How many times have you heard the expression "content is king?" I've been hearing it since the early days of the Web, now commonly referred to as the Internet. Lately we're bombarded with a new spin on the content is king mantra - "content marketing." By definition, the word content is very broad, encompassing text, graphics, audio and visuals. For the purpose of this article, I'm going to narrow the focus to visuals - photos, videos and 360 virtual tours. READ MORE

Branding used to be something that was thought of as separate and distinct from other corporate functions like finance and operations, and certainly from the HR-centric world of employee training. But as the Internet (and particularly mobile media) has become ubiquitous, brands have been forced to operate in an increasingly transparent world. Today everything is marketing and marketing is everything, which means that corporate culture-and the behaviors it fosters-is as much (or more) a driver of brand perceptions as advertising ever was. READ MORE

While Management adores continuous profits as much as owners, their task is to deliver them. That is easier said than done. Even when revenues are growing year on year, retaining profit growth is a challenge all by itself. However, by leveraging the power of contribution margins and understanding how your costs behave in the operation, you are on your way to bringing home the targeted profits. There is probably no better way to make your business your owner's favorite. You can enable your owners to laugh all the way to the bank. READ MORE

South America's growth prospects still make the region attractive for the development of new projects: Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador lead expectations regarding investment opportunities, both in new and in existing projects. Uruguay is awaiting changes in Argentina to recover the sustained growth it had reported for years. Venezuela lacks capacity to attract foreign investment, at least from players who are no longer operating in the country. The situation in Argentina is uncertain—no improvements apparent in the near future. And though Cuba is not Latin America, how does this Queen of the Caribbean fit into our future? READ MORE

Driving sustainability practices in lodging companies is the two-fold need to reduce operating costs and the impact of resource use on the communities in which hotels and resorts operate. From Los Angeles to Miami, hotels need to reduce water and energy use. In New York, Chicago and San Francisco city wide efforts to reduce carbon emissions is causing hotels to search for methods to measure and report. The corporate responsibility reports of major lodging companies publish company-wide carbon emissions goals and reductions as well as the results of waste, water and energy conservation. For many hotels and lodging companies measuring carbon emissions can be a new challenge. READ MORE

Have you ever wanted to make your travel process easier and less of a headache? After all, you have limited time and want to get things done, as soon as possible. Many travelers feel the same way, and look at ways to streamline their travel research process. This is one of the many reasons Online Travel Agents (OTAs) are so popular; they streamline every part of the buying process, from research to booking. But travelers are ready for the next step in convenience for travel, mobile apps. READ MORE

As the Vice President of Sustainability at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, I find myself searching for strategic and innovative ways to solve a myriad of challenges across our global portfolio. One challenge owners and managers face is prioritizing and financing capital investments needed to increase the efficiency of operating the asset, meet the company's aggressive reduction goals, all while improving the guest experience and saving money. One way myself and my Global Sustainability team solve this challenge is through innovative partnerships. READ MORE

When developing new systems, purchasing new equipment, and devising new programs, how can we ensure that we keep an eye to sustainability? Sustainability is here to stay. It is no longer a fad or trend; it has become an integral part of the hospitality industry and an expectation of guests around the world. As operators of hospitality businesses it is important that we acknowledge this new standard. Therefore, integrating sustainable practices into our operation across all departments is vital. READ MORE

Sustainable design and practice are no longer optional, as economic and cultural trends suggest their increasing importance. The developer and designer represent a powerful team for communicating the myriad benefits of green building and environmentally responsible practice to both operators and guests. They can demonstrate to operators the reduced costs associated with energy and maintenance as well as the potential for tax incentives, influencing the choice to become a franchisee. They can also demonstrate to guests a corporate commitment to sustainability, engendering brand loyalty and repeat stays. READ MORE

With the powerful travel influence of the millennial generation as well as the ever-growing needs of today's geo-traveler, the popularity of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is increasingly important in the arena of hospitality. While various luxury brands and independent resorts have, over the last few years, implemented their own elementary degree of CSR programs (in which employees can partake or even the guest), today we are witnessing hospitality assets implementing interesting programs to further elevate their CSR practices into services or amenities. Hotels and brands need not spend considerable investments to implement wellness and sustainable practices into everyday operations. READ MORE

As a pillar of any hotel operation, guest service requires constant attention to ensure that its delivery exceeds current guest expectations. At its core, though, guest service comes down to your staff and the willingness of each team member to deliver his or her very best in all work duties. The proper intrinsic motivations are required to attain his level of perfection. In order to promote a corporate culture with this mentality, hoteliers must appeal to each employee's sense of actualization and their internal need to derive personal success from helping guests in whichever way is required. READ MORE

As social customer service matures to become one of the main customer service channels guests are using today, engaging with customers on social media is a main priority for companies in the hotel industry. As hotels are becoming more and more innovative in terms of technology and mobile access, guests now turn to channels like Facebook and Twitter first when complaining in real time, about a travel and lodging issue. Below outlines how hotels can maximize the benefits of social customer service, as they show guests that customer engagement and guest experience is their number one priority. READ MORE

For many hotel businesses, measurement of energy, waste and water is a hit and miss affair. Those businesses that have developed effective procedures to 'hit' the resource measurement button have found that they can use their knowledge of resource consumption patterns to drive impressive cost and environmental savings. Those that have 'missed' have found their organizations mired in targets that cannot be met, staff who are not motivated and customers who are unconvinced by claims of sustainable practice. READ MORE

Welcoming the new generation of touch control cooktops into hospitality offers a consolidated solution for en-suite cooking that is cost-effective, eco-friendly and safety enhanced; and while the initial equipment costs are higher; the measureable savings to operating expenses coupled with intangible benefits to safety and sustainability net a win-win value-added proposition. READ MORE

Even if one occasionally played hooky, all of us remember the so-called “three R's” from our school days: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. For the past 25 years, businesspeople aiming to create the most efficient, cost effective and profitable operations focused on another three R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Now that socially responsible business practices have gone so mainstream, a new threesome sums up the opportunities we face in this new age. Namely, reducing Risk, increasing Revenue and enhancing Reputation. And what business leader would not wish those three benefits for (and from) their company? READ MORE