TO INCREASE online traffic and spread positive word-of-mouth for Retaj Hotels and Hospitality in the Middle East and worldwide, the brand has introduced 360 new virtual tour pictures on the group website (www.retaj-hotels.com) for all its hotels in Doha, Turkey and Comoros Island. “Virtual imaging is a way of increasing online sales by up to 80 per cent more the ordinary pictures,” explains Mohamed Darwish, corporate director of marketing and ecommerce, and in charge of business development for Retaj. “Although the technique has been used for a long time, it is still a valid and effective marketing tool.” It is not about who used the tools first, he says, it’s about who used them most effectively because virtual tour imaging enhances product image and position, increases competitive advantage and makes one’s website appealing and unique.
“This will allow our customers to have a virtual tour inside our hotels and select the room that suits their stay while at home. It is our mission as marketers to facilitate the sales efforts to boost revenue. We believe that the more we are in line with new innovative ideas, the more our customers can see us on different online sources. This is why we keep searching for the best innovative ideas and develop the existing ones to facilitate the customers’ booking process. “Put simply, we are trying to get the best and the maximum use of the internet marketing.”