10.31.04
Health and Wellness
Health and Wellness
Creating Health Through Mind, Body, and Spirit
Best Western Goes Full Throttle for NASCAR’s Return to Phoenix Arizona
Best Western Goes Full Throttle for NASCAR’s Return to Phoenix
PHOENIX, AZ USA 08/04/2004
Sport’s Official Hotel to Host Week-Long Events Beginning November 1
PHOENIX, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ — Best Western International, the Official
Hotel of NASCAR, welcomes America’s fastest-growing sport back to town with a
series of events celebrating next weekend’s action at Phoenix International
Raceway.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030627/BESTWESTERNLOGO)
Headquartered in Phoenix, Best Western and several of its member hotels
throughout Arizona will host a variety of activities beginning Monday, which
are open to the general public. These include:
* November 1 - Best Western InnSuites Hotel & Suites,
6201 N. Oracle Road, Tucson: Best Western #99 Busch Series Show Car
on display, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. A crew shirt signed by NASCAR driver
Michael Waltrip will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to
Operation Marathon, benefiting the Victory Junction Gang Camp for
chronically ill children.
* November 2 - Best Western InnSuites Hotel & Suites,
1615 E. Northern Avenue, Phoenix: Best Western #99 Busch Series Show
Car on display, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hotel staff will be attired as the
Best Western Pit Crew.
* November 2 - Best Western Inn Phoenix-Glendale,
5940 N.W. Grand Avenue, Glendale: Best Western #99 Busch Series Show
Car on display, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Remote-control car races to be held
with proceeds benefiting The Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan
Phoenix. Live remote by XTRA Sports Radio (910 AM).
* November 3 - Best Western Mezona Inn, 250 W. Main Street, Mesa: Best
Western #99 Busch Series Show Car on display, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Prizes/giveaways to be awarded, including t-shirts, die-cast cars and
tickets to the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 on Saturday, November 6. Save
the Family Foundation of Arizona, an agency dedicated to assisting
homeless families, will be selling sponsored bricks to support its
renovation efforts. Live remote by XTRA Sports Radio (910 AM).
* November 3 - Best Western Phoenix Goodyear Inn, 55 N. Litchfield Road,
Goodyear: Best Western #99 Busch Series Show Car on display, 3 p.m.
to 7 p.m. NASCAR party broadcast live by KNIX Radio (102.5 FM).
“Best Western is proud to be the Official Hotel of NASCAR, and to join in
the excitement that this sport brings to the city of Phoenix and the state of
Arizona,” said Nils Kindgren, vice chairman of the Best Western Board of
Directors and owner of the Best Western Inn & Suites of Sun City. “We
encourage race fans to join us next week at both our Best Western hotels and
at the track as we celebrate the spirit of NASCAR.”
Through the company’s Arizona Co-op marketing efforts, consumers will also
have the opportunity to receive the new “Race Fan Rate” with savings up to
30 percent at more than 60 member hotels across the state. Other special
prize offerings include exclusive Best Western Racing Edition Travel Cards,
#99 Best Western die-cast cars, — even a trip to the Richard Petty Driving
Experience.
“This exclusive deal allows race fans to experience all the treasures
Arizona has to offer,” said David Scholefield, director of consumer and field
marketing for Best Western. “Next year, when their NASCAR travels bring them
back to Arizona, they’ll be able to save big while extending their stay in the
Grand Canyon State.”
In addition to these events, all 16 Best Western hotels in the greater
Phoenix area will be decorated with a NASCAR theme. Guests will have the
opportunity to sign up for Speed Rewards(TM), a free loyalty program designed
specifically for race enthusiasts. As members, individuals can earn valuable
points which are redeemable for NASCAR-licensed merchandise such as jackets
and caps; free room nights anywhere in the world; dining and shopping
certificates; along with special sweepstakes and promotional offerings.
Best Western properties in close proximity to the track — the BW Phoenix
Goodyear Inn; the BW Inn Phoenix-Glendale; BW Inn & Suites of Sun City and the
BW Central Phoenix Inn — will also feature Best Western/NASCAR gift items in
each of their combined 400 guest rooms to welcome race fans to Phoenix.
On Wednesday, November 3, employees of Best Western’s Phoenix Reservations
Center will receive a visit from Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner. The
NASCAR veteran will sign autographs and even make a few surprise phone calls
to Speed Rewards members.
