Between Two Humidors Episode 001 > Scott van Hartesvelt
In the first episode of Between Two Humidors, Host Jonathan Ruggles visits with Scott van Hartesveld, they discussed various topics including the evolution of data usage in marketing, particularly in the travel industry, and the challenges faced by hotels in the digital age. Van Hartesveld shared his experiences with marketing strategies, such as Dollywood's successful approach to building a brand community and creating a Founders Club for a hotel. He emphasized the importance of fundamental marketing principles like scarcity, exclusivity, and access, and the need for hotels to leverage first-party data to build long-term relationships with their customers. They also touched upon the role of storytelling and strategy in marketing for bed and breakfast businesses and the importance of hotel direct bookings. Van Hartesveld expressed concern over the overuse of AI for transactional messages and the need for a strategist to develop a longer-term strategy. He encouraged independent hotel brands to compete effectively by utilizing democratized AI tools and focusing on providing a simple, frictionless booking experience for customers.
YouTube Video Podcast
https://youtu.be/rfUkBPLL2vU?si=8er8dn4IjPNkN4oP
Guest Links
https://www.gcommercesolutions.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottvanhartesvelt/
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The Cigar Chapel -Bend, Oregon
Disclaimer
Scott van Hartesvelt
Founder
Scott van Hartesvelt founded GCommerce in 2002 at the tender age of 22. Imbued with a belief that principled marketing strategies would define success in an increasingly digital world, Scott quickly grew the company to become a leader in hospitality digital marketing. Scott has always been determined to develop unique and complex strategies for compelling hotels, leading Gcommerce to assemble a client list that is the darling of the industry. Under his tenure, GCommerce has helped generate well north of $1billion in boutique travel sales.
While GCommerce enjoyed early and consistent success, Scott remains determined to push the company forward towards new ideas and opportunities on behalf of his clients. His combination of entrepreneurship and future focused research helps ensure GCommerce remains on the cutting edge of the industry. Scott is a sought after strategist for complex companies seeking brand-defining marketing and positioning campaigns.