While traveling on business, I usually stay very busy meeting with General Managers to discuss their hotel guest directories, however this past weekend while working with a new property in North Jersey, I was able to squeeze in some personal time in New York City!

After graduating college, I lived in New York City for ten years and I always enjoy going back anytime I can. But having lived in Florida for the past ten years, I was not sure that New York City in January would be a place I wanted to visit. After all, I did not even own a pair of “closed toed” shoes or a winter coat and it was only 34 degrees!  But, after receiving a phone call from an old friend who saw my posting on Facebook that I was in NJ, he convinced me that a trip into the city was just what I needed to cure those “winter doldrums.”

While it was cold outside, the city has so much to offer and I was excited that I would be staying at the Westin. This huge high-rise hotel was right in the middle of Times Square and there were a ton of “indoor entertainment options” available…theater, shopping, nightlife and dining galore! I love eating out and with restaurant row only one block West of the Hotel, there were so many savory choices it was hard to decide. We opted for a great Soul Food restaurant that had the most incredible fried chicken which warmed my heart and soul!

They say, “New York is the City that never sleeps,” so hibernation was not an option. While it may have been a bit chilly, I was welcomed with “sights, sounds and scents” that stirred my soul and replenished my spirit. The energy of the city was electric and while spending time with an old friend, time ceased to tick and began to flow. New York City is an incredible place which is always full of new experiences and I seem to feel revived and renewed when I leave. Indeed, New York City in January, or anytime of the year, is a great travel destination!

The coveted No. 1 ranking for best U.S. hotel goes to Chicago’s Elysian, the stylish, independent hotel that opened in 2009 and has won awards and accolades ever since. It’s a bittersweet award for the Elysian since it’s one of the last, if not the last, awards it will receive as an independent property. Next month, the Elysian will become part of Hilton’s Waldorf-Astoria chain.

Here are select winners of TripAdvisor’s top hotel categories:

Best Hotel in the World: The Phoenix Resort in San Pedro, Belize

Best Hotel in the USA: Elysian Hotel in Chicago

Best Luxury (4&5 star) Hotel in the World: Shangri-La Hotel in Tokyo

Best Luxury (4&5 star) Hotel in the USA: The Grand Del Mar in San Diego

Best Bargain in the World: HueNino Hotel in Hue, Vietnam

Best Bargain in the USA: SeaCoast Inn in Hyannis, Mass.

Best for Service in the World: Arcadia Residence in Prague, Czech Republic

Best for Service in the USA: SeaCoast Inn in Hyannis, Mass.

Best B&B and Inn in the World: The Twenty One in Brighton, England

Best B&B and Inn in the USA: A.G. Thomson House: Historic Bed and Breakfast in Duluth, Minn.

Best All-Inclusive in the World: Garonga Safari Camp in Phalaborwa, South Africa

Best All-Inclusive in the Caribbean: East Winds Inn in Gros Islet, St. Lucia

Best Relaxation and Spa in the World: BollAnt’s im Park in Bad Sobernheim, Germany

Best Relaxation and Spa in the USA: Bella Monte Hot Springs Resort and Spa in Desert Hot Springs, Calf.

Trendiest Hotel in the World: Villa Zest Boutique Hotel in Cape Town, S.A.

Trendiest Hotel in the USA: Smyth Hotel, a Thompson Hotel in New York City

Congratulations to all the winners! I am personally hoping to visit a few of these wonderful properties over the next year and who knows, maybe I will even be fortunate enough to offer Directories by Designs’ products or  services in the near future to a few of these hotels. After all, it only makes sense that the Best Hotels would work with the Best Publishing Company! Ok, I’ll admit it, this judge is a just a bit bias!

Agency News: In 2011, Directories by Design published Hotel Guest Service Directories for various hotels including the Hampton Inn and Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Suites and the Best Western in FL, GA,  PA, NJ and NY. This past year we also expanded Internationally and published a Guest Directory for a luxury resort in Antigua! In 2012 we hope to  continue to see growth in the Caribbean and have been exploring opportunities to expand operations in Puerto Rico.

Start your New Year out with New Hotel Directories! Order your Hotel Guest Directory before January 31, 2012 and we will give you 25% off your first Front Desk Property Map and Guide Order! (Note: some restrictions may apply and publisher will confirm details of offer upon receiving a completed order form from Hotel).  Contact us for additional information.

Guest Directory Binders: Check out our January Featured Binder! Pricing as low as $ 16.55 (based on 200 qty) For additional information, click here. Choosing a binder that  looks great and is durable enough to stand up to daily use is an important part of any Hotel Guest Directory. These turned edge binders feature padded covers with a silver metal ring binding on the inside. The cover’s outside material is folded slightly over each edge during construction and stitched around the binder’s perimeter; this leaves a stylish outline along the inside black moire, vinyl lining. Square corners are secured with metal edges to protect them from bending, keeping them looking great for many years. For additional specs and pricing information, click here.