Two days later, Best Western will serve as a presenting sponsor of the
first-ever Arizona Business Summit: The Business of NASCAR in Arizona.
Hosted by Phoenix International Raceway, the November 5 event is designed to
provide Arizona business owners and corporate community leaders with a
behind-the-scenes look at NASCAR, educating attendees on how businesses can
integrate the power of NASCAR into their marketing mix. Best Western’s
Scholefield will be featured on the speakers’ panel.
At the track, the hotel chain goes full speed with a variety of activities
November 4 - 7. Fans visiting any one of the three Best Western booths
located along the midway will have the opportunity to sign up for Speed
Rewards, receive special discount coupons, and even play games to win fun
prizes. Best Western will also host a hospitality suite and tent for VIP
clients and special guests.
In January 2004, Best Western International entered into a three-year
agreement as the Official Hotel of NASCAR. The company also serves as an
associate sponsor of Waltrip and the Dale Earnhardt, Inc.-owned No. 15 NAPA
Chevrolet on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. On Saturday, November 6, Waltrip
will drive the #99 Best Western Busch Series Car during the Bashas’
Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.
For more information on Best Western/NASCAR activities, visit
http://www.bestwesternracing.com or http://www.bestwesternarizona.com/racefan.
Best Western International is THE WORLD’S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN(R) with more
than 4,100 hotels in 80 countries and territories. It is a membership
association of independently owned and operated hotels that provides
marketing, reservations and operational support to its members.
For further information, please contact David Trumble, Director, External
Communications, +1-602-957-5753, david.trumble@bestwestern.com, or Denise
Seomin, Consumer Media Relations Manager, +1-602-957-5668,
denise.seomin@bestwestern.com, both of Best Western International.
10.25.04
Hospitality eBusiness Strategies to Boost Phoenix Inn Suites Direct Internet Sales
Hospitality eBusiness Strategies to Boost Phoenix Inn Suites Direct Internet Sales
Monday October 25, 11:00 am ET
Firm Delivers Direct Internet Distribution Strategies for Online Brand Building
NEW YORK, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ — Hospitality eBusiness Strategies (HeBS - http:///www.hospitalityebusiness.com ), a leading direct Internet distribution and marketing consulting firm for the hospitality industry, today announced a strategic consulting services agreement with Phoenix Inn Suites, Wilsonville, Oregon. Phoenix Inn Suites, a leading hotel group with premier all-suite hotels conveniently located in important business and leisure destinations in Oregon, Washington and Arizona, will work with HeBS to develop a comprehensive direct online distribution strategy to substantially increase direct Internet bookings, and decrease dependence on online intermediaries.
ADVERTISEMENT
HeBS services will consist of several components: Direct online distribution strategy, Website optimization services, and comprehensive eMarketing services that include online brand building, Pay-Per-Click and email marketing, link popularity and link creation, and a destination Web strategy to leverage the popularity and the exceptional features of the destinations in which Phoenix Inn Suites are located. Implementation of this comprehensive strategy can deliver a more profitable booking mix, higher revenue per available room (RevPAR), and substantially lower distribution costs attributed to third party vendors.
According to Max Starkov, HeBS President and CEO, “Many hoteliers appreciate how critical an effective direct-to-consumer online distribution strategy is to the very existence of their hotels. Phoenix Inn Suites clearly understands the competitive advantages of lessening dependence on online intermediaries and discounters and avoiding price and brand erosion for enhanced long term economic health, combined with an aggressive direct distribution strategy and creative Web initiatives.”
The hotel website has become the “first point of contact” with the overwhelming majority of hotel customers in North America. This year 75% of North Americans will research travel online and 44 million will book travel online (TIA). Unfortunately for some hoteliers, on many occasions a visit to the hotel website turns out to be the “last point of contact” with the customer.
Hoteliers are now committing more resources to strengthen their presence in the Direct Online Channel, including the hotel website, because they understand the substantial benefits of reinforcing direct communication with their customers. Increasingly, hoteliers are recognizing the importance of direct-to-consumer online distribution and marketing, the long-term competitive advantages of creating direct interactive relationships with their clients, and the opportunities of leveraging the appeal of the hotel destination to create a center of attention for customers.
HeBS has pioneered some of the “best practices” in direct online distribution and marketing in hospitality. HeBS has extensive experience managing and consulting on the eMarketing activities for more than 200 hospitality companies, from large brand hotels to small boutique properties. This expertise translates into saving precious marketing dollars for its clients.
