Hotel and Hospitality Translation Archives - Globalization Partners International https://www.globalizationpartners.com/category/hotel-hospitality-translation/ Globalization Partners International Wed, 01 Mar 2023 20:26:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.globalizationpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-gpi-logo-Copy-32x32.png Hotel and Hospitality Translation Archives - Globalization Partners International https://www.globalizationpartners.com/category/hotel-hospitality-translation/ 32 32 Tips for Restaurant Menu Translation into Arabic https://www.globalizationpartners.com/2023/03/01/tips-for-restaurant-menu-translation-into-arabic/ Wed, 01 Mar 2023 20:19:10 +0000 https://www.globalizationpartners.com/?p=37467 Although English is widely spoken in Arab countries, especially in the Gulf area, many Arab speakers feel more comfortable seeing restaurant menus in Arabic, especially for the global restaurants that have outlets in Arab countries. As per the Dubai Gastronomy Industry Report published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai has 13,000 food […]

The post Tips for Restaurant Menu Translation into Arabic appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>

Although English is widely spoken in Arab countries, especially in the Gulf area, many Arab speakers feel more comfortable seeing restaurant menus in Arabic, especially for the global restaurants that have outlets in Arab countries.

As per the Dubai Gastronomy Industry Report published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai has 13,000 food and beverage outlets. Most of these outlets are luxury international restaurants, bars, and cafes.

 

Why It is Important to Translate Restaurant Menus into Arabic

One of the most important approaches for restaurants to attract guests from different cultures is to have the menus written in their native languages. As most of the restaurants in Arab countries are international brands, they have their own dish names, and in most cases, they are not in Arabic or not understandable for Arabic-speaking guests. Here comes the importance of translating restaurant menus into Arabic so Arab guests can easily understand the menu items.

 

What to Consider When Translating Restaurant Menus into Arabic

Restaurant Menu Translation into ArabicIn order to translate your restaurant menu into Arabic, some aspects need to be considered.

How to Display Dish Names and Ingredients

While it is important that the guest can read the menu in Arabic, it’s also important for the restaurant staff, who may not speak Arabic, to understand what the guest has ordered. Therefore, it is recommended to provide the dish names in a bilingual format (in the source language and Arabic).

This way, the guest will easily understand what to order, and the waiter or chef will understand what is ordered.

It’s unnecessary to display the ingredients in a bilingual format, as the chef knows the dish’s ingredients perfectly. Displaying the ingredients in Arabic only is important so the guest can understand the dish components.

 

Items to Exclude from Translation into Arabic

As Arab Muslims comprise the majority of the population of Arab countries, it’s important to be aware of Muslim traditions when translating restaurant menus into Arabic.

Alcoholic beverages are forbidden in Muslim traditions. So, alcoholic beverages may not be translated into Arabic. It needs to be determined if alcoholic items will be translated into Arabic, kept in English, or entirely removed from the translated menu.

Also, dishes that include pork may be excluded in the Arabic version as pork is forbidden for Muslims. This will need to be determined and confirmed, as it’s not allowed in most restaurants in Arab countries to present dishes with pork in their ingredients.

 

Restaurant Menu Layout and Design

Arabic is a right-to-left language, so the menu layout should be prepared to accommodate Arabic. It is best to create a layout that has room to accommodate the translated copy. The Arabic dish name will be quite longer than the source, which needs to be taken into consideration during layout design, especially if the menu will be bilingual.

Some ways that the layout is adjusted to accommodate longer text is to change the font size or the dish name location may need to be moved/shifted.

 

 Conclusion

A good restaurant menu translation into Arabic is important to make it easy for Arabic-speaking guests to understand the menu items and ingredients. There are quite a few factors to consider when translating restaurant menus into Arabic. In order to perfectly translate a restaurant menu into Arabic, the Arab culture’s traditions should be considered and confirmed before proceeding with the translation.

The post Tips for Restaurant Menu Translation into Arabic appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>
Translating your Hotel Website is Important for your Business https://www.globalizationpartners.com/2022/12/14/hotel-website-translation/ Wed, 14 Dec 2022 20:27:04 +0000 https://www.globalizationpartners.com/?p=37038 Now more than ever, having a multilingual hotel website is essential for driving global hospitality industry business. First impressions count, and since the pandemic, more international travelers are researching and doing their transactions online. Did you know that 75% of the world’s population does not speak or read English? So, if your hotel is not […]

The post Translating your Hotel Website is Important for your Business appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>

Now more than ever, having a multilingual hotel website is essential for driving global hospitality industry business. First impressions count, and since the pandemic, more international travelers are researching and doing their transactions online.

