How can hotels, especially independent and boutique properties, build effective marketing strategies that drive bookings, maximize revenue, and stand out in a competitive market?

In this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Jody Merl, Founder and President of Innovative Travel Marketing, to dive into her incredible journey from aspiring actress to hospitality marketing powerhouse.

Jody shares insights from her decades of experience working with luxury hotels, launching campaigns for JetBlue and iconic properties like the Paramount Hotel, and building long-term client relationships that have stood the test of time. She also reveals what separates successful hotel marketing campaigns from those that fall flat and offers actionable advice for hotel operators and marketing professionals.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The story behind launching JetBlue with a $2M radio campaign funded entirely through trade
• How to fill gaps in hotel marketing and maximize underutilized inventory
• What are the key strategies for aligning marketing campaigns with long-term business goals
• The importance of integrated, multi-channel campaigns across digital, print, and PR
• Why is the landscape of hospitality marketing evolving from traditional advertising to targeted digital campaigns

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/I6vpIq8JcBs

Links:
Jody on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodymerl/
Innovative Travel Marketing: https://www.innovativetravelmarketing.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/263

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Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.