Latest news with #HotelPlanner
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
HotelPlanner Appoints Jeff McDaniel as Chief Marketing Officer
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HotelPlanner, a leading travel technology company and hotel booking platform, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff McDaniel as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In this role, McDaniel will oversee the company's global marketing strategy, brand positioning, and digital growth initiatives. McDaniel brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the travel and hospitality industry, with deep expertise in digital marketing, search strategy, call center sales operations and strategic partnerships. He most recently served as Vice President of Sales & Operations at HotelPlanner, where he led the company's marketing initiatives and contact center sales his career, McDaniel has been at the forefront of online travel innovation. Prior to joining HotelPlanner, he held executive roles at Interactive Hotel Solutions, where he directed key initiatives in SEO, SEM, affiliate development, and supplier relationships. He has also held positions at and where he was instrumental in building supplier networks and shaping early hotel distribution models.'We're thrilled to elevate and promote Jeff into the role of Chief Marketing Officer,' said Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner. 'His strategic vision, deep industry knowledge, and track record of delivering results make him the ideal leader to drive our brand forward in a highly competitive global marketplace.''McDaniel's appointment comes at a pivotal time as HotelPlanner continues to expand its international presence and invest in performance marketing and partner ecosystems.''I'm honored to take on this new role and help shape the next chapter of growth for HotelPlanner,' said McDaniel. 'With a strong team and innovative technology, we're well positioned to drive meaningful impact and expand our influence across the broader travel and hospitality industry.' About HotelPlanner: HotelPlanner is a leading travel technology company and hotel booking platform that combines proprietary artificial intelligence and a 24/7 global gig-based reservations and customer service network. HotelPlanner is one of the world's leading providers of individual, group and corporate travel bookings. Founded in 2003, HotelPlanner has enduring partnerships with the world's largest online travel agencies, well-known global hotel chains, individual hotels, online wedding providers, ancillary lodging providers, corporations, sporting organizations from youth to professional, universities, and government agencies. HotelPlanner's family of brands includes its flagship site, its meetings & events-focused sites, and Lucid Travel, which focuses on sports team travel; Eventsquid, which focuses on corporate and association event registration; and Cleverdis, a mainstay in trade show media. Media Contact: Tim Gunstone, Chief Communications Officer, HotelPlanner Inc, in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Upturn
23 minutes ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
HotelPlanner Appoints Jeff McDaniel as Chief Marketing Officer
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HotelPlanner, a leading travel technology company and hotel booking platform, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff McDaniel as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In this role, McDaniel will oversee the company's global marketing strategy, brand positioning, and digital growth initiatives. McDaniel brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in the travel and hospitality industry, with deep expertise in digital marketing, search strategy, call center sales operations and strategic partnerships. He most recently served as Vice President of Sales & Operations at HotelPlanner, where he led the company's marketing initiatives and contact center sales operations. Throughout his career, McDaniel has been at the forefront of online travel innovation. Prior to joining HotelPlanner, he held executive roles at Interactive Hotel Solutions, where he directed key initiatives in SEO, SEM, affiliate development, and supplier relationships. He has also held positions at and , where he was instrumental in building supplier networks and shaping early hotel distribution models. 'We're thrilled to elevate and promote Jeff into the role of Chief Marketing Officer,' said Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner. 'His strategic vision, deep industry knowledge, and track record of delivering results make him the ideal leader to drive our brand forward in a highly competitive global marketplace.' 'McDaniel's appointment comes at a pivotal time as HotelPlanner continues to expand its international presence and invest in performance marketing and partner ecosystems.' 'I'm honored to take on this new role and help shape the next chapter of growth for HotelPlanner,' said McDaniel. 'With a strong team and innovative technology, we're well positioned to drive meaningful impact and expand our influence across the broader travel and hospitality industry.' About HotelPlanner: HotelPlanner is a leading travel technology company and hotel booking platform that combines proprietary artificial intelligence and a 24/7 global gig-based reservations and customer service network. HotelPlanner is one of the world's leading providers of individual, group and corporate travel bookings. Founded in 2003, HotelPlanner has enduring partnerships with the world's largest online travel agencies, well-known global hotel chains, individual hotels, online wedding providers, ancillary lodging providers, corporations, sporting organizations from youth to professional, universities, and government agencies. HotelPlanner's family of brands includes its flagship site, its meetings & events-focused sites, and Lucid Travel, which focuses on sports team travel; Eventsquid, which focuses on corporate and association event registration; and Cleverdis, a mainstay in trade show media. Media Contact: Tim Gunstone, Chief Communications Officer, HotelPlanner Inc, [email protected] Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Knipes to get 'back to work' after Open frustration
Essex golfer Curtis Knipes is aiming to get straight "back to work" following his first major appearance in six 24-year-old returned to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, for the 153rd Open, having made his major debut at the same course six years said he was "disappointed" to miss the cut by five shots after finishing six-over-par for his first two rounds but is already looking ahead."Really, I'm just going to be prepping now for [DP World Tour] Q-School because I am not really doing anything on either Order of Merits that I've been playing on," he told BBC Radio Essex."[Q-School will be] brutal. I'm likely going to have to go through all three stages unless I do something special so it's going to be pretty tough but [my] game's been trending nicely. I know where to tidy up so back to work." Knipes, from Chelmsford, came through qualifying to earn a second visit to Royal Portrush, six years after becoming the youngest player to feature in the 148th Open at the same venue, in 2019, aged a two-over-par first round of 73, Knipes followed that with a four-over-par second round of 75 on Friday to end his involvement before the who mainly plays on the HotelPlanner (Challenge) Tour, added: "[I'm] pretty disappointed. I feel like I've just not been sharp enough the last couple of days."I didn't make a birdie [in second round]. Putter was very, very cold. If I actually putted well then maybe there would have been half a chance of making the cut. [I was] just a bit too off really."You don't get many chances around here and I gave myself a good few looks, especially on the back nine and just couldn't convert."You have a glimmer of hope and it strips right away from you so it's pretty tough."
