This discussion suggests the formalization of human resource metrics in a lodging property as an effort to optimize decisions, cut costs and support the goal of the hotel's leadership. Many of the larger lodging operations, brands etc. have already adopted and implemented some of these metrics and processes in human resources. However, there are smaller properties without corporate assistance that will need to align their human resource processes in accordance with defined metrics to better compete for the highest quality candidates. READ MORE

It started as a favor: a local politician looking to help a constituent find a job. As Steve Wynn's HR guy, I was responsible for hiring lots of people and told him I had some ideas: try this guy out as a laborer and see how it works out. The referral turned out to be a gang-banger wanting to go straight: but his buffed up physique, tats and missing-eye-without-an-eye-patch were intimidating. Fortunately he was more soft-spoken than gruff, and definitely sincere. I took him to meet a hiring manager who over-reacted a bit when he first saw him, but like me, decided to give it a try after hearing his story. Moral of this story: don't judge a book by its cover when thinking about giving someone a second chance. READ MORE

Even though it's been almost 18 months since the U.S. migrated to EMV smart-chip based payment technology, many businesses - for various reasons - are still hesitant to get on board. Many hotel property management system products don't support EMV acceptance, even though almost 80 percent of credit cards are now issued with smart chips. In fact, credit card issuers prioritized which cards were issued with chips first, which included high-limit international or travel cards - the types of cards being used often in hotels. Without the ability to accept EMV transactions, business owners - including hoteliers like you - are seeing liability shift chargebacks for which there is no defense. READ MORE

What if I told you there was an easy and effective way to bypass the OTAs, reduce fees, and capture audiences you aren't currently accessing? And I'm not talking about a new idea or outrageous untested concept. I'm simply talking about a change in the way you think about digital marketing. It's a process that the OTAs have deployed for years that hotel marketers can do every bit as effectively as the OTAs. Hotels continue to confront a familiar problem: How to attract direct bookings and reduce the impact of OTA fees. We all know how profitable it is when bookings come straight through the hotel, but there simply isn't enough reach to drive the same demand as the OTAs. READ MORE

Hotel forecast magic. The how to vs. the want to. Have you ever wondered why it's so hard to get the non-financial manages in your hotel to do their forecasts? It's like pulling teeth, it's so hard to get the leaders in your hotel to willingly come to the plate. What if you're asking for their forecasts in the wrong way? Here is what I learned and I want to call myself out on this because it took me 20 years to figure it out. Maybe it will work for you too and you won't have to waste 20 years. READ MORE

Consumers in North America are exposed to approximately 30,000 brand impressions daily. During an average, day consumers are exposed to television commercials, radio advertisements, billboards and sometimes, direct sales, but more significantly are the thousands of readily identifiable brand impressions that we observe, but don't overtly consider. The car logo on our steering wheel, the MTA logo on the bottom corner of the New York City Subway map; the Apple, Google, or Samsung logo on your phone, and the interlocking “NY” of the person wearing a Yankees' jersey at a ball game are all brand impressions. Each of these items are cognitively processed and stored for a later date when marketers hope that you use your heuristic decision-making process to make a purchase without much apparent rhyme, reason or thought. READ MORE

The U.S. labor market continues to tighten with The Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a decline in the unemployment rate to 4.6 percent in November of 2016. The unemployment rate is even lower in many states and metropolitan areas. Unrealistic expectations and increased stress, due to staffing shortages, is causing many employees to reconsider their current work situations. Many will soon choose to depart. This will only add to the need for organizations to involve more than HR, if they are to fill job openings promptly or at all. READ MORE

There is increasing awareness in the hotel industry that something intangible is missing in hospitality because generally speaking it is not making the sought-after emotional and energetic connection to the guest's heart, which will increase revenue and make guests flock to the brand. Hospitality still feels energetically and emotionally weak in spite of all efforts to change this, and I would like to shed some light on why this is so. In short, the hotel industry would make the connection and revolutionize hospitality by changing from the mechanistic Newtonian worldview to the energetic Quantum worldview, which replaced it in 1925. READ MORE

Human Resource leaders in all business sectors are stumped by how to hire the talented employees needed by their businesses in order to meet company strategic objectives. This responsibility is especially difficult in the service sector of hospitality. In no other sector is the one-to-one personal connection more important, perhaps with the exception of medical providers. In hospitality, an employees' air, attitude, a wrong word or gesture can be perceived badly by the customer - a kiss of death. Or, with another customer the same circumstances can be received with over the top joy, acclaim, compliments, and kudos - a big win! READ MORE

In the service sector, people are the lynchpin of any business, and success or failure hinges upon them. Though this success can only be unlocked if employees are spotted, nurtured, engaged and developed; the key to which is great hotel leadership. In this exclusive article for Hotel Executive, Vice President for People and Organisational Development at luxury management company, Dorchester Collection, and author of Be A People Leader, Eugenio Pirri, explores what it takes to be a people leader in the 21st Century and why businesses across the world are currently experiencing a leadership deficit. READ MORE

Each day, hotels across the industry put themselves at risk of losing hundreds, or even thousands of dollars… simply by doing nothing at all. These hotels, many of which are a few simple actions away from nearly doubling their pool of potential customers, fritter away opportunities because they don't know how to address the concerns that previous guests have shared on the internet. But inaction can be changed, and new revenue streams can be opened. READ MORE

The sharing economy is having a disruptive influence on the lodging sector, with evidence that Airbnb's entry into some markets has had a quantifiable negative impact on local hotel revenues. Can hotels compete with this new phenomenon without compromising on price? I believe they can. Recent research suggests that the sharing economy appeals to consumers not just because of price, flexibility, and ease of use. Consumers are also attracted by social benefits; guests of Airbnb for example, enjoy interacting with their hosts in an 'authentic' setting, and even gain local connections with the host's help. READ MORE

With experience and adventure both being the greatest drivers today for all markets in choosing where they'll stay, it's imperative for hotels to adapt. A recent American Express survey illustrated that consumers demand more enriched lives, personal fulfillment, and learning. Hotels responding to this shift are answering this call with creative activities and rate packages that will attract this market. It's important to note that this cuts across a large swath from millennials to baby boomers to Gen X-ers. However, it's vital to get the message out through traditional and social media channels so your property rises to the top of Google when people are researching where to stay and what to do. READ MORE

Social media has traditionally been approached as a marketing tool for top-of-funnel activities. However, the activities associated with generating awareness, like creating viral posts and taking advantage of real-time marketing moments, are difficult to measure and even harder to link to real business value. Yet, marketers innately know that social media has real opportunity as their audience is there—in volume and in frequency. As a result, a new trend is emerging among hotel marketers that takes distinct advantage of the direct follower model of social networks: the marriage of the loyalty program with social media marketing. READ MORE

As hoteliers' key audiences spend less time on the Web and more time on their smartphones' social apps, it is crucial for hotels to have a digital engagement strategy that creates meaningful interactions on social channels. Desktop still converts higher, but the path to a booking is a journey full of touch points across social. Now that social media platforms are maturing, hotels can go beyond targeting their own guests to discovering new profitable audiences. They can reach and drive sales for all sides of the business: leisure, corporate and group sales. However, before hoteliers think about social engagement, they need to cover the basics of personalization and one-to-one marketing. READ MORE