Our team of copywriters,designers and production managers apply our creative insight and expertise to every project. So, go ahead, send me an email, I want to learn more about your company and discuss how I can be of further service to you in 2012! Regards, Theresa A. Victory

“Your company’s goals will only be effective if you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how,” says Peter Vanden Bos in an article titled, “How to Set Business Goals.” He goes on to say, “A smart CEO understands the inherent value of goal setting in steering a growing business in the right direction. Unfortunately, figuring out exactly what the right direction is—and the road map to get there—isn’t as much of a no-brainer.

More than 80 percent of the 300 small business owners surveyed in the recent 4th Annual Staples National Small Business Survey said that they don’t keep track of their business goals, and 77 percent have yet to achieve their vision for their company. Though the statistics are grim, they should make sense: establishing business goals involves a fair amount of introspection into what makes your business tick, and what you want its future to be. Devoting the proper amount of time to do that can be difficult in a struggling economy, but your goals will be more achievable and effective if you do.

“You have to know what you’re going for, and do it with your eyes wide open,” says Francisco Dao, founder and president of The Killer Pitch, a firm based in Tarzana, California, that helps companies and entrepreneurs refine their message, and former business coach and columnist for Inc. “Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself what it’s going to take to achieve your goals.”

I finished reading the article How to Set Business Goals and starting writing down my long -term and short-term goals for Directories by Design. As I look over the list, I’m excited and optimistic about 2012. If I can be of any assistance helping you reach your 2012 business goals, please contact me. Whether it’s updating your hotel guest directory or creating a front desk property map, our team of copywriters, designers and production managers applies our creative insight and expertise to every project and I personally welcome the chance to learn more about your 2012 Marketing goals!

In case you are not on our e-news mailing list, I wanted to share our Holiday e-news with you on our Blog! Happy Holidays from ours to yours…Tis the Season and we have alot of reasons to be Merry!

In 2011, our company has developed many new relationships with clients and expanded our product and services offering. We published Hotel Guest Services Directories for various hotels including the Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Suites and the Best Western in FL, GA, NJ, PA and NY. This past year we also expanded Internationally and published a Guest Directory for a luxury resort in Antigua! We hope that in 2012 we will continue to see growth in the Caribbean and this past month have been exploring various opportunities to further expand our operations in Puerto Rico.

In 2011, we also launched our new website www.directoriesbydesign.com While our company has been in business since 2004, through the years as we developed relationships with our clients in the hotel and hospitality industry and began offering additional products, we thought it was time we launched a new website that would provide our clients will additional information. The site even has a blog and we’ve expanded our social media marketing efforts on facebook and twitter!

Start your New Year out with New Hotel Directories

Directories by Design specializes in publishing informative, custom designed Hotel Guest Services
Directories that provide helpful information about your hotel, local businesses, attractions and restaurants and we’d be happy to help you update your Guest Directory in 2012!

OUR HOLIDAY GIFT TO YOU: Order your Hotel Guest Directory before January 13, 2012 and we will give you 25% off your first Front Desk Property Map & Guide Order! (Note: some restrictions may apply and publisher will confirm details of offer upon receiving a completed order form from Hotel)

Contact us for additional information.

Happy Holidays to you and yours from all of us at Directories by Design!

Top 5 Most FAQ
1. What is a Hotel Guest Directory? Hotel Guest Directories provide guests with important information about your hotel, the local community, businesses and attractions. The Guest Directory is found in each hotel room and in many instances, these directories are required to meet brand standards.

2.What information will the Hotel Guest Directory include? While specific content will vary from hotel to hotel, typically all Guest Directories will include the following information:

Welcome Letter

Guest Services: includes information regarding room service, on site restaurants, hotel amenities, etc.

Hotel Services: includes Hotel Layout, Telephone Dialing Instructions & Rates, TV Channel Guide, Transportation Information,  Safety & Security,  Internet Access Info, etc.

Area Information: includes local places of worship, attractions, dining & entertainment

3. How long does it take to publish a Hotel Guest Directory? Production time will vary however most Guest Directories will be published in two- three months. A standard production schedule would be: Initial Layout & Design and Copy writing: 4  weeks. Client Proofreading/Approval: 1 week. Revisions: 1 week. Final Approval: 1 week. Printing & Shipping: 1- 2 weeks.

4. What types of binders do you offer and how much do they cost? We offer a variety of binders.Some of the most popular styles are Poly, Vinyl, Castillian Vinyl, Faux Leather and Leather. Of course, we also offer self-binding directories. Prices of binders range based on quantity, material and finishing options. We provide custom quotes based on our clients specifications.

