Every generation and demographic has seen its share of gimmicky marketing and cringe-worthy advertising. Millennials are no different. With all the attention millennials have received as the current ‘it' demographic, hotel brands are being challenged to come up with brilliant campaigns that they can relate to. In this push for creativity, some brands go overboard by jumping on the latest slang, trend, social media platform, or celebrity du jour, with the brand coming off as desperate as a result. While we can all admire a brand that will bend over backwards, they can end up doing the one thing that Gen Y hates the most: Trying too hard. READ MORE

While the vastness of online content through the variety of channels is key to a PR campaign, the traditional print media environment for news impact is undeniable. An article in the New York Times or Wall Street Journal has undeniable lasting power. The sheer proliferation of industry specific print media one sees in Barnes and Noble and the staying power of a major feature article is a vital component to a successful campaign. While thousands may read an article online, the magic of the printed page still holds the attention like none other. Recent studies by the Magazine Publishers of America bears out the value and substantiates to anyone who wants to sustain a powerful PR program, that print media must be integrated into your program READ MORE

A collection of data, but not in the old-fashioned, very outdated and very boring numbers approach; rather with a compassionate view on how the industry will evolve, beyond the veil, in the very near future. Let's have a look at how to create a visionary, functional and operational double treatment room that is designed, professionally organized and set-up in such a manner as to fulfill the therapist's performance requirements and to accompany the demands of the new market, as well as the future guests' expectations. It will be crucial to include all aspects from the inside out. READ MORE

Good relationships with all vendors in a hotel's supply chain are critical for smooth, efficient operations. With laundry, the stakes are higher than with many others; encountering stained linens or being forced to wait for towels can sour a guest's experience of a hotel. In this article, we take a close look at what a great hotel-laundry relationship looks like through a case study of the relationship between a large hotel and their commercial laundry contractor. We identify the principles underlying this successful partnership and what it means for hotels looking to close an on-premise laundry or select a new laundry provider. READ MORE

It's no secret that millennial travelers, such as myself, are leery of traditional marketing and find it inauthentic. Conventional advertising and hotel marketing, as we used to know it, are one of the many victims being demolished by Gen Y's aversion to old-school ways of doing things. It's now up to hotel brands to throw away some of their worn-down marketing practices and instead act as visionaries in their own industry, creating genuine and remarkable marketing avenues and experiences that excite, intrigue and engage millennial travelers. So, farewell to in-your-face hotel ads. Adios, one-way marketing messages. READ MORE

As is often our responsibility to inspire the next generation of hoteliers, I recently participated in a career fair at a local college. It is without saying that, as hotel executives, our schedules are rarely flexible; but I felt the opportunity was worthy. So rather than excuse myself with a polite apology and blame my regrets on a busy schedule, I accepted the honor because I knew the day would take me on a trip into a galaxy filled with new life forms: Millennials, a target market many say is essential to the travel industry's future. READ MORE

It's not just the baby boomers and it's not just the millennials, it's everybody. Over the past few years the travel experience has changed across the board. Heads in beds is the cherry on the top but it's no longer the goal, and that's because our guest wants more, and we want more for them. This is the “new traveler” they are the young business professional by day, silent-disco seeker by night and they are the older tourist with a camera who still needs full strength wifi for all of their devices. The lines are starting to blur but there is one constant. READ MORE

By the year 2020, millenials will comprise over 50 percent of the U.S. population and they are poised to overtake previous generations in their zest for business travel. According to research conducted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) millenials are nearly twice as likely to want to travel for business then baby boomers (45 percent to 26 percent, respectively). In addition, a strong majority of millennials, 57 percent, say technology can never replace face-to-face business meetings. So ready or not, here come the millennials, the next generation of road warriors, packing their smart devices and looking for b-leisure, READ MORE

Most hotel executives understand the strong connection between employee retention and solid financial performance. At the same time in an industry where annual turnover rates average 27-37%, improved retention rates can seem more like a distant objective than something truly achievable. This is especially true if your hotel is not listed in Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Places to Work. The drivers of employee retention are about much more than an admired brand, strong financial performance and best practice HR programs. The best results are achieved when managers at all levels embrace four important principles. READ MORE

As a lawyer involved for over 30 years in the drafting and negotiation of contracts for the hospitality industry, I can assure you that disputes are inevitable. Even among parties such as owners and management companies that have the best working relationships, there will nevertheless be issues that cause discord. It is in how we resolve these matters that will determine if the relationship between the disputing parties will survive. If preservation of the contract and the relationship is desired, then the goal of both parties should be to resolve the matter quickly and efficiently, while also recognizing at the outset that neither of them is likely to be completely satisfied. READ MORE

A hotel's vitality hinges on the guest experience. Out of all the business trends, none is more powerful than the growing wellness movement. Wellness is everywhere. This is especially true in tourism, with healthy amenities at airports, airlines and lodging. Healthy hotel brands are leading the way and other properties are following suite. Hotels deliver healthy options related to physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental and social wellbeing. READ MORE

Making guests feel comfortable during their stay is a critical part of a guests' overall experience. Whether they're traveling for business or pleasure, hoteliers to create the right environment—from the interior to the exterior—to satisfy guests' expectations and make them feel at home. For example, business travelers are looking for clean and efficient features, while vacationers are looking for features that will help them unwind and relax. READ MORE

With the growing presence of UGC, consumers have more information than ever before when they are making a hotel room purchase. The question is: how do consumers use all this information, with price, to establish value and ultimately make a purchase decision? Understanding this, particularly across different segments of guests, will help hotels make better pricing and positioning decisions. The unmanaged business traveler represents a large and very valuable segment for hotels. This group of frequent travelers is potentially highly influenced by their loyalty affiliation. Does their loyalty change their reaction to price and UGC? READ MORE

There are roughly 80 million millennials in the United States, and each year they spend approximately $600 billion. Clearly, marketers have recognized this group and are scrambling to reach out to them, connect in a relevant way and convince them of brand relevancy. Some are missing a big opportunity for success, however, because they are operating under the false assumption that all millennials belong in the same gigantic group. There is more than meets the untrained eye here, and properly targeting millennials is a multi-faceted, complicated effort. If you're like me, you are inundated with articles, webinars and conferences READ MORE

Globally the influence of Millennials on travel and on marketing has been profound. In the US, Millennials are as large a generation cohort as Baby Boomers . In China, they are a smaller generation numerically thanks to the one child policy. But as the first generation to benefit from China's astonishing economic growth, 80s children (as they are known) are a wealthy and high-consuming group. The word Millennial has almost become synonymous with youth. But that is about to change. READ MORE