Did you know that 75% of the world’s population does not speak or read English? So, if your hotel is not visible in the language of your key markets, you risk losing valuable revenue. Below are some fundamental reasons why hotel website translation is important for your business.

 

1- Your Hotel Brand Will Reach New Markets

Hotel Website Translation

Customers will naturally trust hotels that have taken the time and effort to translate their website into their client’s native language. This will help attract more international visitors as well as increase your brand awareness and reach in new markets. By providing translated content, you will be able to capture the attention of potential global customers because they will be able to engage with your brand seamlessly. This will grow your international customer base and, in turn, increase revenue.

 

2- Increases Direct Hotel Bookings

If your website is not translated into your key market languages, there is a strong chance international customers will book on competitor sites such as OTAs (Online Travel Agencies). These OTAs make 15-30% commission on the overall booking, meaning you may miss out on revenue. If global customers can see your official hotel website in their native language, they are more likely to book directly because this gives them trust, peace of mind, and the assurance they need when booking.

 

3- Provides a Better User Experience

International customers will have difficulty finding your website if it is not translated into their native language. Even if they find your site and try to understand your content, they are still less likely to book a room because the experience will be too complicated. A well-translated website helps customers connect with your brand by giving them an authentic online experience. Details matter – from your chosen translated words to the time it takes for a page to load; global visitors want to find what they are looking for quickly and efficiently. The personal touch goes a long way; it makes navigating the site much more accessible and shows credibility, commitment, and respect to your international customers.

 

4- Reduces Website Bounce Rates

International customers are less likely to exit your site immediately if they can see it is available in their native language. This will help reduce your website bounce rate as potential customers will spend longer on your translated website in their own language. As a result, your conversion rate will also improve because international customers will feel confident that they fully understand all the steps in your purchasing process. By translating your hotel website, you show potential clients your commitment to them.

 

5- Enhances Website SEO

Your hotel website is a crucial part of your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. By translating your website into multiple languages, you will gain maximum visibility on Google and other search engines. You can also create separate pages for translated content. This will help search engines crawl and index your site more accurately and drive a higher position on the search engine results pages (SERPs). Translated content, keywords, and all meta information can significantly improve your SEO rankings, drive more international traffic, and boost conversions.

 

6- Helps Drive Hotel Business Throughout the Year

Many hotels experience low seasons, resulting in empty rooms and reduced revenue. However, international guests are more willing to travel off-season because they can save some money and are less influenced by changes in the weather. This provides a big financial opportunity for hotels. If you communicate in a language guests understand, you will attract more foreign visitors to your website, helping drive more business throughout the year.

 

Summary

Translating your hotel website into your top market languages is always a good strategy. It will help your brand become more visible on global search engines, prospective international guests will be able to find you easier, and you will achieve more direct bookings on your website. Always use the services of a professional language service provider (LSP) to avoid any (business-critical) language inconsistencies.

An LSP that specializes in hotel translation services can provide best practices for managing a multilingual website, including technical, website updates, and SEO strategy. By incorporating the points above, you can easily generate a positive ROI through your multilingual website.

The post Translating your Hotel Website is Important for your Business appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>
Six Tips for Optimizing a Hotel Website for Global Visitors https://www.globalizationpartners.com/2022/11/03/six-hotel-website-optimization-tips/ Thu, 03 Nov 2022 17:28:33 +0000 https://www.globalizationpartners.com/?p=36735 If your hotel welcomes global visitors, optimizing your website for their native languages will help boost traffic to your hotel website and attract more guests from all over the world. Below are six hotel website optimization tips for global visitors.   1. Decide Which Languages to Translate your Hotel Website into A good place to […]

The post Six Tips for Optimizing a Hotel Website for Global Visitors appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>

If your hotel welcomes global visitors, optimizing your website for their native languages will help boost traffic to your hotel website and attract more guests from all over the world. Below are six hotel website optimization tips for global visitors.

