Web watch

09 November 2000 by
Web watch

Show time, all the time

Caterers and hoteliers who would like to go to trade fairs but don't have the time will welcome the advent of what is claimed to be the world's first hospitality exhibition on the Web. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the site groups suppliers and manufacturers into five virtual halls covering hotels, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés. Along with links to exhibitors' Web sites and the option to buy on-line, the show's conference centre features audio clips from speakers including British Hospitality Association supremo Bob Cotton.

www.virtualhospitalityshow.com

Are you being satisfied?

Another world first is claimed for a hotel customer-and-staff-satisfaction service launched on the Internet last month by California-based Market Metrix. It surveys the target audience by letter, phone or Internet and posts the results on its site in an easy-to-interpret customised form that will identify problems and suggest solutions. Clients can access the site's best-practice database as well as their own results, and compare their scores against industry benchmarks. To find out how clients have benefited from the system, visit www.hotelimprovement.com.

Cutting the slack

A collaboration between the Foodndrink Web site and on-line bookings service 5pm is intended to help restaurants boost business at their slackest times. Restaurateurs provide details of special offers, what times of the day they are available, the deadline for bookings, and how many tables are available. The information can be changed daily, or at short notice if large parties cancel. The site currently covers restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester and London, but more cities will be added. Call Trevina on 020 7821 1500 to get your offers on to www.foodndrink.5pm.co.uk within just 48 hours for a fee of £1.

Panoramic marketing

A mid-November revamp of Pan 3Sixty's site will illustrate what the photographic specialist can offer hotels in terms of visual marketing, when it showcases panoramic 360º virtual tours developed for Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Nottingham's Hambleton Hall, Lords of the Manor and Linthwaite House hotel. The company predicts that virtual tours will soon allow customers to choose which bedroom they wish to book. Incompatibility between Microsoft's Media Player software and the Apple QuickTime movie means some browsers may need to download a free plug-in from www.apple.com/quicktime/download/index.html to see the tours on www.pan3sixty.co.uk

Blood and wine

Meat and Champagne lovers will smack their lips over two new sites launched during the past few weeks. www.champagne.fr offers a journey through the different Champagne houses and the latest harvest results, along with serving suggestions for the "king of wines". Meanwhile, the Meat and Livestock Commission's marketing department has posted a guide to its services for caterers on www.britishmeatfoodservice.com. Subjects range from recipes, cost-saving cuts, marketing support and a supply directory.

Next Web watch: 7 December

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