The freemium concept :

The freemium concept is a business model. It is running by offering basic services and the advanced services are paying. The idea is to transform the simple user of the service into a customer. Also, free added to premium gives freemium.
Text link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemium_business_model

we can find 2 online business utilizing freemium concept: skype, meetic, or flickr.

The advantages:

i think that this business allows customers to get free services.

Another advantage is that it will generate more and more customers.

The desavantages :

I think that the fact to get free at the first time and have to pay after will stop consumers to buy. They'll think: why i have to pay now?

Also, it exists some online users who are not feeling secure to pay online. They are asking themselves if it's a secure transaction.

And I think that customers will feel satisfied with a free online service. They won't need to pay for a service they got for free.

Easy group

Easy group is a business owned by Stelios Haji-Ioannou. It was created in 1995 and at the beginning it was easy jet. It has given many others franchises : easy pizza, easy cinema, easy hotel...

The easy business uses yield management. By that, customers can save money and time. It also pratices the low cost business and it permits to the company to be competitive with the other big industries. Because the customers prefer to buy in advance and they feel that the business is respecting them.

We can find many advantages to this company. For example, for easy jet, customers can reserve their seats at the last minute at a low cost. You can travel anywhere and the service has a good quality.

Links for long tail:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Tail

http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/minisites/longtail/

Here is a good explanation of the long tail:
http://www.journaldunet.com/0703/070326-net-long-tail-definition-solution-outils-longue-traine.shtml

Second part of the exam :

1) Social sharing sites:
Social sharing sites are sites where any kind of person can share anything they want like photos, videos, files... . The goal is to interact like forums for example. People can share any kind of informations. Also, on several social sharing sites, you can create your own profile and others have access to it.
2 examples : http://www.facebook.com/, and also http://www.myspace.com

2)social sharing influence consumer's choice:
I think that people want to be more informed on that they are going to buy. For example, if they want to buy one product, they are going to check on social sharing sites in order to be advised.
They are going to believe another consumer's opinion , more than an advertising saying always that the product is perfect. Also, they are always looking for the best deal.
here is an article to support my assessment : iProspect Social Networking User Behavior Study

3) Like we read, hoteliers need to create conversations with online consumers. I think that hoteliers can use social networking. Like we saw in the article, social networking takes a useful turn. Also, I think that hoteliers should let consumers interact, let show their opinions. It would be easier for hoteliers to communicate with consumers.
So, I think that hoteliers should create a social sharing on their website, for example forums.... In this way, hoteliers can get a great impact on consumers.
2 examples : tablethotels and tripAdviser.

4)Can hotels effectively establish an online conversation with customers?

I think that hotels can establish effectively an online conversation with customers. Hoteliers can develop a great tool of communication with customers, so if they get their opinion it will be an effective online conversation. They will provide a better service than if they don't do it.
Also, it will show to the customers that hoteliers are interested in the customer's opinion so it will be a relationship of trust. And the interaction will be effective.
So, I really think that hoteliers have to develop online conversations with customers.

Team exercise with Reza Aarbab:
We chose the Regina hotel in Paris. It's a 4 star hotel very classical design. The reservation can be done on the website of the hotel. You can also reserve the restaurant and other facilities of the hotel separately if you wish. You can choose your favourite language to book. Average prices: 420 euros. High class clientele.

3 resellers:

www.gtahotels.com

Target customer group: luxury, touristy people, people who want to be downtown.
Reach of site : easy to book, nice pictures, worldwide reseller site.
Hotel image:very designed hotels, all stars rating is mixed.
Distribution, marketing programs:discount hotels deal with the world list, new activities like shows, tours, transfers are highlighted. Toll free telephone number which mean that customers don’t pay for telephone bill.
Affiliate programs:link to discounthotels.comgtahotels.com is accredited by the travel industry and it’s a member of IATA, ASTA and tursab.

http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/

Target customer group: The site is for people looking a hotel in France. The target is people like business man, families, and couple.
Reach of the site:in visual terms or aspects, the hotel doesn’t appear on the first page on Google.
Hotel image: it is a nice image, easy to use, specific for France. All types of hotels are listed like luxury, not luxury, any star. Two different directories: hotels in France and hotels in Paris.
Marketing programs:As a client, when you are booking with the France hotel guide, you pay no commission, no handling fee and it is an entirely free service.
Affiliate programs:no affiliate programs.

http://www.minotel.com/

Target customer group this site attracts the people who are looking for the hotels with charm and quality. The target customer is also the business people and touristy. It can be every one and people who are wishing to get their hotel at the last minute because of the lowest rate.
Reach of the site: easy to choose, several languages, in terms of marketing, they are very good but when you are searching on the internet, they don’t appear on the first page.
Hotel image:the image is very good, especially they didn’t mix all the classifications of the hotel and also you have the choice to be in the middle of the city. 2 and 3 stars hotel are listed but not 4 stars hotel.
Marketing programs: They have special offers; it is a perfect program for client to get a good rate and to be downtown. And also good for hoteliers who want to have the tools for their last minute rate.
Affiliate programs: they have affiliate programs with 5 percent commission for each night confirmation and for any website.
Benefits: free of charge, partnership, additional revenues. Internet quality service.

Conclusion: we choose minotel.com because it has a affiliate program, not complicated to use and you can get the lowest rate at the last minute as a client. It has a lot of advantages for the hoteliers such as increasing the Revpar and get rid of the empty rooms at the low season.

commentary on classmate's blog : isabelle
I saw isabelle's video and alexander commentary and i agree with him.
The guy doesn't do an expertise about revenue management.
It seems like an interview for a job. He talks about his experience and his personnal, professionnal skills.
He didn't interact with revenue management.

This article talks about a new concept hotels named yotel. It is gonna open in may in the london ghatwick airport. Each room is bookable in a four hour block.
It is one of the world's most radical hotel concepts.
This hotel is a great idea because it is different from the expensive and boring hotels.

commentary on classmate's blog :
Chloé has posted a very nice article. In my opinion, Starwood has developed a nice project. To be on the roof of the world in tibet. I think it will generate business in this country , as chloe said people are coming more and more. It is innovative and in the hotel industry , we are always talking about it.

This article talks about habits of effective sales people in hotels.
As we see, sales have a high responsability to generate rooms revenue for the property, and increase average rates in peak times.
A sales person has to make results even with markets conditions and develop the business effectively. Brenda fields says that sales is a skill but formal training sales program is necessary for effectiveness.
In this article , we are talking about the most important habits to develop an effective sales department. First, know your property is important with strenghts and weaknesses. You have to know also who your customer is because the target market is a primary condition. We already know that you have to listen your customer, develop great administration skills. Finally, you have to continue to grow and develop.

I think this article is very interesting because it deals with a primary department in the hotel. Sales person has to be always competitive in every domains. Even if the market present difficulties, they have to give results. Without the sales departement, the hotel cannot grow and develop his business.

1.3 resseller sites : hotels.com , opodo, expediahotels.com
2. they have best rate guarantee, they pretend they have the lowest rate