 

1. Decide Which Languages to Translate your Hotel Website into

A good place to start is your top feeder markets. Where are most of your guests coming from? Which cities have direct international flights to your hotel location? Your website analytics platform will also help you see which markets generate the most traffic. By considering all these factors, you can determine the best languages to translate your website into. Remember that the more languages you want to target, the more work and cost involved, and some languages might be more challenging than others to support. So, always consider the value of offering a particular language before deciding.

 

2. Plan to Localize

Whether you are designing a new hotel website or updating an existing one, factoring in website localization from the start will save you time and money in the long run. Even if your target market is currently small, it may not be in the future. A good localization strategy will give you an actionable plan for future expansion.

 

Internationalize your Site

Six Hotel Website Optimization TipsA key factor in producing a multilingual website is to review its data entry points. Languages vary in how they format information like dates, addresses, phone numbers, etc., so if your website only functions when this data is entered in one specific format, users may experience errors when they enter data in the format of their language. Review your site to see if this issue exists and remove that formatting dependency.

 

What to Localize

Not all pages may need to be localized in all languages. For example, if your hotel has brands in different regions, each region may have a different subset of languages that are ideal.

When it comes to content, remember that localization is much more than changing the words on your site. You will need to consider the cultural nuances of each market, such as religion, humor, traditions, economy, symbols, units such as currency, units of measure, and even colors.

In some countries, telephone numbers are laid out differently – this is important to remember if you want your target audience to be able to call you directly. Creating a style guide or glossary for each language will ensure the wording on site (and in other media) will stay consistent with your brand’s tone and voice. This will also save time on future language projects.

 

How to Localize

If your website has a content management system (CMS), you should check that it supports multiple languages. How will content be exported for translation, and how will translated content be imported back into the CMS? How will you manage updates in the future? Your language service provider (LSP) should be able to guide you and establish the most efficient process to facilitate managing a multilingual website.

 

3. Images and Videos

Do your images and videos reflect the audience you are trying to attract? Some website CMS systems allow you to geo-target specific content to different markets. This is a great way to customize visuals for each language instead of keeping the same content for guests with different cultural orientations.

For video content, there are easy ways to make these more accessible to your target markets. These include:

Subtitles

Subtitles are a good option if you have a limited budget. Your target audience can read the video content at the bottom of the screen in their native language, which can also be checked for relevant cultural references.

 

Dubbing

Dubbing is the process of overlaying the original voices with your target language. While this is a more expensive way of localizing your videos, it provides a better user experience for the viewer as it removes any confusion or distractions.

 

Voiceovers

This option works well for hotels with videos where fewer people are talking – for example, content highlighting your hotel’s landscape imagery or grounds.

Each video translation method has pros and cons, so to help you decide, it is essential to review how much budget you have, the quality of video localization you want to achieve, and the time to market. Whichever option you choose, offering your video content in new languages will help you reach a wider audience and capture the attention of new guests.

 

4. Be Aware of your Design Layout

Think about how your website design will look in your target languages. Languages such as French, German, and Russian, can take up more space on a website than English – this is called text expansion. The opposite of this is text contraction, where languages such as Danish, Swedish, and some Asian languages take up less space than English. Both text expansion and text contraction can break your navigation and any custom content blocks on your site. Also, if you translate your site into Arabic, remember that the text alignment will display from right to left.

So when it comes to your site design, you should prepare your English content with translation in mind. For example, using enough white space so your text is less crowded, creating tables rather than text boxes, and adding wider table columns that can accommodate expanding text.

Your website team will need to consider all these factors by either installing a multilingual plugin or redesigning the required page elements.

 

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO Strategy)

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most important factors to consider when optimizing your hotel website for global visitors. The higher your site ranks on search engines, the more visits, and conversions you will attract. However, if your English keywords do not work in another language, then only a few people will discover your translated website content, and you could miss out on valuable bookings. Also, consider that there may already be differences between US and UK English keywords and spellings, which could have an impact.

On top of finding the right keywords, your SEO strategy should include identifying which search engine is popular in your target market. Not all markets use Google – for example, China uses Baidu and Russia uses Yandex. Each search engine has a unique algorithm that determines the quality and retrieves specific information stored within a data structure, so ensure that you optimize your hotel website based on your target audience’s most used search engine.

