According to a recent study by Deloitte entitled Hospitality 2015: Game changers or spectators? , mobile applications will be a key area for technological development in the industry over the next year. As more consumers than ever before are equipped with smart phones and tablets to aid in booking travel, hoteliers are finding new ways to interact with guests and build brand awareness via mobile devices. READ MORE

Digital beacons in hospitality continue to guide travelers through an ever-increasing maze of travel challenges. These technologies are ever more deployed in hotels to assist though various stages of the guest-life cycle. Hoteliers are facing challenges as well as opportunities. It is imperative to offer an attractive value-proposition for the guests so that they are encouraged and motivated to engage with such technology-based services. Hoteliers are tasked with utilizing science along with the art of hospitality and determining the best way to engage guests in an era defined by social, mobile, cloud and analytics. No different than the bright lights that guided ships across the ocean in the night, or the radio waves that assisted planes in the sky, digital beacons will guide hotel guests throughout their stay and engage them in a way they will want to return again. READ MORE

While defining a “hostile work environment” is generally commonplace for HR professionals, one new, emerging trend in the workplace is the filing by employees or their attorneys of assault and battery charges. The law regarding assault and battery in the civil context has existed for decades, but in recent years, lawyers representing employees have started to make use of these claims with increasing frequency. This article lists five primary reasons for this shift, along with enumerating six steps an employer should follow to protect his company against an assault and battery claim. READ MORE

Consider these facts: According to Criteo's Travel Flash Report, the first half of 2014 saw: Mobile bookings on travel websites are growing faster than desktop, at 20 percent versus 2 percent Smartphones and tablets account for 21 percent of hotel bookings In-app bookings account for 12 percent of total mobile bookings made on travel websites Also worth considering is that there are now more than 6.5 billion smart phone in the world today and most people are traveling with up to 3 devices. READ MORE

A major cause of poorly perceived service is the difference between what a firm promises about a service, and what it actually delivers. To avoid broken promises companies must manage all communications to customers, so that inflated promises do not lead to overly high expectations. With hospitality examples from all over the world, this article discusses four strategies that are effective in managing service promises: creating effective services advertising; coordinating external communication; making realistic promises; and offering service guarantees. READ MORE

Do you ever wonder “how can we find ways that we can train and educate our employees using a continuous approach, which can also be different each time, and challenge our employees to think critically, as well as develop them into caring and solution orientated employees, especially when it comes to resolving issues with guests?” This article will explore the power of how simple, documented case studies, can be used in order to engage employees in such a manner that they will be able to be on their feet, caring, attentive and driven to resolve guest issues. READ MORE

While independents - which by nature have more personality and distinctiveness than corporate hotels - represent half of the world's lodging stock, they are still underserved. IBC and its corporate sibling, InnSuites Hospitality Trust, aim to expand the branding of independents through marketing and trademark services. In this column, we look at why striking the balance between rapidly changing, ever more affordable lodging technology and the human touch that still counts so much is key to an independent hotel's success. That balance is within reach. READ MORE

As more and more hospitality marketers have begun to struggle with the omnipotent presence of social data and how it affects their brand, they have begun to question the very issue of branding itself. Only through Omni-channel listening - what some may call data blending - of data of all forms (ie. survey, Social, call-centers, emails, etc.) can we truly understand the volume, sentiment and impact that the voice of the customer has on our continued efforts to drive brand loyalty, guest satisfaction and profits. READ MORE

Hotel affiliates hold a myriad amount of customer personal information and a data breach suffered by an affiliate may impact the hotel's entire brand. One way to mitigate the risk of a data breach is to enter into a joint cyber security defense agreement. READ MORE

Hilton Worldwide recently announced that it plans on rolling out mobile room keys during 2015 as part of its effort to revolutionize the hotel experience by allowing guests to completely customize their experience through mobile devices. By 2016, hotel guests will be able to check-in and check-out, choose their room and purchase upgrades on a smartphone or tablet. The restaurant and retail industries have already begun using mobile technologies to better service their customers, but the hotel industry has been slower to catch up, with good reason. READ MORE

Millennials aren't just interested in having the latest tech gadgets, flexible work schedules and GMO-free foods, especially when it comes to their living arrangements. The following article by Michael R. Ytterberg, PhD., AIA of BLT Architects takes a look at the most important elements in building, design and amenities for this demographic. Whether it's a larger, brighter, more spacious living room and higher quality finishes such as granite and quartz included within the actual living space, or a grand lobby and Internet lounges within the apartment building itself, these trends cannot be overlooked when understanding what millennials what and how to attract them. READ MORE

Serving liquor is risky business. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 88,000 alcohol-related deaths each year from 2006 to 2010, and MADD reports 28 people die each day as a result of drunk driving accidents. Like all businesses that serve alcohol, the hospitality industry must be concerned about these trends and their liquor liability exposure. READ MORE

As with most industries, there are myriad competing interests in the hospitality sector: developer vs. lender; franchisor vs. franchisee; operator vs. guest; owner vs. management company. The list, cynical as it may be, goes on. But there is one thing on which nearly all business people agree, and that unifies even the most divided of parties: lawyers kill deals. As a profession, we may have earned that reputation through negative comments about proposed transactions; advice based on theory and not practice; and a failure to put our clients ahead of ourselves. A good lawyer in the hands of a smart client, however, not only avoids killing deals but can be one of your best sales tools. READ MORE

A continued positive economy, with the 2008-2009 recession firmly in the rear view mirror; excellent levels of business travel; and consumer confidence have all contributed to a sustained strong hospitality marketplace. At the same time, a number of factors, including the ability to acquire existing hotels for below replacement cost, the preference of private and public entities to purchase existing properties with in-place cash flow and the difficulty to finance new hotel construction have, so far, constrained overall growth in supply. With that said, it is important to note that strong recent sales prices have helped encourage some additional supply, especially in strong markets. This is a trend that bears watching. READ MORE

I recently overheard my team prioritize “mobile” hospitality over every other guest communication method. I realized that through our association to a physical phone, we had limited our reach and would eventually become irrelevant in the industry. Using the term “mobile” is comparable to using the word “laptop” when attributing benefits of wireless capabilities. The real value lies in what “mobile” can do - the empowerment and choices the technology behind the device offers. Hotels should whole-heartedly actualize mobile technology, but stop picturing the concept as simply investing in a mobile application. What you should be thinking about is, “How do I truly communicate and connect with my guest?” READ MORE