Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO The Rezidor Hotel Group, talks about hotel company's development in Africa and the importance of Social media toy its communication with customers.
TravelDailyNews: Expanding strategy in the current economic crisis. Analysis of the expansion in Africa, plans for Asia?
Wolfgang M. Neumann: Africa is a key focus market for Rezidor – the continent is a young and emerging market with large natural resources, increasingly stable political and economic systems, a growing middle class, and last but not least an imbalance of supply and demand when it comes to modern internationally branded hotel rooms. Rezidor has today the second largest pipeline of rooms under development in sub-Saharan Africa (22 hotels with 4,000 rooms; and we already operate 15 hotels with 3,000 rooms); we want to further strengthen and extend our leading position. Key markets for us are Nigeria, Angola and South Africa; and we aim to profitably grow through non-committed contracts, usually management agreements. Rezidor has strong relationships to our African hotel owners and business partners, we are for example cooperating with “Mvelaphanda”, one of the most important black empowered entreprises in Africa.
TravelDailyNews: What are the benefits for a hotelier to be branded as one of Rezidor’s brands?
W.M.N.: Our core brands Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson enjoy a very good international reputation. An owner who works with us offers his guests truly international standards and services, and benefits from an international sales, marketing and distribution engine.
TravelDailyNews: Social media strategy. How do you deal with social media promotion as a brand and for each of your hotel members?
W.M.N.: Social media are an increasingly important part of our communication with customers. All our hotels have their own facebook page, and we run brand specific social media campaigns such as the Park Inn by Radisson summer campaign 2013 and the Radisson Blu summer campain 2013 under the title “Turn your World Blu”. The lucky winner will receive a trip around the world – including air tickets and up to 30 nights in Radisson Blu Hotels of his choice!
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