 

6. Make Sure your Hotel Booking Engine is Ready

On top of translating and localizing your hotel website, can your hotel booking engine handle different payment systems? Online payment is mainly made via debit or credit card in the US and the UK, and the same applies to many other countries. However, the Netherlands like to use an e-commerce payment system called iDEAL for their transactions, and China uses the social platform WeChat. So, find out which payment systems are best suited for your hotel website.

Other factors to consider are your sales terms and conditions, invoicing requirements, and VAT rates for each market. Speak with your finance and legal departments to ensure you have the proper customs, laws, and regulations in place.

 

Summary

There are many elements to consider when optimizing your hotel website for global visitors, but the six hotel website optimization tips above are among the most valuable. It takes a lot of planning to set up, so ensure you have the right team in place to help execute these key points. Your LSP should be able to guide you in achieving all the necessary requirements to support a multilingual site in the most cost and time-efficient manner. The LSP should have a planning discussion you’re your team before any work is done and develop a strategy based on a review of your website and goals. The result should be a workflow that addresses all the above factors. If correctly executed and considering all the elements, your website KPIs will improve significantly, helping to elevate your hotel brand into new and emerging markets.

The post Six Tips for Optimizing a Hotel Website for Global Visitors appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>
Best Practices for Hotel Multilingual Marketing Campaigns https://www.globalizationpartners.com/2022/10/14/best-practices-for-hotel-multilingual-marketing-campaigns/ Fri, 14 Oct 2022 20:45:21 +0000 https://www.globalizationpartners.com/?p=36515 Following a tough couple of years, hoteliers worldwide are finally seeing occupancy levels rise again. In some cases, occupancy rates are even exceeding pre-pandemic levels. While this is encouraging news, hotels cannot get complacent. The world is unpredictable, so it is essential to find new ways of attracting customers from international markets. Online multilingual marketing […]

The post Best Practices for Hotel Multilingual Marketing Campaigns appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>

Best Practices for Hotel Multilingual Marketing Campaigns - GPI Translations

Following a tough couple of years, hoteliers worldwide are finally seeing occupancy levels rise again. In some cases, occupancy rates are even exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

While this is encouraging news, hotels cannot get complacent. The world is unpredictable, so it is essential to find new ways of attracting customers from international markets. Online multilingual marketing campaigns are particularly effective as they help elevate a hotel brand globally, increase the number of customers, and consequently increase revenues.

However, attracting new foreign markets does have its challenges, so differences in culture, language, and buying behaviors should be considered. Below are some best practices to help you plan your hotel’s multilingual marketing campaign.

 

Identify Your Target Audience

The first step is to decide which markets to target by looking at your data. The best way to do this is to study your website traffic through an analytics platform such as Google Analytics. This will give you valuable insights into the countries and cities generating the most traffic. It will also help you identify new markets that you may not have previously considered.

You should also look at your social media followers and their engagement. Where do these followers come from? Are there any specific markets or regions which stand out? These insights will help you create a shortlist of potential locations to target.

 

Research Competitors in Each Market

Now that you have your list of potential markets, you should research what your competitors are doing in each one. Which channels are they advertising on? Are they using the same content across these channels? What languages are they using? You might discover that specific markets are too saturated and therefore, not worth the investment. Try and identify any gaps and opportunities. This will help you decide on your target markets.

 

Localize Your Campaigns

Once you have identified your markets, you will need to plan your marketing channels and hotel content. Now is the time to think ‘Glocal.’ Glocal marketing means thinking globally and acting locally. Not everybody uses digital media in the same way. For example, they do not use Google, Instagram, or Facebook in China. Their most used search engine is Baidu, and for social media, they use WeChat.

Different cultures also have different habits, behaviors, and beliefs. Some countries have specific dietary restrictions, and certain products are not used in their food culture. So, it is crucial to determine which messages and channels will resonate within each market while staying true to your hotel brand’s core values and identity.

Once your messaging and media channels are ready, you should strongly consider implementing language localization for each market. Localization is not a direct translation; it adapts the content to a specific culture. This is important because localized content will give you a competitive edge, create a wider reach and help your audience connect with your hotel brand.

 

Don’t Forget SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is essential for ensuring your website is found by your new market audience, especially if you have a limited budget. Using target language keywords will help increase search engine rankings. Search queries vary by country so remember to carry out keyword research using the search engine popular in that country, e.g., Baidu for China. Different search engines may value websites differently, so it is essential to adapt your SEO approach to each one.

