To tweet or not to tweet

People who know me know that I spend a good deal of my time in the evenings catching up with friends on Facebook, and it's some of those friends who continue to ask me "Should I get on twitter?"

There are many reasons why the answer is "yes," but for the purposes of readers on this blog, I recommend you read Darren Cronian's great post called "The beginner's guide to Twitter for travel consumers" over on Travel Rants.

Once you're all set up, you can follow me @getaroom.

(If you're on Facebook, look me up and join my mafia in Mafia Wars!)

Earth Day 2009: Dive into "Going Green"

This year I'm participating with Bloggers Unite for Earth Day, and in doing so found myself combing through posts that shared some of the things Landmark Hotel Group hotels are doing to reduce the carbon footprint of the properties they operate in Virginia and North Carolina. As it turns out, I've written a fair amount on the greening of the hotel and travel industries, so instead of recreating a green wheel, I'll just share with you the posts that have appeared on "Get A Room!" over the past few months that promoted the greening of these industries.

The "Go Green, Don't Clean" package at Crowne Plaza Virginia Beach, for example, offered up a unique way for hotel guests to participate in a "greener" experience while saving money at the same time.

The American Bus Association's "Save A Penguin" campaign has plenty of people looking to the motorcoach industry for greener travel. But that's just one reason to take a bus. Check out "12 Reasons Why You Should Choose Motorcoach Travel."

Two Landmark Hotel Group hotels, the Candlewood Suites Virginia Beach-Norfolk, and the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront in Virginia made great strides and became leaders in the hotel industry when they became "Virginia Green" Certified hotels. To see the original post, check out "It Ain't Easy Bein' Green."

So, what have you done to lessen your impact on the Earth and save money at the same time?

Photo by Emily Herrera

Book It Again, Dan-o!

Looking for some new reading? Great News! Hotelier and blogger turned novelist Daniel Edward Craig has released his latest novel! Here are the details...

It’s No Mystery that Executive Hotelier Draws from Real Life in His Fiction
Mystery novelist Daniel Edward Craig combines murder with five-star character

ST. PAUL, MINN, April 16, 2009—What goes on behind the scenes at luxury hotels may not be all that adventurous: No one’s life is usually in danger, screams aren’t heard in the night, and bodies aren’t discovered dead on the floor—or are they? Novelist Daniel Edward Craig draws on his career as a hotelier to delight readers with his hilarious novels that reveal how things are never quite as calm and dignified as they seem to the guests.

In his latest novel released this month—Murder at Graverly Manor—the young and dedicated hotel professional Trevor Lambert—once manager at the posh (but now burned to the ground) Hotel Cinema in Hollywood is on the brink of fulfilling every hotelier’s fantasy: managing his very own inn. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean stands the perfect B & B, a Victorian mansion called Graverly Manor. But he first must impress the elderly owner, Lady Graverly, who swans around in ball gowns and spins tall tales of her royal bloodline, and who won’t sell the manor to Trevor until he lives and works there for one month.

Trevor accepts, but screams in the night, foul odors, and the sudden disappearance of a chambermaid have him looking over his shoulder. And grim rumors of Lady Graverly’s husband, who disappeared over fifty years ago, only add to the home’s eerie atmosphere. Trevor is dying to see Lady Graverly’s private rooms, but she refuses. What dark secrets is she hiding?

Daniel Edward Craig, author of the Five-Star Mystery series, draws on his years working in luxury hotels for his writing inspiration. Most recently he was general manager of Opus Hotels in Montreal and Vancouver. Craig currently spends his time writing, consulting, and traveling, and his insider’s blog has attracted a worldwide following for its frank and entertaining look at the hotel business. He is particularly passionate about hotels, having stayed in—and worked for—some of the best in the world. For more information please visit www.danieledwardcraig.com.

Hotel Packages & Promotions are Everywhere!

As hotels continue to duke it out in what's left of the tourism marketplace, more and more of them are getting WAY creative with the sorts of packages that are being offered to entice travelers with added value and deeper discounts.

A recent article in the Dallas Morning News online entitled "Hard Times Spark Clever Promotions" highlights some pretty outstanding deals for travelers.

Seen any good ones we can share here? Leave them as a comment and we can start a cool list of "too good to miss out on" hotel packages and promotions in time for the summer!