Puerto Vallarta
The last few weeks, I’ve taken a vacation from this blog. My wife and I had a wonderful trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We were glad that we stayed in the old part of Puerto Vallarta which still feels like Mexico with its cobblestone streets, simple stucco houses, small stores, and neighborhood restaurants. The newer parts of Puerto Vallarta are much more reminiscent of Miami. Why travel to a foreign country if you’re go to stay somewhere that looks just like the United States?
We stayed at a charming little bed & breakfast called Casa Amorita which Rita Love, a friendly and energetic American, built ten years ago on a hill behind the Cathedral with a stunning view of Banderas Bay. Our favorite activity was enjoying the killer views from a lovely rooftop patio sipping homemade margaritas made with El Jimador tequila from the honor bar (click on the picture to the left to see an enlarged version of one of the amazing sunsets).
Rita is doing a great job building her business through word of mouth marketing. She understands that the cornerstone of positive buzz is delivering a stellar experience. From initial email communication to checkout, we felt as if she treated us as family. When we arrived, Rita offered us complimentary drinks and spent 30 minutes to explaining all the nearby restaurants, sights, and excursions. Our room was spotless and delivered the amazing ocean and town views that were promised. The common areas were immaculately swept and the pool was cleaned every day. Most importantly, her team of young employees delivered stellar service better than some luxury hotels where we’ve stayed.
When we checked out, Rita made a point of saying goodbye to us personally. She reminded us that Casa Amorita depends upon referrals from satisfied guests and reminded us to put a review of her site on Trip Advisor . Good for her! Too many hoteliers don’t direct their guests to the most important online sources of buzz building. In February 2006, I wrote a post explaining how we depend on online reviews to select where we’ll stay. We’ve been doing this for about three years, and we have never stayed in a bad hotel. Online hotel reviews are better than travel books since they are much more up-to-date (many travel books are not updated regularly) and reliable (multiple opinions are more reliable than the views of one author).
Where can you direct your customers to post reviews about your business online? The answers will vary greatly but it’s worth looking into this since it’s one of the best ways to grow your business.