5. How much will my Hotel Guest Directory cost and do you publish free directories? Prices of directories vary and we provide custom quotes based on obtaining additional information from our clients. We even have an online form which you can fill out if you would like to request a quote. We  also offer ad sponsored programs which will allow you to receive free Hotel Guest Directories through the participation of local restaurants, attractions and businesses. In the case where sponsorship revenues are insufficient to  cover all the production costs, you would be able to purchase the directories at a discounted rate.

Well, there you have it! Everything you ever wanted to know about Hotel Guest Directories. Contact us if you would like additional information or would like to request a quote.  I’m sure you will be happy you did!

Many restaurants are relying more and more on Social Media Marketing and less on print advertising. While I agree the times have, and are still changing when it comes to effective marketing tactics, I believe print advertising is still a vital element of a successful marketing strategy if and when consumers are relying on print media to obtain information.

In the Hospitality Industry, some hotels have kiosks in their lobbies which provide guests with information and/or may have a flat screen on the wall where guests can surf the net and print out information about local businesses. However, these hotels will also have a printed guest directory in each of their hotel rooms. And while many guests will ask their “tweeps” which restaurants they prefer, the majority will still open “that book” and take the recommendation of the hotel staff when it comes to deciding where to eat.

These hotel guests represent a very important market segment for restaurants. Local residents have cut their dining and entertainment budgets are are cooking more meals at home. Hotel guests do not have this option and have to eat out every day and every night. They have budgeted money for dining and entertainment and when six o’clock rolls around, these potential customers will consult with the hotel guest directory in their room. If you have eliminated print advertising from your integrated marketing plan, you will be missing a huge opportunity to increase sales.

As you plan your 2012 Marketing Budget, don’t forget to allocate funds for Hotel Guest Directory Advertising. While print media may be extinct to some market segments, in the case of hotel guests, print is not a dinosaur!

Hotel Guests have to eat out while traveling and unlike local residents, who in a tight economy dine out very infrequently, hotel guests are making decisions every single day where to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Depending on the size of the hotel and their occupancy rate, this can equate into hundreds of thousands of potential new clients for local businesses. For example: 195 suites x 365 days= 71,175 x 2 people=142,450 x 80% occupancy= 113,880 guests staying at hotel annually.

Most of the restaurant owners I met with understood that directory advertising can make a huge difference in their Gross Revenue, however there was one restaurant owner who told me, “I get enough business from that hotel.” I’ve heard the saying, “enough is enough,” but when is too much income too much?  Enough is not enough!

I wanted to learn more about his relationship with the hotel. During our brief discussion, he told me, “the Front Desk Staff sends me all the business I need and there is no need to advertise.”  I went on to explain that there were a few things he  may not have taken into  consideration:

1. Hotel Front Desk Staff typically has a high turn over. Folks get promoted; people transfer to other properties; staff retires. Don’t count on the front desk staff remaining the same throughout the entire year and when staff does change, you may lose a lot of business. Additionally,  even if there is no turn over, most hotel guests refer to the printed directory in their room for information and may not ask the front desk for information. This is particularly true if the hotel did not have a directory with advertisements in the guest rooms in the past. If you rely on the front desk staff alone, you will surely miss out on a lot of business!
2. In many hotels, especially in those properties that do not have a stand alone concierge in the lobby, the Front Desk Staff uses the Guest Services Directory as their primary source of reference when guests ask about local restaurants. If you do not advertise in the Guest Services Directory, you are missing out on many referrals.
3. Hotels must have updated room directories to pass inspection and it’s very costly. If a hotel property has been a good business neighbor and has referred you  a lot of business over the past year, why wouldn’t you want to return the favor and build an even stronger business relationship with someone who can help you increase your sales?

Well this restaurant owner realized there were a few things he had not thought about and quickly realized the importance of advertising in the Embassy Suites Hotel Guest Directory. He thanked me taking the time to get to know his business and explaining the importance of advertising in the Hotel Guest Services Directory. Then he asked me if Directories by Design could help him create a full page ad. Now that was the easiest question I answered all day!

1. Brand Standards. If your hotel has specific brand standards, it’s important that your directory is in compliance. These standards typically include specifics on design and layout (including logos, fonts, images, etc.), the content, type of paper your directory needs to be printed on and the binder. For example, recently we updated a directory for a Hampton Inn & Suites and made sure we published it using a soy-based ink on a #80 bright white 30% post-consumer waste paper. This was a new corporate standard since the last time the hotel had published their directory and they were not even aware that they were out of compliance. Directories by Design  has published Guest Directories for Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn and The Best Western and assures these directories meet corporate brand standards.

