Netflix or Blockbuster?, Lanzadera and WeTalk #4

There's a question I like to ask hoteliers when we talk for the first time: Do you want to be Netflix or Blockbuster?

It's not a rhetorical question. It's the exact description of what's happening in hospitality right now.

The analogy that explains it all

Blockbuster knew streaming was going to exist. They had the chance to buy Netflix. They chose not to change because the current model was working.

Today they don't exist.

In hospitality, the "streaming" is 24/7 conversational service. The data is overwhelming:

• 80% of travelers prefer to message before calling to make a booking inquiry.
• 70% book with the first hotel that responds, regardless of price.
• The average response time of a hotel without automation: 4 to 6 hours.
• The response time with WeSpeak: less than 30 seconds.

The difference isn't technological. It's a business decision.

WeSpeak and Lanzadera

I have news that fills me with pride. WeSpeak was selected by Lanzadera, the startup accelerator founded by Juan Roig (Mercadona), part of Marina de Empresas in Valencia.

Lanzadera works with the most promising Spanish-speaking startups. Being selected validates the path we're walking and gives us access to a network of mentors, resources and connections that will accelerate our ability to help more hotels.

WeTalk #4: Revenue Management with Florencia Benaim

This week we held the fourth edition of WeTalk with Florencia Benaim, a Revenue Management specialist. The most important takeaway from the talk: revenue isn't a pricing problem, it's an information problem.

The hotels that perform best are the ones that make decisions based on data, not intuition.

— Gonzalo Rioja