After providing 'creature comforts', conveniences, and an impressive selection of nutritious foods in order to increase their competitive edge in the event and group meeting business, hotels and event planners now find themselves even more challenged to stay competitive. These 'creature comforts' are important in order to be in the competition, but today are not enough to gain a competitive edge; these do help to make attendees comfortable, but comfort has become expected, it is now a standard that is only noticed if it is missing. The competitive edge sought by hoteliers is gained through increased brand recognition which requires lasting or “impactful memory”. READ MORE

Guest Wi-Fi is a powerful way for hotels to create a personalized, memorable experience for group meetings. This article provides tips for hotel on how they can use guest Wi-Fi to engage meetings guests, build brand recognition, and to leverage Wi-Fi as an effective marketing tool to sell to business customers who will be clamoring to secure your meetings space for their next event. Since we all know Wi-Fi is a must for hotels, it should be taken to the next level beyond just giving your customers access to the internet. Wi-Fi can offer a personalized touch that will keep groups and guests returning to your hotel for all their future events and travels. An advanced carrier-class Wi-Fi service is marketing gold for your business customers that will make your property stand out among the competition. READ MORE

Planning a trade show or conference is no easy feat, but planning a successful conference is far more difficult. The weeks and months leading up to the event can demand a lot of long hours and stress and any event planner will quickly become intimately familiar with Murphy's Law. With this in mind, there are a lot of tools available that will make planning these events far less stressful. On top of that, there are apps, software, and digital tools that can actually make the event itself go much more smoothly. Sam Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Network Events gives an insight on the key elements of orchestrating a successful event. READ MORE

No matter what advances are made in the technology, there is still a long way to go before the eRFP process can overcome its growing pains. There are no absolute certainties in how the platforms will adapt to provide a more elegant solution for today's problems. What is certain is the need for platform providers, meeting planners, and hoteliers to bridge the gap between efficiency and effectiveness. Staying on top of new features and updates by the eRFP platforms and taking the initiative to train our teams on proper eRFP etiquette is imperative to the advancement of this technology within the industry. READ MORE

Growth in travel and tourism continues to rise in conjunction with intergenerational lifestyles, shifting values and increasing wellness keynotes. Every generation has unique preferences and imperatives that set them apart and stick. Accounting for nearly half of the population, Millennials and Generation Z have considerable weight in the market share. This article examines perceived values vs. core values and the benefits of incorporating a multi-generational, multi-faceted approach to spa and wellness programming to enhance customer spend and loyalty. READ MORE

In the world of hospitality, the collection and use of data are the industry's game changers. We depend on data to deliver the differences that turn personal travel into opportunities to collect life experiences and unique memories, and to tailor personalized service; it's access to data that gives Millennials and business travelers efficient access to availability, price shopping and loyalty / reward points. But all data is not created equally. As I look across the kinds of information that we use to find and serve our guests, I see four distinct data types, distinguished by their method of manufacture… READ MORE

In hospitality, the measurement and management of productivity is hit and miss and miss again. Time and time again hotels are using ineffective measures to try and capture labor productivity measurements. It is important from the beginning to establish the goals for measuring productivity in your operations on rooms and food and beverage in your hotel. READ MORE

Hotel executives need to help their respective employees, as some of these individuals may have problems with drugs or alcohol. Creating a culture of trust is critical to assisting these men and women. Hence the need to find the right drug treatment center: A place with the credibility, resources and expertise to work with hoteliers, so employees can get the care they deserve to receive -- in a setting that exudes compassion and understanding. This approach is as indispensable as it is invaluable, because a hotel can only succeed with a strong and healthy workforce. This priority demands our attention. READ MORE

When I began my journey to becoming a chef twenty-five years ago I could have never envisioned a world that would be literally travelling at light speed, with my guests as critics that carry the weight of a seasoned food writer, and a culture of “Foodies” that would turn my entire industry on its head. It seems like just yesterday the produce “dude” at my local grocer gave me a blank stare when I asked him if he had any baby French beans in the back cooler because I didn't see any on display. It was as if I had requested a rare species of Amazonian cactus. READ MORE

Luxury travel and dining have always been associated with fine restaurants and over-the-top menus; however, more and more high-end travelers are craving fuss-free comfort foods, particularly those that use recipes and ingredients rooted in a destination's heritage and culture. At Grace Bay Club, we remain committed to sharing the Islands' unique culinary traditions that showcase the absolute best quality products, all while offering a dining experience that caters to our guests' exact preferences. READ MORE

It is widely agreed that a great team requires great leadership, and I believe that a truly great leader empowers his employees with leadership skills. All of my employees are capable of greatness, and it is my job to cultivate that in-house ability. When cooks are humble, ready to learn, and hardworking, they are on the path to become the next generation of leaders. These are the chefs I seek out and hire because I know they are invested in developing themselves. In the long run, these chefs become the best candidates for promotion. READ MORE

Many hotel guests enthusiastically book rooms online, bypass a front desk check-in with their digital room key, and choose to receive their bill via e-mail in an effort to streamline and control their own experience - and at Hilton we support (and have led the charge on!) many of these innovations. At the same time, human interaction remains the crux of hospitality. And hospitality is, after all, a main driver of guest satisfaction and repeat business in our industry. Year after year the J.D. Power North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM has shown that the number of interactions guests have with hotel staff READ MORE

Social media has shown the world its power. Your power. It's your voice that is shared throughout the world via underwater fiber optic cables and wireless networks. This voice has played a key role in the development of global politics, criminal justice, relationships and economic development. Economic development is a broad term, but when there is growth in a town, city or county, a hotel is likely to appear. Alike every other business, hotels have a target segment, or two, or ten. It's unlikely that a four or five star hotel will appear in small, rural town, and it's unlikely that a large convention will be held in a small hotel, regardless of geographic location. Although each hotel has target markets, hotels can increase their reach through humanizing engagement on social networks as well as increase their revenues by developing a "fully-connected" consumer. READ MORE

Do you smile when you think about or see Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett or Chris Rock? Chances are you do... "What do these folks have to do with my hotel property?" you are most likely asking yourself. Study after study confirms that happy teams produce amazing results in the following areas: increased productivity, improved revenues, and higher employee engagement. Imagine how satisfied your guests will be when you and your team add joy to your property! READ MORE

Of all the latest trends taking over the hospitality industry in 2017, branding serves as the most essential marketing tool allowing hotels to communicate their vision, values and mission. Branding has evolved past the company's name, slogan, sign, symbol or design. Although it is still used as a means to identify a company, branding has developed into a complex but ultimately necessary concept in the marketing world. READ MORE