Developing a direct online distribution strategy that strengthens direct channels can avoid price and brand erosion, control distribution costs, and enable hotels to maximize revenues by better managing their inventory. This is accomplished by creating a pro-active strategy that combines evolving best Internet practices with a comprehensive destination web strategy and an aggressive direct web presence.
“We have long understood the cost challenges with third party intermediaries and recognize the importance of enhancing our direct distribution strategy and increasing direct bookings by communicating directly with customers.” noted Greg V. McManus, V.P. Operations, Phoenix Inn Suites. “Adopting a direct online distribution strategy coupled with a destination- based approach will help us more effectively manage the distribution of our product because we realize that direct online distribution cuts costs, preserves brand and price integrity, attracts affluent customers and lessens dependence on intermediaries.”
About HeBS
Hospitality eBusiness Strategies, Inc. (HeBS), http://www.hospitalityebusiness.com based in New York City, is a leading Internet strategy consulting firm for the hospitality and travel verticals. HeBS specializes in helping hoteliers build their direct-to-consumer online distribution and eMarketing strategy. HeBS helps hoteliers regain control of their online brand and price integrity from the online discounters and lessen their dependence on the online wholesalers.
The firm has integrated the latest research and developments in eCRM, eMarketing and eDistribution into a comprehensive set of Internet-based consulting products and services designed to help hotels increase occupancy rates, open new markets, attract more affluent customers and reduce costs by utilizing the Internet to its fullest potential. The firm brings a unique perspective in the hospitality industry gained through working with over 200 hospitality companies: major brands, independent hotels, casinos, convention bureaus and hotel management companies nationwide and Europe, Asia, Asia- Pacific, North America and Latin America.
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Losing Profits on Pay-Per-Click Search Engines TV Advertising Is a Cost- Effective Alternative
Losing Profits on Pay-Per-Click Search Engines TV Advertising Is a Cost- Effective Alternative
Tuesday October 19, 6:02 am ET
TEMECULA, Calif., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Although praises of pay-per-click advertising on search engines is on the rise, profitability is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve according to a leading direct response television advertising agency.
According to Joseph Gray, CEO of REVShare, competition and click fraud can be profit killers in the search engine space. However, these aren’t issues for companies engaging in pay-per-call television advertising.
“With pay-per-click, advertisers have to constantly outbid each other just to rise above all the competition on the page,” says Gray. “With pay-per-call television, the advertiser has the audience all to itself for 30 or 60 seconds and only pays a fixed rate for qualified customer leads, not just site traffic.”
The rising cost of clicks on search engines isn’t the only drain to advertisers’ profits. Click fraud, artificial clicks on paid listings caused by competitors or search engine affiliates, also cuts profit margins.
“Clicks are easy to manufacturer on the web,” notes Gray. “However, thanks to ANI technology it is virtually impossible to fake phone calls since the origination phone number of the lead is always known. Corporate advertisers are better protected from inflated costs through pay-per-call TV advertising.”
Some companies in highly-competitive industries can no longer afford to promote their business on pay-per-click search engines. According to Gray, these include companies that target broad consumer segments by bidding on keywords such as “refinance,” “life insurance,” “credit counseling” or “home loan.”
For example, the keyword “credit counseling” is $15.00 or more per click for the top listings on Overture. At an estimated 10-to-1 click-to-lead conversion, a lead could average $150.00 or more. Gray notes that the credit counseling category is averaging well under $40.00 on a pay-per-call television basis.
Pay-per-call television advertising also delivers a high volume of leads; REVShare’s top five clients generated over 371,433 leads in 2003.
As television’s largest broker of performance-based advertising, REVShare (http://www.REVShare.tv) brokers guaranteed media on over 600 stations, the majority belonging to networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. REVShare will reveal strategies for PPC success at the November AD:TECH and Promo Expo conferences.
