANK – Superintendent of Public Schools Dr. Laura Morana has submitted notice to the school board that she will retire at the end of the month.Morana was in her eighth year with the district. Her last day will be Sept. 30.The timing of her retirement is unusual in that it is occurring at the start of the school year. Her announcement was not included on the board’s posted agenda.When asked about the timing, board President Ben Forest declined to comment calling it a “personnel matter.”He said Morana had informed the board prior to her public announcement.During Wednesday’s board meeting the board began setting up a strategy to replace Morana. “We are going as quickly as we can to find a replacement for Dr. Morana. In the meantime, we will be looking for an interim superintendent.”Forest said it is expected that the district will hire an interim superintendent from outside the district.“The board is pleased with the legacy and record that Dr. Morana has left us,” Forest said. “The board gave her an ovation last night.”Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna said he was “saddened to see Laura go. But at the same time I am extraordinarily grateful that she has been able to devote seven years of her life to Red Bank and in that time brought a level of excellence and accomplishment that had never been experienced by us in the past.“Dr. Morana raised the bar and challenged students, parents and guardians, teachers, administrators and staff to achieve new levels of excellence. For that I am thankful,” Menna said..
The squad includes, back row, L-R, Caleb Morton, James Pihooja, Todd Cutler, Orang Momtazian, Flo Pariland, Sveta Tisma and Dan Szabo.Front, Steve Parish, Kai Korinth, Tim Mushumanski, Jason Leblanc and Erik Leslie. Bia Boro once again earned a trip to the winner’s circle after doubling Abacus 4-2 in the a thrilling Jackson’s Hole Master Men’s Indoor Soccer Final a tthe Soccer Quest facility.Bia Boro, advancing to the final with an 8-3 win over Jackson’s Hole, also won the title in 2011.Staff and management at Mallard’s Source for Sports would like to present Bia Boro with Team of the Week honours.
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