AAHOACON 2025: Hotel Sales Strategy
Straight from AAHOACON 2025 in New Orleans—Sparrow Hospitality’s Mike Baker talks hotel sales strategy, answering hotel owners’ top questions about outsourced sales, ROI, and what really works in today’s hospitality market.
What is AAHOACON?
AAHOACON is one of the largest hospitality conferences in the U.S., bringing together thousands of hotel owners, operators, and industry leaders each year to discuss sales, strategy, and market insights.
At the 2025 event in New Orleans, Sparrow Hospitality was on the ground, connecting directly with hoteliers to answer their most pressing questions about driving revenue, improving occupancy, and building consistent hotel sales strategies.
Did we meet at the conference? Connect with us today!
Questions Hotel Owners Asked at AAHOACON 2025
What’s the cost of hiring a sales team like Sparrow Hospitality?
Price and cost aren’t the same. The price of working with Sparrow is straightforward and budget-friendly. But the cost of not having consistent, proactive sales? That can mean hundreds of thousands—if not millions—in missed revenue. We don’t simply charge a fee—we go out and bring money back into your hotel. That’s why our clients see us as a revenue generator, not an expense.
Want to understand how we uncover new revenue streams for properties like yours? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Hotel Sales Prospecting.
How long until we see ROI from your services?
It depends on your starting point:
- If you’ve had active sales before, we may find opportunities immediately.
- If your GM handles sales but doesn’t have time, we step in with consistent, daily outreach that gets results.
- If you’ve never done sales at all, we activate the full process from the ground up.
The faster you align with our proven system, the faster you’ll see results. Sales is a momentum game—and we build that momentum quickly. For more insight into how we help your hotel build momentum, take a look at our Proven Strategies for Mastering Hotel Sales Management.
What types of hotels does Sparrow work with?
We support every hotel type, including:
- Economy brands
- Select service properties
- Full service hotels
Whether it’s securing group blocks, booking catering, or managing events—we can be as turnkey as you need. Every property is different, and we build custom-fit strategies for each one. We’re not just another vendor—we’re a strategic partner. Learn more about how to choose the right one in Choosing the Right Hotel Consulting Firm.
Do you work with first-gen, second-gen, and third-gen hoteliers?
Yes. And we tailor our approach accordingly:
- Tech-forward owners love our data-driven strategies and AI tools.
- Traditional owners prefer our boots-on-the-ground approach—market blitzing, door knocking, and face-to-face prospecting.
There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy. That’s why we start by listening—to you, your team, and your property needs.
What if I missed AAHOACON this year?
No problem. You don’t have to attend a conference to get expert help. Just contact us directly! Whether you’re looking for full sales support or want to talk strategy for your property, we’re here to help.
Ready to talk strategy?
Book a free consultation with Sparrow Hospitality today and let’s talk about how we can drive real results for your property.
Proven Hotel Sales Strategies We Shared at AAHOACON
At AAHOACON, the conversations didn’t stop at ROI and consulting. We also shared some of the most overlooked—but highly effective—strategies for driving revenue across hotel properties.
At Sparrow Hospitality, we focus on three core strategies that consistently deliver results: Training your front desk team to drive sales, conducting hands-on market assessments to uncover real opportunities, and building reliable base business to keep weekdays full.
3 Overlooked Tactics That Drive Real Hotel Revenue
#1. Train Your Front Desk to Sell
Your front desk isn’t just for check-ins—it’s your untapped sales engine.
When someone calls in to ask about availability, is your team trained to close the sale?
When a guest walks through the door, does your team know how to ask why they’re visiting and log that info as a future lead?
At Sparrow, we train front desk staff to go beyond service and become part of the sales pipeline. Inbound calls are high-intent buyers—don’t let them slip away. Walk-ins can uncover new group, crew, or extended-stay leads just by asking the right questions.
#2. Start with a Market Assessment
Before we ever start calling leads or blitzing the market, we conduct a detailed market assessment. That includes:
- Identifying demand in your area
- Analyzing where your competitors are getting business
- Building a plan to shift that business to your hotel
We don’t guess. We use a proven blueprint that’s been refined across hundreds of properties. And we don’t stop at generating leads—we stay consistent with follow-ups and keep your sales funnel full with qualified prospects.
#3. Build Strong Weekday Base Business
Weekends often fill themselves—but weekday business (Monday through Thursday) is where most hotels struggle.
That’s where we step in.
We identify base business that aligns with your property’s strategy. That might mean:
- Local demand generators
- Logistics companies
- Oil and gas markets
- Fortune 500 corporate travel
- Long-term project crews
We dig deep to find the right accounts to keep your weekdays booked and your bills paid. And we focus on fit—business that matches your service level, amenities, and pricing strategy.