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Source: REVShare
Search Engine Lists
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10.20.04
Affini Search Engine Executives Launch New Service to Protect Identity and Privacy on the Internet
Affini Search Engine Executives Launch New Service to Protect Identity and Privacy on the Internet
SARATOGA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 20, 2004–
Affini: A Network of Trust(TM) to Combine the Best of Spam-Free Email, Search and Targeted Online Advertising
Affini: A Network of Trust(TM) today launched its initial phase of service as the first easy-to-use, complete solution to the spam problem — one that empowers both recipients and senders of desirable email communication — while safeguarding identity and privacy. Under development for over 18 months by a team of messaging, security, and search experts, Affini combines proprietary search and email technology with the principles of free market economics. Affini offers the first true business solution to the biggest problem of the Internet — spam — which has frustrated an industry and a public too focused on technical and legal solutions.
A Business Solution to a Technical and Legal Problem
Affini founder and CEO William I. Chang, Ph.D., was the former CTO and Vice President of Strategy of the Internet search engine Infoseek which became a part of Disney’s GO Network. Dr. Chang and his close advisor, ReplayTV founder and former Napster CTO Eddie Kessler, together hold eleven issued and four pending patents and an unmatched experience growing Internet companies to tens of millions of users.
“What is needed is an entirely new way of looking at the problem,” according to Dr. Chang, who first conceived the idea in early 2003. Affini will filter email by allowing only messages from identified and approved senders. In addition, members can opt-in to receive highly targeted commercial messages, for which they receive a small fee, charged to the sender as a deterrent to spam. Legitimate senders, individual or commercial, will offer the price of a phone call or postcard to successfully reach Affini members. Spammers will not identify themselves and are unwilling to pay reasonable fees to send their messages. Restoring Integrity to Email and the Internet by Identifying Senders
A key prerequisite to applying the forces of market economics is identifying the players and holding them accountable for their acts. Members of Affini: A Network of Trust establish their Internet identity as legitimate senders of email, and require sender identification from those who wish to contact them. Affini members play a key role in building a strong Network of Trust by vouching for friends, family, colleagues, and other trusted senders, including mailing lists and company domains. The Affini reputation of members as well as nonmembers will become an enabling factor in stopping spam for everyone.
“Affini is really applying the Golden Rule - if you wish to have your rights respected by others, then you must respect their rights too,” said Kessler. “If enough people sign up to identify themselves and vouch for their friends, someone who refuses to be identified will be left out. This will revolutionize the Internet to everyone’s benefit, except the spammer’s.”
A Future Internet That is More Safe, Connected, and Useful
Affini has addressed not only the challenging task of stopping spam from reaching recipients, but the far more devastating collateral damage due to spam: trust on the Internet has been decimated; many people have abandoned their long-held email addresses, or else adopted over-zealous spam filters. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult and often impossible to find and reach people using the Internet, leading to lost opportunities such as jobs. By making it safe to have one’s email address known publicly, and by enabling legitimate senders to successfully contact Affini members, Affini has created a more open and connected Internet where more people can come together to share their knowledge.
“We all find it incredibly frustrating not to be able to reach people we know,” Dr. Chang professed. “And we all feel the same indignity when crimes are committed in our names through email identity theft, which can potentially tarnish our reputation — or worse. And we will remain powerless unless we band together to form A Network of Trust.”
How It Works
Affini members receive a public affini.net email address that is protected from viruses and spam; allowed messages are forwarded to their existing email address. Affini members with POP3 mailboxes may use the Affini Butler(TM) service which checks the mailbox and removes viruses and spam. Multiple mailboxes can all be protected and rerouted to a single consolidated mailbox.
Availability
Affini, Inc. today began its initial product offering and will be rolling out additional services throughout Q4 2004 and into 2005. More information can be found at www.affini.com.
About Affini, Inc.
Affini, Inc. was founded in the summer of 2001 by Dr. William I. Chang, creator of the Infoseek search engine, in order to develop and market multidimensional taxonomy search for online communities and marketplaces. Affini: A Network of Trust uniquely combines and multiplies the benefits of spam-free email, search and targeted online advertising, all in an open and safe environment that protects identity and privacy. Propelled by the power of free market economics and its enabling ingredient — integrity — Affini will bring about a future Internet that is more safe, connected, and useful for the entire world. Affini search engine technology is used both internally and by a licensee, a leading Internet portal in China. This licensing revenue has allowed Affini, Inc. to build A Network of Trust. To become a charter member or to learn more about Affini: A Network of Trust, visit www.affini.com.
