With a few end-of-year regional shows still remaining and the onslaught of the national trade show season swiftly approaching, there are hundreds, if not thousands of industry executives, distributors and suppliers always on the road requiring comfortable, home-away-from-home accommodations. Evident solution: hotels, resorts, extended-stays, bed-and-breakfasts—the pickings are plentiful.
While it would seem that these establishments are an obvious target for promotional products distributors, it still begs the question: How many of these businesses are actually purchasing their ad specialty products from the very distributors that converge on their grounds month after month?
In 2005, American hotels were able to turn a healthy 8.8 percent rise in total revenue into an impressive 15.5 percent increase in profits, according to the 2006 edition of Trends in the Hotel Industry, published by PKF Hospitality Research (www.hotelinteractive.com). This marks the second consecutive year of double-digit profit growth for U.S. hotels.
What does all this mean for distributors? Simple: Call on hotels and resorts because these businesses have the cash to spend and the legitimate need to spend it. Think about the hotel gift shop, the on-site spa, room key cards, the concierge’s uniform, the desk clerk’s badge, the receptionist’s pen, the main lobby’s door mat—the list goes on and on.
Following is a small offering of items that could help distributors get their foot in the door and a warm invitation of repeat orders for many happy returns.
