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"Million Dollar Idea"?

by midasman09 Banned
8 replies
Hey! I've been doing "advertising & marketing stuff" for many yrs and....I just got a HOT FLASH!

This afternoon I'm sitting in the lobby of the best hotel in my town (Roseburg, Oregon) and....in the lobby, as in most hotel lobbies, is a Rack on the wall, that holds a bunch of brochures of various biznesses of interest to "Travelers". MOST of these biznesses are "Attractions"! Biznesses MILES AWAY from this hotel.

So...as I'm watching people come in and register....I notice that NOT ONE looks at the "Rack full of Flyers"!

They give the clerk their info....the clerk gives them a Key to their room and....off they go to their room! NOT EVEN A GLANCE at the expensive, FULL COLOR Flyers in the Rack!

Well! THIS got me thinking! What If....there was a Plastic Display Stand sitting on the desk....in plain view....right in front of their noses that said;

"DON'T FORGET
YOUR FREE
"GUEST DISCOUNT CARD"
...GOOD FOR $1 OFF ANY PURCHASE
...AT LOCAL BUSINESSES!"

....with an Arrow pointing down to a "Business Card Holder"....holding a bunch of Cards!

Now...granted....most of you folks reading this...don't have a clue as to what I'm talking about! Which is OK....it just means there's MORE ROOM for "us folks" who DO....understand!

So....what if there were 20 biznesses on these Cards....offering "$1 OFF ANY purchase"....and...what if each of these biznesses paid YOU $100/mo for participating?

Well....I think THIS is a GREAT IDEA! Why? Because people who stay at hotels....are LOOKING FOR DEALS!

Those expensive, full color RACK Flyers are simply..."Here's what we have! Here's our address! C'mon over!

Yeah...right! NO REASON WHY hotel guests should visit OTHER THAN they are TRULY INTERESTED in what they have>

Now...granted...ONE DOLLAR is not much of an incentive to visit any of the participating businesses...BUT....it sure beats NO incentive!

So....yours truly will be spending the next few days putting together this Program that offers a "FREE...Disount Card" to people who check into local hotels.

So....thanks for reading. I just wanted to show HOW..."people like ME" get "Money-Making Ideas"!

I will bet ya I can find 20 local businesses willing to pay ME...$100 a Month to participate! In fact....I'm gonna try and see if I can get $500 A MONTH (for more rooms)....from some of these biznesses...for my "simple idea"!

Don Alm...."idea guy" AND...DOER!
#million dollar idea
  • Profile picture of the author mrultra
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    • Profile picture of the author brentb
      Originally Posted by mrultra View Post

      Maybe they have figured out that guests are more interested in those flyers on the way OUT of the hotel.

      Just a thought...
      THIS ^^^^ bwhaha
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  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Smale
    This won't work for a number of reasons.

    Firstly, how much are you going to be paying the hotel to display these business cards? They most likely have a contract with whoever supplies the flyers.

    Hotel guests do not want to have cheap deals thrown in their face when they check into a hotel.

    It makes the hotel look cheap, and no hotel manager is going to want crap like that in the face of their guest.

    What sort of hotel wants to advertise other businesses on their front desk?

    Why does the hotel need you? It's not like you have a unique idea or skill.

    I don't see how $1 off would incentivise anyone, except tire kickers with no money to spend.

    Your idea has some merit, but it really is just an idea that in reality won't work.

    Disclaimer: I used to manage a hotel
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    • Profile picture of the author fedor50
      Originally Posted by Thomas Smale View Post

      This won't work for a number of reasons.

      Firstly, how much are you going to be paying the hotel to display these business cards? They most likely have a contract with whoever supplies the flyers.

      Hotel guests do not want to have cheap deals thrown in their face when they check into a hotel.

      It makes the hotel look cheap, and no hotel manager is going to want crap like that in the face of their guest.

      What sort of hotel wants to advertise other businesses on their front desk?

      Why does the hotel need you? It's not like you have a unique idea or skill.

      I don't see how $1 off would incentivise anyone, except tire kickers with no money to spend.

      Your idea has some merit, but it really is just an idea that in reality won't work.

      Disclaimer: I used to manage a hotel
      This. No Hotel wants to look cheap advertising other businesses
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      • Profile picture of the author RedShifted
        Originally Posted by fedor50 View Post

        This. No Hotel wants to look cheap advertising other businesses
        A HOTEL *IS* a "business".

        There are ways to promote in ANY business whether its at the front door, or papers are slipped under your door, it does NOT make the hotel look "cheap". It is the decision of WHAT companies they promote that makes them look cheap imo.

        What if the coupons are for a 5 star restaraunt across the road? A place that known celebrities frequent? Give me one reason how that makes a hotel look "cheap"? If anything it makes the hotel look better imo.