If your hotel doesn’t have specific standards, we’d love to help you get them established. Of course you can be creative, but by establishing guidelines you created a branded look or your hotel that can be used through out your marketing and help build recognition.

2. The Presentation. After scoping out a room, the first thing a hotel guest will do is check out the directory.You have many options when it comes to binders including a self binding paper cover directory, poly binders, vinyl binders and leather binders. First impressions make all the difference and by choosing the right binder, you will create a lasting impression with the guest who is looking for your help regarding services your hotel provides, local attractions and restaurants.

Directories by Design offers a wide selection of binders and can help pick a binder that best fits your company’s image and budget. For example, we recently put together an estimate to publish a guest directory for a hotel in South Beach with an “art deco” decor and we suggested a clear, poly binder which incorporated colors that matched their brand image. In other instances, a padded leather binder with an embossed logo may be more appropriate.

3. Content is King. When it comes to the content of your hotel guest directory, there are several essentials that mustn’t be left out. When I guest opens the hotel directory, they should be greeted by a Welcome Letter. Most directories will also include the following sections: Guest Services (Business Center, Check in/Check out, Laundry, Pool Hours, etc.), Hotel Services (TV Guide, Phone Dialing Instructions, Hotel Layout, etc), Menus (if a restaurant is on site), Emergency/Safety Instructions, Dining information and a list of local Attractions.

If you’re not sure what you’ll need, we can help and  will even provide you with a word document which includes basic information, however you will need to provide additional information which is specific to your hotel. In addition to the information about your hotel, Directories by Design will even make sure your guest directory provides substantial information about local area attractions. That’s right, with every hotel guest directory we publish, we research your local area and provide content regarding local businesses and area attractions!

4. Local Businesses Advertisements. Including advertisements from local area businesses can make your hotel guest directory even more valuable to your guests. Even with the ease of internet and search engines, guest still turn to the in-room directory first.  Not only will this ma ke your guests happy, but by affording local business an opportunity to promote their services to hotel guests, you may be able to receive your hotel guest directory absolutely free or at a reduced cost.

That’s right, Directories by Design will take care of the entire process for you! We will compile a list of potential advertisers and our highly trained and courteous representatives will come to your city, meet with local businesses and  our graphics design team will even create their ads! We handle all the production details and deliver the directories to your hotel. For more information, please fill out this brief form.

5. Distribution. When your directory is complete, how will you distribute it? Will you simply have a printed directory in each room or will you ePublish your directory? Electronic publishing has become very popular and there are many ePublishing options. Your digital Guest Services directory can consist of text, images, or both, and is readable on computers or other electronic devices.

And there you have it…5 Essentials for creating a great Hotel Guest Services Directory! I hope these tips have been helpful, however if I can offer additional insight, just send me an email info@directoriesbydesign.com.

I always told my friends, ‘I’m going to write a book one day.’ Well I guess the times have changed and I’m going to write a blog and I’m going to tweet! It’s kinda all new to me and a bit strange, sharing my innermost thoughts and business insights with people I don’t even know. I mean, if my friends and family doesn’t care about what I have to say, why should some ‘cyberspace stranger? ‘ But they tell me you do and if you don’t ‘the spiders do’, so here I go…All kidding aside, I was not sure I really wanted to set up my Twitter Account. As the ceo and owner of Directories by Design I am very busy securing contracts with new hotels, hiring sales reps, meeting with potential Hotel Guest Services Advertiser’s, interacting with graphic designers and overseeing print production. Sure, I’ve been very blessed to have developed strategic alliances through the years with some very talented people who assist me in many facets of the business, however at the end of the day, I am responsible for the business and I need to assure my clients are happy. So, now I have to Tweet. “Why?!” was the question. Well, thanks to Fireleaf Design and CEO, Alan Brusky, I began realizing the power of Twitter and Social Media.

The problem was I did not know where to begin! When I started my career in NYC, we did not have Twitter accounts, Facebook or LinkendIn. I was just about to buy the Twitter for Dummy book when I was told to check out this site-  Mashable It’s really a great resource for us folks who are new to Social Media. It not only tells you how to set up your Twitter account, it provides helpful tips on Building your Twitter Community and points out that it’s not all play on Twitter — there’s serious business being done as well! There’s still alot to learn in order to maximize the power of Twitter, however I have a new attitude about Social Media Networking and I’m actually excited that Twitter will help me interact with clients and get a better idea about what’s important to other professionals in the Hotel & Hospitality Industry. I’m also looking forward to tweeting about the local businesses I deal with including  area attractions, restaurants and hotels. Who knows, the worst thing that can happen is I find more great restaurants to enjoy and the best is perhaps I can make some new relationships. It’s a Win Win!