I thought it would be relevant to post the speech I presented on Tuesday at WTM. Below, at the bottom of the speech text is an edited version of the video from the launch.

Hello, good afternoon. I’m Peter Gorla. Thank you all for coming. I’m very proud to have the opportunity announce the official launch of Voilà Hotel Rewards. Why? Because, I’m here today to speak to you about a challenge faced by many independent hotels. Your hotels are unique and eclectic and found in exciting locations. You provide unparalleled experiences for your guests. And you offer them a level of service major hotel chains can’t match. Yet, your hotels often suffer for the very same reason they succeed: because they are independent. But what if there was a way to gain strength in numbers, while retaining your hotel’s individuality and operational freedom?

That’s where Voilà Hotel Rewards comes in. Voilà is a guest loyalty program created for independent hotel groups…that levels the playing field with as a turn-key rewards solution that provides members with value, recognition and rewards. You may already be familiar with airline programs such as OneWorld and Star Alliance. Voilà is a similar concept, however, it allows independent hotels to participate in a program that’s linked to a large, global network. With Voilà, independent hotel groups receive the same benefits offered by mega-brand reward programs but maintain their full operational independence. And by uniting hotels of different brands into one global program, Voilà delivers a number of benefits including:- Increased profit margin and lowered advertising costs- World-wide exposure and on-demand marketing opportunities and most importantly…Voilà gives your clients – the true heart of your business – the recognition they deserve.

Now let’s talk about Voilà reward points — because for members, that’s their currency. Each time a member stays at a Voilà hotel, they earn points. Depending on their tier level, they can earn point bonuses and additional recognition benefits. Once a member accumulates enough points, they can redeem those points for hotel nights or with redemption partners. It’s this currency that helps to create a strong affinity between members and hotels in the Voilà network. An affinity so relevant, that 88% of business travelers belong to at least one rewards program.

Voilà offers three membership tiers. Gold, which is the introductory level and available to anyone free-of charge. Platinum, which is reached after 10 nights are completed Black, a tier attained after 20 nights. As you can see, the more frequently a member stays in the Voilà network, the faster they accumulate points, thus, rewarding your best clients.

Now, you may be wondering what it takes on your end to join Voilà. Well, it’s quite simple actually, because we take care of practically everything. This includes all the required Technology, Management, Collateral and Member Services such as:– PMS and CRS integration– Member website– CRM– Fulfillment– Customer service– Marketing and PR– Etc. It’s a turnkey solution.

Your Voilà member collateral is co-branded with your hotel’s name and program logo. We will work very closely with you upon rollout to ensure your brand is represented to you standards. Plus, all collateral, such as the member card, promotional emails, and member website, is localized to each member’s native language.

In addition to a variety of fulfillment collateral, your hotel will also receive a co-branded website. This allows your Voilà members to do everything from booking their reservations, redeeming rewards, to checking their point balances online.

Voilà also provides you information that improves the way you interact with your members. Our CRM Partner Portal reveals travel patterns, room preferences, and booking methods. Which helps you give a guest the most personalized service possible. Here’s a simplified overview of how Voilà’s technology works.

OK, I know… this is the technology slide where I loose half of the audience becomes and the other half becomes VERY excited…But… Rest assured, Voilà is built upon an ultra modern platform of web-services that: • synchronize with your hotel’s CRS and PMS • power the CRM Partner Portal and Member websites • and automates all if the important functions that run Voilà.

Voilà Hotel Rewards was created by Hospitality Marketing Concepts, a company with nearly 20 years experience creating hotel loyalty programs. So you can be assured that Voilà was built with your industry’s unique needs in mind. Established in 1988, HMC has offices that span the globe in over 50countries.

Similarly, our reservation technology and PMS synchronization platform is supplied by one of the industry’s frontrunners – Interface Technologies. If you’re already familiar with Interface Technology then you know they’re a leader in implementing advanced solutions for electronic hotel reservations.

Because we want to ensure a seamless introduction into regions such as Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Voilà has also partnered with Great Hotels Organization. Now, GHO’s existing member hotels and independent hotels in these regions can easily join the Voilà network through GHO.

Voilà Hotel Rewards is the solution for any independent group that wants to maintain its individuality while enjoying the strength that comes from numbers. It’s for any hotel that’s seeking increased revenues, higher profit margins, and greater occupancy rates. It’s a way to minimize your expenses on marketing while maximizing your results. It’s a powerful reason for your guests to stay loyal to your brand. And Voilà is the way to finally gain a competitive edge against the mega-brands. Best of all, Voilà lets you to achieve ALL those things while still maintaining your independence and identity. Voilà is a landmark product and an excellent opportunity for independent hotel groups. Thank you so much for your time!