The Key Elements Needed to Create Exceptional Experiences For Holiday-Makers

Recently, we hit a podcast milestone with episode #50 of That Bad Review, and we celebrated in style, by speaking with my esteemed guest Bill Walshe. Bill is the CEO of the Viceroy Hotel Group, where he maintains a portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts, from their headquarters in Los Angeles. After watching his exceptional TEDx talk, I wanted to dive …

5 Reasons Why Bad Reviews are Awesome

There used to be a time when I would avoid turning on my computer because I knew there would be something negative waiting for me. I knew that a guest had probably left my business a less than stellar review. And it used to put me on a roller coaster of emotions. There was the stress and anxiety that other …

4 Essential Business Plan Elements to Ensure Success

When you start a business, the world seems like it is a place full of possibilities. You know you have the drive and determination to make your business thrive, and you can’t wait to get started. Taking that enthusiasm and channelling it into practical, well-thought-through steps can be a difficult thing. One of the most important things you need to …

Why Getting to Really Know Your Team Can Take Your Business Further

In a recent episode of That Bad Review, I had the opportunity to interview Timo Lorenzen. Timo’s humble beginnings started in Berlin, where he worked multiple jobs within the city’s hotel industry. After seizing a rare opportunity in 2009, he left for Sydney to pursue a career prospect at Toga/TFE Hotels. Fast forward a few years he is now the …

3 Guaranteed Ways to Build Client Trust in Your Service

Working in the holiday industry, your business hinges on your ability to build trust with clients. People that are willing to hand over their hard-earned cash and their precious time to you on their vacations need to know that you will deliver them a worthwhile investment. It’s all well and good for your business to look like it does in …

Why Keeping Pace with Your Guests Will Lead You to Success

The hospitality industry can be a fickle beast. With the public’s expectations consistently changing, business owners need to be quick to adapt in order to stay ahead. On a recent episode of That Bad Review, I spoke with Geoff Illich, resort manager of the multi award-winning park, Brisbane Holiday Village. Geoff has been around the caravanning and holiday park industry …

We’re All Going on a Working Holiday

Packing your bags and heading overseas is a well-travelled rite of passage for a ton of Aussies. This crowd of people includes kids heading on a short-term backpack trip across Europe, to expats wanting to make their mark on Europe and America. The ones who decided that the time was right to try something totally out of the box say …

How to Connect with Guests to Take Your Business to New Heights

Veronika Vermeulen knows a thing or two about exceptional customer care. On a recent episode of That Bad Review, I had the honour of speaking with Veronika – someone who has deep roots within the luxury travel industry. As a German immigrant who accidentally ended up moving to New Zealand, Veronika took to the Kiwi way of life like a …

The Best Ways to Measure Success Beyond Money

When you’re running a business, it’s easy to only look at your bottom line as the measure of its success. After all, if your business is making a nice pile of profit, you know that all the elements that make that happen are working too, right? While making profit is a good indicator your business is successful, it is not …