Twitter first entered public consciousness as the platform used by celebrities such as Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross and Lily Allen to reveal their innermost thoughts/witter on about nothing much, but as the recession hit marketing budgets, hospitality operators have begun to realise its value as a free and effective way of promoting themselves.
Chefs, restaurants and hotel brands have all got involved, using the social media site to highlight new menus and offers as well as giving followers an insight into their day-to-day activity.
Many hotels have offered special room rates to Twitter followers, with the Hoxton hotel in London selling rooms for £1 and Crowne Plaza hotels promoting a room giveaway.
Daniel Rose-Bristow, owner of the Torridon hotel in Wester Ross, Scotland, which has developed an all-encompassing social media strategy including Twitter and Facebook, says: "Eventually I think it will replace our traditional marketing, as I can monitor this - what people look at, what they subscribe to, whether they book, what links they click.
“It's measurable and you can see the returns. It's an enormous time investment, but it seems to be worth it. It's what people want; it's how people are operating now.”
On this page, we round up all the news, features and advice on the hospitality industry’s use of Twitter and other social media, as well as a selection of those chefs and businesses who are on Twitter.
News
Somerset parents can now use Twitter to monitor children’s school dinners
Experts urge hoteliers to embrace online review and social media to drive sales
TripAdvisor to let firms publish its consumer reviews
Features on using social media as a marketing tool
Let's get digital - how to use social media
Underground restaurants- a flash in the pan?
Wildwood: Money Talks
The great British holiday - can hotels hold their own against caravans?
Smart operators - how to get to grips with electronic aids
The hospitality industry on Twitter:
CHEFS
Jamie Oliver
Kenny Atkinson
Rob Rees
Nathan Outlaw
Aiden Byrne
Tom Aikens
Paul Heathcote
Thomsina Miers
RESTAURANTS
Gordon Ramsay Holdings
Fifteen Cornwall
Trinity
Elephant Restaurant
St John Restaurant
Just St James
L’Ortolan
HOTELS
Dolce Hotels
Warner Hotels
The Ritz, London
The Dorchester Collection
Von Essen Hotels
Travelodge
Caterersearch on Twitter
Caterersearch
Guide Girl
Product Junkie
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