Why logistics alone won't close deals. Focus on building relationships.

Sole-sourced deals don’t have to bleed value. Vendors may price with impunity, but with the right benchmarks and negotiation expertise, you can secure competitive terms, faster turnaround, and significant savings. Here’s how HEX helped one of the world’s largest hospitality chains achieve market-aligned pricing, equitable terms, and expedited results. #Procurement #Negotiation #ITBPOSourcing #CostOptimization

Many hospitality vendors are stuck in 1995. Running the same playbook. Trade shows for visibility. Outbound sales calls. [ A massive gap in between ] Here's the problem: Buyers don't wait for your booth or your cold call anymore. ➜ They're researching online. ➜ Reading reviews. ➜ Watching demos. ➜ Making decisions before you even know they exist. If you're not visible where they're looking, you're invisible. The shift is happening now. Vendors who adapt win. Vendors who wait lose ground. Want to learn how hospitality vendors can get more out of their trade show budget and fill that gap? Check out: https://vist.ly/4amm6

🤝 Negotiation Is About Partnership, Not Pressure In hotel sales, the word negotiation often sounds like a battle — but it shouldn’t be. The best negotiators see it as a partnership, where both sides win. When dealing with corporate clients, the goal isn’t to give the lowest rate — it’s to create the most value. 💡 Tip: Start by understanding what truly matters to your client. Is it price? Flexibility? Added services? Or reliability during peak seasons? Once you identify their priorities, you can tailor your proposal to show how your hotel supports their goals — not just their budget. Because real negotiation isn’t about who gives less — it’s about who understands more. #HotelSales #NegotiationSkills #HospitalityLeadership #B2B #CorporateClients

Day 6: Vendor relationships can make or break your event. Build trust with clear communication, fair contracts, and timely payments. Strong partnerships lead to seamless execution every time. #VendorManagement #EventSuccess

The truth is, procurement goes beyond the numbers and lead times. It touches real lives. Let’s dive in on how. A guest once arrived at our camp with a specific medical condition. Midway through their stay, they realized they were running low on essential medication required to manage the condition. Getting it from their home country would have taken too long. To make things more complex, it was the weekend and they were scheduled to check out on Monday morning, continuing their journey to our sister property across in our neighboring country. We immediately reached out to our suppliers, who were able to source the medication locally. Still, a new challenge arose: the rider delivering the package to the airstrip got delayed. Time was ticking, and the guests were about to check out. In this case, we had to move beyond processes into quick thinking and collaboration. I consulted with the airline and coordinated closely with our front office team at Mara. Together, we managed to get the package onto a departing flight. When the guests checked in at the next property, they found their medication waiting for them at reception. The relief on their faces and their gratitude made every bit of the rush worth it. That experience reinforced a powerful truth: delays don’t just affect operations; they can profoundly impact people. And in hospitality, that human element matters most. It also reminded me why strong supplier relationships and clear communication are essential. Because our supplier acted fast and trusted us, we could solve a potentially critical situation with precision and care. Here’s the lesson I walked away with: Build reliable relationships early, keep communication lines open and never underestimate the power of cross-team coordination. Sometimes, procurement is the quiet force behind unforgettable guest experiences. #Procurement #TimelyDelivery #HospitalityExcellence #SupplierRelationships #GuestExperience #ProcurementStories #Logistics #Teamwork

In today’s climate, financial visibility and cost control are essential for every organisation — from restaurants and pubs to football clubs and beyond. Procure.ac enables teams to make strategic, data-driven procurement decisions that improve efficiency, accountability, and overall value. Real-time visibility of spend Streamlined supplier management Faster, more accurate approvals Stronger budgetary control By modernising procurement, organisations can redirect valuable time and resources back into what truly drives their business forward. Learn more: procure.ac #ProcureAC #Procurement #Hospitality #FootballClubs #Restaurants #Pubs #CostControl #DigitalTransformation #Efficiency #SmarterChoices

When was the last time your hospitality brand reviewed its payment processing fees? Leading names such as Celtic Manor, Firmdale Hotels, and Flat Iron Steak have partnered with BB Merchant Services to assess their current arrangements. The results? ✅ No operational disruption ✅ Stronger supplier relationships ✅ Improved commercial terms In most cases, no provider change was needed, just a clear, independent benchmark review. #Hospitality #BBMerchantServices #Procurement #Payments #StayAndSave

[Technology & Logistics] PickMe Expands Services for Colombo Book Fair 📈 • 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐌𝐞, the Official Mobility Partner, has integrated multiple platforms to enhance the visitor/vendor experience at the Colombo International Book Fair (Sept 27 - Oct 6). • 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Introduced the 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐌𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 feature for in-app ticket purchase and QR code gate entry—a first for the fair—with three free tickets offered as an incentive for digital buyers. • 𝐋𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬/𝐄-𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: Launched a dedicated 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐌𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫 service at the fair, enabling islandwide shipping of book purchases for a promotional flat rate of just Rs. 100 per kilogram. • 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Offers special discounted fares, a free shuttle bus from Borella, and complimentary rides in the locally designed electric vehicle 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐚 𝐄𝐓𝐗. • Vendor Support: Fair vendors receive logistical savings across PickMe’s Flash, Truck, Rentals, and Food platforms to manage operations during the high footfall event. Visit: https://lnkd.in/gNaCQDkf

Jumping back into the partnership discussion after yesterdays post, and the first things I thought of when it comes to key partnerships is how it impacts visibility to prospects. It is not a linear reach when partners promote and co brand with one another, its exponential. Network effect is staggering, and when brands show how they co mingle and how mutual clients can benefit in both savings and output, the results are substantial. Leverage key partnerships, set expectations early in those relationships, and create impact for your brands and the overall ecosystem you develop. Cheers #logistics #transportation #freight #strongestmaninlogistics

Your pricing problems? They usually start with your service. I've worked with hundreds of hotel and venue sales teams, and the ones commanding premium pricing aren't necessarily fancier or more established. They've just connected the dots: exceptional service isn't an expense. It's how you justify what you charge. When your team makes clients feel genuinely taken care of (not just politely processed), watch what happens. Price objections evaporate. Referrals start rolling in without you asking. Clients rebook before they've even left your venue. But generic service, even when it's perfectly pleasant? That's when clients start price shopping. That's when they question your value. That's when negotiations get strained. Your service standards are setting your pricing ceiling. The properties that get this don't just deliver good service. They deliver service that clients remember six months later and tell three friends about. Think about your last site tour or client interaction. Did you deliver commodity service or premium experience? Because your clients are thinking about that difference every single time they review your proposal. #ServiceExcellence #RevenueGrowth #PricingStrategy #SalesTraining #ServiceStandards #BusinessGrowth #HospitalityCoaching