Not too long ago, I was researching for a presentation that I needed to deliver during an annual conference for a major hotel brand. The topic was networking and this brand had seen a drop in personal interactive skills of staff at all levels. People in all roles - front desk, sales, even managers and owners - were losing their ability to connect with others due to their reliance on electronic tools. Being in the world of hospitality, where a premium should be placed on service and relationships, this void was seen as critical. READ MORE

Upon graduating from Colorado State University's department of Design & Merchandising in 2004, I had no idea that my undergrad learnings would come into play during my hospitality career, over a decade later. Nor did I realize I would depart from the fashion/retail industry for the hotel business. I will always remember one of my professor's lectures on what merchandising really is: having the right product, at the right time, in the right place. It sounds quite simple, but putting this philosophy into action is more complex. READ MORE

In the ongoing power struggle between hotels and online travel agencies, one question that often emerges is, “Who owns the guest?” It's a question that will likely be debated for years, and grow even more complicated as new players continue to enter the online travel arena. The answer, DHISCO CEO Toni Portmann, argues, is “no one and everyone.” And rather than argue over who should have access to customer email and other information, she says, they should look to new technology for managing rates and inventory and sharing richer content as the bridge to more amicable relationships. READ MORE

In your hotel, you either share the financials with you leaders, the department managers or you don't. If you already share the financial statements, you know the power it unleashes with your team and the result it helps to create. If you don't share you're wondering what the management team will think about the money and how much goes to you and the owner. You naively think no one needs to know about the finances in your hotel. You think it's none of their business. You're also pretty sure the team will judge you and your results. READ MORE

The hospitality industry continues to flourish and in addition to contributing billions to Britain's GDP, it provides jobs for a huge amount of workers across the UK. To put that into perspective, in 2014, it was estimated that hospitality was responsible for a massive contribution of around £143 billion - this is 10% of the UK's entire GDP. And as for employment, figures suggest that the industry is directly employing 4.7 million workers and indirectly employing 775,000 people. If the industry continues to grow, it's expected that as will the GDP contributions and of course, more jobs and opportunities will be available to workers. READ MORE

The opportunity to drive their dream car is on the bucket list of many. That goal can be checked off fairly easily these days as luxury car driver experiences are available through a variety of venues, including hotels and resorts. Dreamers no longer have to shell out hundreds of thousands to drive a Lamborghini; they can reserve a luxury suite at certain high-end hotels and enjoy the privilege of driving one for a few hours. Of course, for hotels and resorts offering this luxury service, new risks come with the experiences. In this article, we discuss what hotel and resort owners participating in these luxury driver experiences can do to make sure they have taken the proper steps to protect their guests, employees and their bottom lines. READ MORE

Like never before, marketers are competing for attention. Snapchat Spectacles, Instagram Stories, 360-degree videos and Facebook Live are all helping fill consumers' free time. So, as marketers, how do we use all the data now available to figure out how to get the right stories out on social media, smartphones, tablets and other channels? And how do we make our content interesting enough to compete with the fad du jour occupying people's minds? I challenge myself and my team to think about three key means to earn attention in today's marketplace. READ MORE

The 21st century discerning digital native traveler can be clearly characterized as hyper connected, better informed, and technology savvy. In this “Age of I” hotel brands need to gain a competitive edge by taking heed of these guests and making them feel interconnected. The next frontier is undoubtedly clear and real. This write up will focus on three marketing trends that need attention and if executed can be of grave value to any hotel businesses' marketing efforts. Mobile marketing platforms, predictive analytics strategies and contextual marketing tactics are new hotel marketing frontiers. Hoteliers cannot lose sight of these in the next decade. READ MORE

The booking shift to mobile in the travel industry raises questions on how marketers can adjust their strategies to reach a mobile audience. This in conjunction with quickly evolving virtual reality technology opens doors for travel marketers to make an impact and get ahead of their competition. Using VR to enhance mobile websites, apps and advertising can increase mobile bookings and raise brand awareness and credibility. READ MORE

Internships, work experiences, field experiences...the semantics may vary, but the gist is the same, and their importance is only increasing in today's undergraduate experience. Students, schools, and industry professionals are recognizing the significance of internships for developing a resume, an experienced, well-rounded candidate, and a student that has made connections in the industry prior to graduation. READ MORE

When done right, hotel owners can use a spa to tap into a valuable market and enhance the hospitality experience by restoring mindfulness and overall well-being for patrons. This, in turn, can earn repeat guests and positively impact the property's bottom line. That's why it's so important for hotel owners to stay ahead of evolving industry trends and guest expectations, and avoid common pitfalls when developing or renovating an on-site spa. Owners who successfully differentiate their hotels typically have a strategic advantage, and spa treatments remain a terrific way to stand out from the competition. READ MORE

There was a time during the tumultuous 60s and 70s that the younger generation was admonished to “never trust anyone over thirty.” You may have heard that quote - it was made a cultural touchstone by the likes of luminaries such as Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and the Beatles. Today, members of the older generation seem to apply the opposite perspective - it's hard to trust anyone under thirty. Employers talk about a new generation of workers with a “me first” mentality who place more value on their own entertainment than on company loyalty and work output. READ MORE

Your hotel's landscape is responsible for making a first impression with your guests. Your landscape should be a reflection of your hotel's brand and should clearly demonstrate to your customers the type of experience you hope your property will deliver—relaxing, comfortable, safe, and fun. In other words, dedicating financial resources to landscaping and grounds keeping are more than worthwhile from an ROI perspective. Nevertheless, as any hotel executive knows, unforeseen circumstances often require difficult budget decisions. If you are forced to dedicate less budget and resources to your landscaping, follow these best practices to ensure that your landscape's health, aesthetics, and safety do not suffer. READ MORE

Today hotel guest options, incentives and choices are ultimate reflections of an overall brand strategy. However, choice shouldn't be a message embodied only within the vivid description of a brand promise, its contemporary lounges or the high-tech amenities and ultra-modern guestrooms. For organizations with a unique portfolio of hotel brands, choice also needs to be a primary theme that permeates into every one of their properties' revenue strategies—and it needs to be supported by advanced revenue technology. READ MORE

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility practices in the Hotel Industry have been developing in a synergistic pattern that is reflected in the web pages and annual reports of many international lodging companies. In 2015 the United Nations revised the original 8 UN Millennium Development Goals to better the quality of life on the planet by 2015, establishing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) to be achieved by the year 2030. Reflecting the original Millennium Development Goals, the 17 SDG's include eliminating poverty and hunger, fighting climate change, improving world health, education and saving oceans and forests. READ MORE