Contacts
Voce Communications
Ben Hohmann, 617-224-1162
BHohmann@vocecomm.com
Josh Gershman, 650-228-5168
JGershman@vocecomm.com
10.17.04
Joan Koerber-Walker - CorePurpose founder CEO Phoenix, AZ Business Woman named Finalist for the 2004 Stevie Award: Best Entrepreneur-Service Business
Phoenix, AZ Business Woman named Finalist for the 2004 Stevie Award: Best Entrepreneur-Service Business.
CorePurpose founder and CEO, Joan Koerber-Walker has been named a finalist by Advanta and the Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneurs in the Best Entrepreneur- Service Business category.
Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) October 6, 2004 -– Phoenix, Arizona based CorePurpose, Inc. was named a Finalist today in the Best Entrepreneur – Service Business category in The 2004 Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneurs.
The Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneurs, www.stevieawards/women, is a new national awards competition recognizing the accomplishments of women small business owners in the United States. The awards are produced by the creators of the prestigious American Business Awards, hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars” by the New York Post (September 22, 2002).
Winners will be announced on Friday, October 22 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City’s Times Square. The master of ceremonies will be Bill Rancic, spokesperson for Advanta which is sponsoring the awards and winner of the hit television show “The Apprentice.”
More than 600 nominations from small companies in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in 18 categories, including Best Entrepreneur, Best Young Entrepreneur, Best New Product and Mentor of the Year. Ms. Koerber-Walker was named as a finalist in the category for Best Entrepreneur – Service Business.
Ms. Koerber-Walker is the founder and chief executive of CorePurpose, Inc. a consulting and services company based out of Phoenix Arizona. Since its launch in July of 2002, CorePurpose® has been dedicated to providing services and solutions that build businesses. The company has 3 divisions, CorePurpose Publishing, CorePurpose Consulting and The CoreAlliance, its network of over 40 independent services organizations which include thought leaders in the areas of People, Sales and Marketing, Operations, Finance and IT. In addition to her role as executive director and CEO, Ms. Koerber-Walker is a Professional Member of the National Speakers Association, and the author of Working: A Management Tale of Changing Relationships in Changing Times (CorePurpose Publishing - ISBN 0974705608) and co-author of Connecting Resources: A Primer for Electronics Distribution (Thomson Learning - ISBN0759332495). She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Technology Council and on advisory boards to the W.P. Carey Executive MBA Program at Arizona State University, The Thomas and Joan Read Center at Texas A&M University, and Parenting Arizona, an affiliate of CPLC.
“The Finalists for the first-ever Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneurs comprise the most dynamic women in business today. These entrepreneurs have accomplished innovative and extraordinary things while building their business,” said Dennis Alter, chairman and CEO of Advanta. “We congratulate all of them on their achievement.”
“Building my own company had been my dream. Putting it together has been my joy. But making it happen – making it real – would never have happened without the tremendous support we have received from industry and from the Greater Phoenix Business Community,” shared Koerber-Walker. “The recognition we have received though the Stevie Awards and the team at Advanta is not just for me but for all of our team members and the business community that has embraced us.”
The Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneurs are governed by a board of Distinguished Judges & Advisors that features many leading women entrepreneurs and figures in American business, including Carrie Fitzmaurice, publisher for Entrepreneur Media Inc.; Dr. Lisa Krinsky, chairman & president for SFBC International; and Dr. Betty Spence, president of The National Association for Female Executives.
The elegant Stevie trophy was designed by R. S. Owens, the same company that makes the Oscar and the Emmy.
Details about The Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneurs and the full list of Finalists are available at http://www.stevieawards.com/women/.
About CorePurpose, Inc.
Headquartered in Arizona, CorePurpose, Inc., is a consulting and solutions company specializing in focusing companies for greater success through high impact activities that link directly to results. Together with members of the CoreAllianceSM, CorePurpose, Inc. works with companies and organizations to align internal resources to their areas focus while offering resources for mentoring, implementation and outsourcing in non-core areas or areas where additional support is required including: HR, Sales and Marketing, Operations, IT, and Finance. For more information about CorePurpose, Inc., and to view the listing and experience of CoreAlliance Members visit: www.CorePurpose.com.
CorePurpose is a registered service mark of CorePurpose, Inc.
About The Stevie Awards
Hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars” by the New York Post (September 22, 2002), Stevie Awards are conferred in three programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, and The Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneurs. Honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.
Contact:
Joan Koerber-Walker, Executive Director and CEO
CorePurpose, Inc.
480.921.3933
480.921.3934 www.CorePurpose.com