Great topic!
I actually have a cache hidden on a hotel property in Las Vegas:
Convention Center Hotel Cache
I still work for the hotel company (not at this location anymore)
The reasons it doesn't make sense to try to attract hotel business using a geocache are as follows:
- If the travelers are visiting from out of town, they probably made hotel reservations prior to their trip.
- If they don't have reservations, they probably went to find a hotel room prior to caching.
- Placing multiple geocaches on and around a hotel property will most likely raise safety concerns from all of the muggles staying at the hotel who have no clue why there are all sorts of non-guests poking around the grounds/parking lot.
- Since the hotel listed in the original post is in a "tourist region" it makes sense that travelers coming to the area are doing so for other reasons and may be adding geocaching to their activities. I would focus my marketing efforts on the primary tourist draw and go from there.
At the same time, does the hotelier have other options to cater to geocaching customers? I have seen unused Las Vegas Monorail tickets show up in my cache - is this a clandestine marketing effort to get more people to ride the Monorail? I have also had casino chips left in the cache - are the Strip resorts trying to lure geocachers in through their doors? Lets say I ran a coffee shop and there was a geocache nearby - could I add coupons for a free cup of coffee (no other purchase required) to the swag to try to generate more customers? I would only be giving something away with no obligation to buy but it would get them in the door. If this hypothetical free coffee coupon isn't breaking the rules, then the hotelier can probably think of ways to apply the same ideas to his business.
If you run a business that wants my business as a geocacher, give me a great deal and great service and I'll probably come back and pay the regular price.
Steve
