Managing an Eco-Lodge
Instead of highlighting the latest developments in the construction process, this BLOG will talk more about what is happening on the management side of things in order to make us ready to begin operating TOTOCO Eco-Lodge while construction continues. With Roslyn taking a short time away from the business, dividing of responsibilities is important. We are lucky to a very capable volunteer who has committed to stay and work with us untill Roslyn returns and I am happy to announce that Patricia has been involved in the project in a significant way as well. The following roles and responsibilities have been identified and delegated for the coming period;
Administration/Reservations, Banking, Guest Relations/Customer Satisfaction, General (off-line) Marketing, Online Marketing, IT, Accounting, HRM, Restaurant, Bar, Ongoing Construction, Water and waste management, Energy system, Eco-lodge (cabanas, lodges and dormitory), Landscaping and FARM, On Island outsourced services and activities alliances.
A crucial factor is of course the marketing and this will receive the highest priority over the coming weeks. The website has gone live and will be improved continually as we receive feedback and as we start to add more pictures of our finished product. TOTOCO will allocate a $75 budget per month with Google Adwords over the next 6 months in order to assess its effectiveness at maximizing exposure on the Google search engine. We will split the monthly spend in half, allocating 50% to a keyword targeted campaign using the Cost per Click methodology and the other 50% to a site targeted campaign which uses the cost per thousand impressions methodology. Using Google Analytics, at the end of 6 months we will review the success of the campaigns and adjust our strategy as necessary. We are also aiming to have listings with various on-line travel sites in the short-term such as tripadvisor.com, realtravel.com, virtualtourist.com, vianica.com, responsibletravel.com, eco-tropicalresorts.com.
With the first lodge nearing completion we aim to have the first brochures printed by the 20th of December and will be actively and directly promoting TOTOCO in specific key markets throughout Nicaragua, namely Granada, Managua and San Juan del Sur. Equally important will be the promotion of our product on Ometepe itself and a strategy has been developed for this which includes attracting clients through transport providers and through alliances with key businesses in the port town of Moyogalpa where tourists arrive to the island. This method is particularily effective for attracting the always flexible backpacker tourist.
With regards the overall pricing strategy, the so-called discount method will be employed. This is important since it means TOTOCO will be positioning itself as the top-quality destination it is while offering significant discounts in order to create a buzz and fill the rooms in the opening phase when the project is still under construction. It is important to communicate clearly to all clients that they are getting major discounts in order to not create false expectations when our reputation spreads.
The coming BLOG entries will continue to highlight activities on the organisational and marketing side of things as a new chapter in the TOTOCO story is about to commence.
Administration/Reservations, Banking, Guest Relations/Customer Satisfaction, General (off-line) Marketing, Online Marketing, IT, Accounting, HRM, Restaurant, Bar, Ongoing Construction, Water and waste management, Energy system, Eco-lodge (cabanas, lodges and dormitory), Landscaping and FARM, On Island outsourced services and activities alliances.
A crucial factor is of course the marketing and this will receive the highest priority over the coming weeks. The website has gone live and will be improved continually as we receive feedback and as we start to add more pictures of our finished product. TOTOCO will allocate a $75 budget per month with Google Adwords over the next 6 months in order to assess its effectiveness at maximizing exposure on the Google search engine. We will split the monthly spend in half, allocating 50% to a keyword targeted campaign using the Cost per Click methodology and the other 50% to a site targeted campaign which uses the cost per thousand impressions methodology. Using Google Analytics, at the end of 6 months we will review the success of the campaigns and adjust our strategy as necessary. We are also aiming to have listings with various on-line travel sites in the short-term such as tripadvisor.com, realtravel.com, virtualtourist.com, vianica.com, responsibletravel.com, eco-tropicalresorts.com.
With the first lodge nearing completion we aim to have the first brochures printed by the 20th of December and will be actively and directly promoting TOTOCO in specific key markets throughout Nicaragua, namely Granada, Managua and San Juan del Sur. Equally important will be the promotion of our product on Ometepe itself and a strategy has been developed for this which includes attracting clients through transport providers and through alliances with key businesses in the port town of Moyogalpa where tourists arrive to the island. This method is particularily effective for attracting the always flexible backpacker tourist.
With regards the overall pricing strategy, the so-called discount method will be employed. This is important since it means TOTOCO will be positioning itself as the top-quality destination it is while offering significant discounts in order to create a buzz and fill the rooms in the opening phase when the project is still under construction. It is important to communicate clearly to all clients that they are getting major discounts in order to not create false expectations when our reputation spreads.
The coming BLOG entries will continue to highlight activities on the organisational and marketing side of things as a new chapter in the TOTOCO story is about to commence.
posted by Totoco Management at 7:15 AM
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