 

Analyze Performance and Optimize

After two to four weeks of running your hotel’s multilingual marketing campaign, you should have gathered enough performance data to start analyzing its success. Important metrics include tracking your website traffic, online visitor behavior, advertising click-through rates (CTRs), social media engagement levels, and conversions. Are there any advertising platforms that work better than others? Which markets are driving the most traffic and engagement? By identifying specific trends in the data, you can start optimizing those channels that perform best. This ensures your budget is used efficiently and you generate a positive return on investment.

 

Conclusion

Implementing a hotel multilingual marketing campaign may seem daunting, but it can also be hugely rewarding with the right strategy. Remember to research research research, and always consider localization. This will set you up for success and help you connect with your audience in the most effective way. If you are not sure how to start, contact GPI and we can guide you through the Localization and global SEO process.

The post Best Practices for Hotel Multilingual Marketing Campaigns appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>
Translation, Copywriting and Transcreation for Hotels https://www.globalizationpartners.com/2021/11/17/translation-copywriting-and-transcreation-for-hotels/ Wed, 17 Nov 2021 16:28:06 +0000 https://www.globalizationpartners.com/?p=33463 Translation is where science meets art – it requires deep knowledge, attention, strategy and creativity. In this blog, we will describe the differences between translation, transcreation and copywriting in detail. We will explain their importance for the hotel website and marketing materials such as restaurant menus, spa collaterals, hotel brochures and more. Why Translation, Copywriting […]

The post Translation, Copywriting and Transcreation for Hotels appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>

Translation is where science meets art – it requires deep knowledge, attention, strategy and creativity. In this blog, we will describe the differences between translation, transcreation and copywriting in detail. We will explain their importance for the hotel website and marketing materials such as restaurant menus, spa collaterals, hotel brochures and more.

Translation-for-Hotels-GPI-Translates

Why Translation, Copywriting and Transcreation are important for hotels? 

I worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years and I can tell that many hoteliers pay more attention to the quality of images and website’s technicality than to the content itself. The same approach goes with marketing campaigns and promotional activations, wherein graphics and videos for hotels are given top priority.

On the other hand, translation, copywriting and transcreation are considered less important and often neglected. Their significance was so undermined that writing was assigned to people with little experience in the field or entrusted to someone who can speak the language but not by profession. Little did they know that “content is key”, and written words remain the strongest factor to sell products and services.

Words are a powerful tool and translation, copywriting and transcreation are just as important as the images and videos. Written content helps quickly and accurately identify who you are, your story, your unique selling proposition and why someone would choose your products or services. Therefore, it is essential to work with professional copywriters to create original, persuasive and effective content.

Translation, Copywriting and Transcreation – let’s compare the differences

Translation

An excellent solution for content that must expressly respect the source text, such as product sheets or technical documentations. In general, this type of content does not require a lot of creativity so translation is sufficient to convey the same information. On the other hand, standard translations may not be the best solution for your marketing content, as a catchy slogan or pun in one language can lose its meaning if simply translated into another language and cultural context.

Translations-for-Hotels-with-GPI-Translates

This is where copywriting and transcreation come into play. Both copywriting and transcreation should be used for translating marketing content and any other text that require a creative touch, ensuring the right message reaches the right audience and achieves the desired result.

 

Copywriting

Copywriting is “the action of writing text to create advertisements or other forms of marketing”. Furthermore, “the result of copywriting (copy) is a written content aimed at strengthening a brand and, ultimately, persuading a person or a group of people to take a particular action”, as quoted from Wikipedia.

When it comes to content translation and localization, a definite meaning of copywriting is “the ability to write content that can connect with the reader and persuade someone to take a certain action.” It is the art of creating original content without closely referring to the source text. The result is powerful content that conveys not just the identity of your company, brand, product or services, but more importantly it speaks simultaneously to the rational and emotional aspects of your guests.

Successful copywriting starts with a clear and comprehensive brief that includes your communication strategy, brand positioning, tone of voice and desired action from the audience. These details will help the copywriter create content that will not leave your target audience feeling indifferent. As your copywriter will create original content and not based on the source text, it is important to make him/her aware of your requirements from the briefing stage. Detailed and organized instructions avoid hitches in the writing phase and will allow you to speed up the final editing phase.