        Far too many naysayers in this thread.

        -Red
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    • Profile picture of the author RedShifted
      Originally Posted by Thomas Smale View Post

      This won't work for a number of reasons.

      Firstly, how much are you going to be paying the hotel to display these business cards? They most likely have a contract with whoever supplies the flyers.

      Hotel guests do not want to have cheap deals thrown in their face when they check into a hotel.

      It makes the hotel look cheap, and no hotel manager is going to want crap like that in the face of their guest.

      What sort of hotel wants to advertise other businesses on their front desk?

      Why does the hotel need you? It's not like you have a unique idea or skill.

      I don't see how $1 off would incentivise anyone, except tire kickers with no money to spend.

      Your idea has some merit, but it really is just an idea that in reality won't work.

      Disclaimer: I used to manage a hotel
      Whens the last time you actually went to a hotel?

      I hate to break it to you, last trip I went on vacation (carribeans) they had **4** people at the door of the hotel handing out coupons. People were fighting for some of the coupons especially the 3 free shots deal from a bar accross the street.

      Some people who go to hotels actually plan on shopping the next day because they are TOURISTS, so they WANT great deals, it only makes perfect sense to give these people coupons.

      Only ones I don't see doing this are the super expensive 5 star hotels, but I think the majority of places still wouldn't have any problem with it.

      Regarding the question "why would hotels want to advertise other companies" here is your simple answer.

      Because THEY GET PAID TO DO IT. They can also get free marketing if the bar across the street decides to promote the hotel. So in a certain respect, you'd have to be an idiot not to do it.

      I DO SEE what you're saying, I just don't think it applies to most hotels like you think. These people aren't chasing them around the hotel throwing flyers at them. They just hang out by the door and hand them out. Doesn't really give the hotel a bad image as you can just IGNORE THEM. Maybe if they're trying to promote a strip bar it might look bad, but you have no idea what they're promoting. Could be a classy 5 star restaraunt and that really doesn't make the hotel look bad in anyway.

      -Red
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      • Profile picture of the author Thomas Smale
        Originally Posted by RedShifted View Post

        Whens the last time you actually went to a hotel?

        I hate to break it to you, last trip I went on vacation (carribeans) they had **4** people at the door of the hotel handing out coupons. People were fighting for some of the coupons especially the 3 free shots deal from a bar accross the street.

        Some people who go to hotels actually plan on shopping the next day because they are TOURISTS, so they WANT great deals, it only makes perfect sense to give these people coupons.

        Only ones I don't see doing this are the super expensive 5 star hotels, but I think the majority of places still wouldn't have any problem with it.

        Regarding the question "why would hotels want to advertise other companies" here is your simple answer.

        Because THEY GET PAID TO DO IT. They can also get free marketing if the bar across the street decides to promote the hotel. So in a certain respect, you'd have to be an idiot not to do it.

        I DO SEE what you're saying, I just don't think it applies to most hotels like you think. These people aren't chasing them around the hotel throwing flyers at them. They just hang out by the door and hand them out. Doesn't really give the hotel a bad image as you can just IGNORE THEM. Maybe if they're trying to promote a strip bar it might look bad, but you have no idea what they're promoting. Could be a classy 5 star restaraunt and that really doesn't make the hotel look bad in anyway.

        -Red
        I "actually" went to a hotel last week. I travel on business all the time, so I would think it's fair to estimate I spend more time in hotels than 99.9% of the population. Plus, I managed a hotel for 2 years.

        At vacation resort hotels, especially outside of the US (e.g. the carribean) they may promote other businesses, but in the US I'd be surprised unless they get paid well and it's not directly competing with their business. That's more a cultural thing than anything else. I'm not saying they wouldn't do it in the US/UK, but on their front counter is extremely optimistic.

        At business orientated hotels (lots of these) they would definitely not do it. I would definitely not stay at a hotel again if they tried to shove a $1 discount card in my face at check-in, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

        I appreciate that the hotels will get paid for it, but this wasn't mentioned in the original post. I'm curious how the OP would propose structuring the deal. Hotels don't necessarily do anything for money, some have a reputation to uphold and don't want to be cheapened by discount cards everywhere.

        I actually think the idea would work with some tweaking, so I'm not being a naysayer, I just think the OP has an extremely optimistic view of his idea which implies to me he probably hasn't dealt with hotels in the past as the concerns I've laid out would be common across many.
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  • Profile picture of the author RedShifted
    Hmmm... well you're probably right then. My last 3 trips have been outside the US, so perhaps there is a major cultural difference in that respect.

    I also know at the carribeans people walk around the beaches trying to sell you t-shirts, and in america that probably wouldn't tolerated too well.

    I'll have to keep my eyes open next time I'm in AC for the weekend. Right now I suppose you do make a good point. =]

    -Red
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