Travel Weekly
06-07-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
New owner Dylan Ratigan sees big things for Reservations.com
Investor Dylan Ratigan is bullish on his latest acquisition, the OTA for three reasons: its domain name, fellow OTA HotelPlanner and the opportunity to make the service more user-friendly. Ratigan acquired in March. "I believe that the domain name itself is incredibly valuable and ripe for massive expansion," he said. But three months into owning his main focus right now is the customer experience. That's also where HotelPlanner comes into the picture. Ratigan has contracted the OTA to provide travel tech support, including AI-powered customer service agents that are layered with human agents to serve more customers faster and more smoothly. Ratigan, HotelPlanner and are no strangers. While he's focused on entrepreneurial pursuits today, Ratigan's background is in news. He was Bloomberg's global head of corporate finance before hosting its morning show. He also started the show "Fast Money" at CNBC, before hosting "The Dylan Ratigan Show" at MSNBC. He left television in 2012, and that's when he met HotelPlanner owners Tim Henschel and John Prince. In the years following, he invested in a number of businesses, from hydroponics to medical devices. Today, his focus is and a luxury Italian sneaker business. Key to the acquisition Before Ratigan owned the OTA and HotelPlanner almost merged, but that deal was called off in 2022. But now, Ratigan -- who has long been an admirer of the tech stack HotelPlanner has built -- is bringing the two OTAs together in a different way. "The reason I was like 'I'll do this deal' was because I knew I could get an agreement for the travel tech support from HotelPlanner, which gave me the confidence to engage," he said. Ratigan also said he believes is one of the strongest domain names in travel, perhaps second only to he said. "I believe travel is booming and will continue to boom, and I also believe Reservations has a lot of potential outside of travel just by virtue of what the domain name is," he said. "You know, we make reservations for lots of things that are not hotel rooms, from restaurants to airplanes to events." While his initial focus is on customer experience, Ratigan has begun studying what other kind of reservations the OTA can incorporate into its business mix. He's also focused on growing in Europe; the investor himself is based in Milan.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Don't Book a Hotel at These Times (and 4 Money-Saving Reasons Why)
Timing is everything, especially when it comes to booking a hotel. Certain times of the month and year are pricier than others, and knowing when not to book can save you some cash. 'Hotel pricing is subject to fluctuations and is significantly influenced by immediate demand, reservation trends and local happenings,' explained Nick Drewe, CEO and money-saving expert at online discount platform Wethrift. 'It operates similarly to airline fare structures, where algorithms modify prices on a daily or even hourly basis.' Before you reserve your accommodations, make sure you're not booking during these times. Read Next: Check Out: Booking a hotel room at the last minute can potentially save you money, but this isn't always the case. Colleen Carswell, former hotel director of sales and current hotel solutions strategist, told HerMoney that it all comes down to supply and demand. If supply exceeds demand and the hotel needs to fill rooms, then prices may be lower. However, if there's a big event in the area and demand for hotel rooms is high and supply is low, you could pay more. Instead: Book early and keep tabs on prices online. 'I would always advise booking in advance,' Tim Hentschel, CEO and founder of Hotel Planner, recommended. 'You will then have a wider choice of dates, hotels, departure airports and destinations to select from.' See More: Peak season is a period during the year when there's more demand, which can lead to higher prices. 'Plan on paying more during peak holiday periods and major local events,' Drewe said. 'It can be tough to find a good deal around New Year's, Fourth of July or large festivals and events, which means significant markup driven by demand and limited availability.' Instead: Hentschel recommends booking a hotel in the shoulder season when there's less demand. For example, if you're traveling to Europe, he says you may get a better deal in May or September. According to Drewe, business travel and personal trips tend to spike in the first week of each month and may lead to higher hotel room prices. Instead: 'Second and third weeks of the month, especially during shoulder seasons like late spring or early fall, tend to offer the best value as well when it comes to booking,' Drewe explained. 'Families fly less during school terms, and business travel is more predictable, so prices typically stabilize or drop.' Fridays and Saturdays are often the most expensive, especially in high-demand weekend getaway areas, Drewe said. But if you need to book on one of these days, Hentschel encourages travelers to book during non-peak hours like 6 a.m. or midnight. Instead: Hentschel recommends booking on a Tuesday if you want to get the best deal. 'Most often, the pricing teams for hotels and tour operators meet on a Monday to review what's sold well over the weekend. Then on Tuesday morning, they'll update their systems and websites with deals and offers to increase bookings to hotels and destinations where they have more availability,' he explained. 'Booking on a Tuesday can drive savings of around 5%-8% for international travel when compared to the higher price points later in the week.' More From GOBankingRates 6 Used Luxury SUVs That Are a Good Investment for Retirees12 SUVs With the Most Reliable Engines7 Overpriced Grocery Items Frugal People Should Quit Buying in 20255 Cities You Need To Consider If You're Retiring in 2025 This article originally appeared on Don't Book a Hotel at These Times (and 4 Money-Saving Reasons Why) Sign in to access your portfolio