Transcreation

Transcreation is typically the preferred approach to marketing copy. As the term implies, transcreation is a combination of translation and creation – a middle ground between translation and copywriting. It is a technique that aims to refine the localization of content while elements such as imagery, local colour, religion, customs, social, purchasing behaviour and other important cultural aspects are taken into consideration.

The advantages of transcreation:

  1. Improve audience acceptance
  2. Build an accurate brand image
  3. Increase sales and aim for new target audience
  4. Cultural awareness
  5. Cultural sensitivity

Why work with a professional copywriter?

This seems like a trivial question, but it’s not. As in most cases, business owners believe that their internal staff can create, update and publish websites or blog content themselves.

Qualified and experienced linguistic copywriters are invaluable partners for a successful hotel marketing campaign. Translating content that is not marketing in nature should be 100% true to the source. However, writing marketing copy for online local audiences requires creativity and insights to truly capture and convey meaning. Effective content transcreated for online users is the result of careful crafting, localized keywords analysis inserted in the right context and for smart targeting.

Selecting a professional translation agency could mean the difference between inviting your customers to enjoy “finger-lickin’ good” fried chicken or suggesting that they “eat their fingers off”, as what happened to a well-known fast food brand when they expanded into the China market. A costly mistake every business should avoid!

 

Conclusion

A poorly translated hotel website and marketing materials are like dirty hotel rooms – they can make your guests leave and will not return. On the other hand, a well-crafted content means more than just good grammar and correct punctuations. As a hotelier, your pursuit to creating powerful content is not far-fetched. Working with a reliable translator, copywriter or transcreator is crucial as you expand your market globally.

So, when you start looking for services offered by translation agencies, you might encounter unusual terms such as transcreation, copywriting or adaptation. These services may seem similar but understanding their differences allows you to choose the best solution for your hotel’s content development needs. Remember that a translator can translate from one language to another, but a linguistic copywriter can transform content from one culture to another. 

References:

  1. Wikipedia meaning of copywriting
  2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Transcreation
  3. Hotelnerds
  4. Cambridgeenglish.org

The post Translation, Copywriting and Transcreation for Hotels appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>
Hotel Translation Best Practices for Qatar https://www.globalizationpartners.com/2021/06/09/hotel-translation-best-practices-for-qatar/ Wed, 09 Jun 2021 16:45:16 +0000 https://www.globalizationpartners.com/?p=31423 Qatar is a peninsula and is located along the Persian Gulf shoreline. It is comprised of mainly beaches and dunes except for Doha its largest city. It is famous for many things including natural gas crude oil and before this discovery, it was extremely famous for its pearl diving. Qatar is known for its high-income […]

The post Hotel Translation Best Practices for Qatar appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>

Qatar is a peninsula and is located along the Persian Gulf shoreline. It is comprised of mainly beaches and dunes except for Doha its largest city. It is famous for many things including natural gas crude oil and before this discovery, it was extremely famous for its pearl diving. Qatar is known for its high-income and tax-free economy, relative to its small and humble population (1).

 

Hotel Translation for Qatar

Qatar has many tourists as its beautiful skyline, a peaceful location steeped in history and tax-free nature draw people to visit Qatar. This has helped develop the hospitality industry. Qatar, as mentioned, is a small and important country and you can see over the years the number of hotels has drastically expanded. In 2010 there were only 66 hotels established, but by 2019 it has been recorded there were over 109 (2).

Even though this sounds like a low number, for the size of Qatar this is a lot. The hotel business is very competitive in Qatar and as a hotelier, it is important to promote your hotel’s unique selling points to remain competitive.

The hospitality industry in the Middle East is full of luxurious hotels.  With Qatar being one of the richest countries in the world, it stands to reason they will of course have some of the most stylish hotels in the world. When booking a holiday in Qatar, it is important for visitors that hotels cater to them in order to make them feel welcome and more at ease in their travels. Hotels can and should provide a variety of information in their guests’ native languages including website content, marketing materials, welcome kits, signage and even menus. Providing materials in various languages improves engagement and loyalty with hotel guests.

At GPI we value our important hospitality clients, including the Hyatt Collection, Four Seasons, Atlantis, Kempinski, Hilton, Intercontinental, and many more. We have a few tips and tricks here for best practices for Hotels in Qatar.

