Hotels have spent the last decade trying to come to terms with a changing technology landscape that upended not only their sales and marketing strategies, but their operational processes, too. Now they face an even greater shift - one that will change their sales and marketing culture for years to come - the rise of the Millennial generation, and with that, the emergence of Millennial meeting and event planners. In parallel with a rapid increase in Millennial leisure travelers, this new generation of young adults increasingly comprises the largest age group attending meetings & events, which are very often planned by a Millennial. READ MORE

Fundamentally, the difference between a “Good Brand” and a “Great Brand” is the ability of the organization, through its products, people and communications to engage on an emotional level. “Good Brands”, and most successful brands are good brands, deliver promised services consistently and achieve high satisfaction ratings. “Great Brands” do exactly the same thing, but achieve off-the-charts satisfaction ratings because they have connected at a deeper level. On a more prosaic level, a visit to the marketing and revenue management teams “Good Brand Inc.” is an immersion into complaints about OTAs and commodity pricing pressures (discounts); a visit to the same group at “Great Brand Inc.” is an eye opening exposure to sustained margins, direct bookings, and eye-watering occupancy figures! READ MORE

Investing abroad may present lucrative opportunities in the form of new markets and customers. Hospitality companies, however, often face unique challenges when doing business abroad. For example, in 2009, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered the expropriation of a Hilton-run hotel on the resort island of Margarita in Venezuela to help develop tourism projects within a socialist framework. Similarly, in 2011, the Sri Lankan government declared ownership of a Hilton-run hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka following a rent-related dispute with the foreign investor. Hospitality companies considering investing abroad thus should be aware of the tools that may be available to protect their international investments. READ MORE

In this article, we will consider some of the values, attitudes and skills it takes to be an effective leader in the hospitality sector, striving to form a lasting culture of service, teamwork and excellence. Furthermore, such a discussion will help illuminate what hospitality leaders might look for or consider as they nurture a next generation of leaders for their industry. In this way, we turn the mirror upon ourselves, prompting us to rethink our own capabilities, principles and sense of purpose as leaders. READ MORE

Millennial travelers crave connections to local culture. Large convention hotels and boutique resorts alike are challenged to offer the authentic, memorable experiences travelers in this influential demographic demand. But, rather than compete with local artisans and tastemakers, hoteliers can boost their bottom line with collaborative initiatives. Along with local influencers, curating native experiences within the hotel can increase incremental revenue and drive repeat business. Locally sourced food and beverage options have become a standard in most hotels. Some hotel restaurants even boast ingredients sourced from their own on-site farms, gardens or breweries. READ MORE

Millennial's may look to OTAs and Airbnb when they just want to book a room, but they're flocking to social media to build robust itineraries that will be the envy of all their friends. Savvy marketers know that winning over this generation is about immersive experiences that sell the property and destination vs. a package or special room rate. Now is the time to pay attention to emerging platforms on the rise like Snapchat, Periscope and Facebook Live Stream, which can take audiences on a visual journey from the lobby to the bar and behind-the-scenes in 60 seconds or less. READ MORE

While the millennial traveler is a relatively new demographic, these Gen Y travelers are becoming increasingly important for resort marketers to target in order to gain enduring brand loyalty and consumer trust. They make up a quickly-growing demographic seeking thoughtfully-curated leisure and business experiences and use various mediums to research and finalize travel-related purchases. According to Pew Research, millennials represent the largest generation of consumers today, totaling 75.4 million, surpassing the 74.9 million Baby Boomers. Within this group of consumers, is the millennial family traveler - individuals or couples with children who are looking for travel experiences that fit their wants and needs as a family unit. READ MORE

A 2012 survey by SilkRoad Technology revealed that some 75 percent of employees use social media on the job, and that 60 percent do so multiple times a day. Of those surveyed, 49 percent said they use social media to connect with coworkers and 44 percent said they use social media to connect with customers. Yet, only 23 percent of employees had received a social media policy from their employers, and only 7 percent had received social media training. Clearly, employers are not communicating with their employees their preferences about using social media. But not addressing social media issues can be as bad as encouraging them. READ MORE

Hotels now face stiff competition from the OTAs as well as from other hotels. To succeed in this challenging environment, hoteliers need to develop an effective hotel website that blends the latest design trends and online marketing strategies to appeal to prospective guests. By incorporating essential hotel design, functionality, and reservation features such as SEO strategies, incentivizing pricing strategies, and web analytics, hotels can use their websites to gain the competitive edge. Discover everything you need to know to create a highly effective hotel website design, so you can successfully increase direct bookings and regain control of your hotel brand. READ MORE

With rapid advancements in technology, video content is taking over the internet. Whether it's through social media platforms, apps, or news publications, companies can miss out on valuable branding opportunities without a high quality video narrative to leverage on these networks. In an industry where building human relationships is of utmost importance, hotels must adapt to this growing medium. Well-produced videos help brands connect with consumers emotionally thus creating genuine brand loyalty. In the offline history of advertising, we've seen media consumers migrate in large droves from reading newspapers in dull black and white text, to reading magazines and newspapers in full and vibrant color, to consuming radio and TV advertising that bring brands to life. READ MORE

The hospitality industry is constantly under attack. New technologies, new entrants, new regulations, and changing customer demands require hoteliers to be relentlessly vigilant. It is not merely a matter of loyalty. Today's fight is about relevance. In a world of digital transformation, no industry is immune. With every discussion on digital transformation orbiting around customer experience, is there an opportunity to disrupt how the hospitality industry measures customer experience? READ MORE

Hotel amenities as a guest offering have become a vital source of attracting business and building a hotel brand. This is a relatively recent phenomenon that has grown in importance as guest's demand for good quality amenities has become universal. As I thought about writing this article I realized I should go to leaders in the hospitality field as well as draw upon my 15-year experience as the creator of a branded amenity line. Hunter Amenities of Canada and Susan Ricci, innovative former hotel managing director and current hotel and club consultant, became invaluable sources of information and comment from different points of view - which I think you will find as stimulating and helpful as I do. READ MORE

Connected. Conscientious. Curious. Simple, but accurate, these three words sum up the common core of traits Millennials bring to a travel experience. The named generation, defined as those born between 1980 and 1997, range from young adults about to graduate from college to 30-somethings juggling career and family in pursuit of that elusive sweet spot known as life-work balance. While they may be at different stages in their life journeys, research shows Millennials have a keen interest in travel experiences that connect them to their destination. A recent article in G Brief, a digital magazine published by Urbaneer Creative [http://urbaneercreative.com/], a creative consultancy for businesses READ MORE

Technology is having a huge impact on how guest preferences are formed, expressed, and received by hotels. The impact of mobility is profound, along with the centrality of guest choice. While technology has evolved, innovation at the front desk has not kept pace. This study examines the forces leading the industry to this point - and proposes some solutions. Should your hotel's guest check in be more like the guest experience at an Apple Store? What would this look like, and would it be a good thing - for you, your ability to manage your property, and above all, for your guests? The concept is not as farfetched as it seems. READ MORE

As the labeled ‘millennial generation' continues its ascent up the corporate ladder and young employees take the helm in management positions, Spire Hospitality - one of the nation's leading and most respected hotel management companies - shares how its leadership is hearing the needs and desires of this particular peer group to identify and provide tools to function in the manner in which these young professionals expect. With this age sector of sales employees continuing to expand as vice president of sales and marketing, I have been chosen to lead the team to discover cutting edge research, create new programs and rollout concepts in 2016. READ MORE