 

Best Practice Translations for Hotels in Qatar

Best Practice Translations for Hotels in Qatar

     

  1. It is important to evaluate the target markets that visit your hotel.
    Seeing where your website visitors and actual guests come from will help you focus your hotel’s marketing and sales efforts to the right country markets. This in turn will tell you what languages/locales to translate hotel materials for.
  2.  

  3. What locale of Arabic are you targeting?
    You could simply target Qatari Arabic; however, this Arabic is very locale specific to this area. You need to determine where your guests are coming from in order to further market to that region of the Gulf and beyond. We always recommended using MSA (Modern Standard Arabic), as this is universally used and accepted throughout the Gulf region.
  4.  

  5. Do not translate certain beverages into Arabic.
    It is important to look at your local market and the laws around what can and cannot be translated. Your translation provider will be able to give you some tips. For instance, it is common to exclude alcoholic beverages from Arabic translated menus.
  6.  

  7. Is your website or booking engine translated?
    Translating your website enables tourists and visitors to explore your hotel and book directly with ease. Some tourists and visitors may book through a third-party booking engine where they will find sites like hotels.com or booking.com translated. This greatly aids them in their destination research, decision making and seamless booking experience. Therefore, to encourage more direct bookings, it is important to have your website and booking page translated into the most popular languages for your region.
  8.  

  9. Are your menus, signage, and welcome messages on TV’s and kiosks translated?
    Having your menus, signs, and other hotel messages translated creates a welcoming environment for your international tourists and visitors. Many reviews on travel review sites mention the appreciation for translated signs and menus which made a guest and their family experience more enjoyable.
  10.  

  11. Have a list of interpreting resources at your concierge desk.
    Providing visitors with an interpreting service or a list of interpreters at your concierge desk is a big plus to prevent language barriers from being an issue and encourage guests to enjoy your hotel and beyond your city during their stay.

 

Conclusion

It is a valuable resource for hotels to provide translation services to accommodate their visitors.  The hospitality industry is all about going above and beyond in providing a service, especially in Qatar. Why not get your website and collateral translated in order to put your visitors’ minds at ease, increase your hotel ratings with positive reviews, and attract more visitors from around the world!

 

Reference

1 – Trip101

2 – Statista

The post Hotel Translation Best Practices for Qatar appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>
A Reshaped and Redefined Strategy for Recovery Post-COVID-19 for the Tourism Industry – Dubai | Part 1 https://www.globalizationpartners.com/2021/01/21/reshaped-strategy-for-recovery-post-covid-19-for-the-tourism-industry-dubai-part-1/ Thu, 21 Jan 2021 21:06:44 +0000 https://www.globalizationpartners.com/?p=29695 COVID-19 hit the world in March 2020 and caused a pandemic. Like many parts of the world, the pandemic impacted Dubai’s economy, because Dubai is so dependent on trade and tourist activities. In June 2020, Dubai lifted movement restrictions, and economic activity has started to resume and is gradually picking up. However, all citizens need […]

The post A Reshaped and Redefined Strategy for Recovery Post-COVID-19 for the Tourism Industry – Dubai | Part 1 appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>

COVID-19 hit the world in March 2020 and caused a pandemic. Like many parts of the world, the pandemic impacted Dubai’s economy, because Dubai is so dependent on trade and tourist activities.

In June 2020, Dubai lifted movement restrictions, and economic activity has started to resume and is gradually picking up. However, all citizens need to continue to follow the precautionary measures that are put in place to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

With the world starting to open back up, it’s time to focus on how to get your business back in shape and even get ahead of the competition. If you haven’t done it already, your initial business plan should be scrapped. Companies have to rethink, not tweak, their business models and strategies. Your plan B should be in progress with plan C ready in standby.

In this blog, I will focus on an innovative approach and provide strategic recommendations for all businesses, especially in the travel and tourism industry and hospitality sectors, ranging from the luxury to the economy segments.

 

A Turnaround for the Travel and Tourism Industry

Tourism and Hospitality in Dubai

The global travel and tourism industry is facing massive job and revenue losses after being hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys indicate that instead of growing comfortable with air travel, more people are becoming skeptical about it. Globally, air travel is down more than 85% from a year ago, according to industry figures.

 

On a positive note, although corporate travel is not expected to pick up until a mid-next year, travel managers have been working diligently to prepare for its return. Here are some essential considerations as they plan for recovery in the business segment.

An Innovative Approach and Strategic Recommendations

  1. Understand the new duty of care and travel policies.
  2. Understand the new customer behavior and intent.
  3. Offer all passengers free coronavirus medical coverage.
  4. Offer free global coverage for COVID-19 health expenses and quarantine costs.
  5. Conclude a comprehensive industry/government recovery partnership to collaborate on all aspects of tourism recovery.
  6. Create a demand through the phases of economic reopening with inspirational and informative messaging that encourages safe tourism and domestic vacation experiences.
  7. Execute a global marketing and travel trade program targeted at the highest-potential source markets (in terms of volume and value) and intrepid travel consumer segments to reignite international demand.
  8. Be strategic with your digital marketing efforts, and invest in the right digital marketing channels.
  9. Localize your content including your website, promotional collaterals, brochures, etc. to target your global audience.

 

Despite the challenges that the travel industry is facing right now, the industry will get back on its feet. People will always want to travel to visit friends and family or see new or favorite places that they love – it’s just a matter of time and financial stability!

 

A Rebound for Dubai’s Hospitality Industry

Tourism and Hospitality DubaiCOVID-19 has shaken the hospitality world, and in fact, it’s among the heaviest of those hits due to restrictions. COVID-19 presented new challenges, and set high operational expectations for all of those in the hospitality industry. Fortunately, Dubai has always been a forward-thinking city, and it was first among all the Emirates in the UAE to emerge more robust than ever during and after COVID-19.

In July 2020, with people back to regular working hours and many establishments reopening, Dubai yielded a positive sign towards a long and challenging road to economic revival. We also witnessed some substantial growth in occupancy rates – and this is another positive sign in the rise in demand for luxury serviced apartments and holiday homes particularly booked for staycations.

The economy seems to be slowly improving, and it should be on its road to recovery. The hotel industry needs to reshape its operations post-pandemic from, as an example, remodeling a property to embracing new strategies and approaches.

They should also focus on the local market, which is readily available due to a large number of individuals and families that are interested in staycations. Hotels can use digital technologies to meet social distancing measures and keep people connected. Here are some essential considerations for Dubai’s hospitality industry as they plan for recovery.

An Innovative Approach and Strategic Recommendations

  1. Ensure the safety and wellbeing of both guests and employees.
  2. Communicate regularly about changes you make that align with the current government and health authorities’ policies.
  3. Use technology for the guest-employee interface, provide contactless check-ins and check-outs, and redesign guest flow patterns.
  4. Redefine the guest experience and create new opportunities.
  5. Collaborate and create innovative partnerships that could lead to more sustainable hotel operations.
  6. Create packages that offer free global coverage for COVID-19 health expenses and quarantine costs.
  7. Ensure a cleaner, less congested guest experience.
  8. Develop and maintain a health QR code system.
  9. Develop a flexible cancellation policy.
  10. Be strategic with your digital marketing efforts, and invest in the right digital marketing channels.
  11. Localize your content including your website, promotional collaterals, brochures, etc. to target your global audience.

The World Expo 2020 will also provide a considerable increase to Dubai’s economy, and key sectors such as retail, hospitality, tourism and construction industries will benefit from the event for several years to come.

With the appropriate approaches, hospitality sectors ranging from the luxury to the economy segments are on the right trajectory to make a total rebound.

 

Summary

In summary, Dubai’s economy relies on trade and tourist activities, which should adapt to the new normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses should consider an innovative approach and strategic recommendations for the future.

In the next blog, we’ll discuss topics about embracing eCommerce as the new norm, the importance of your marketing budget, and why is it worth investing in high-quality translations.

 

Reference links

https://www.ittn.ie/news/turning-around-the-travel-and-tourism-industry/
https://gulfnews.com/travel/dubai-is-open-tweets-sheikh-ahmed-1.1592815546686
https://hospitality.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/speaking-heads/covid-19-a-paradigm-shift-for-the-hospitality-industry/76168281
https://blooloop.com/news/expo-2020-dubai-on-track-coronavirus/ https://www.ey.com/en_ae/strategy-transactions/companies-can-reshape-results-and-plan-for-covid-19-recovery
https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/research/articles/200204-coronavirus-impact-key-takeaways-from-our-articles-11337257

The post A Reshaped and Redefined Strategy for Recovery Post-COVID-19 for the Tourism Industry – Dubai | Part 1 appeared first on Globalization Partners International.

]]>