As this article is being written, two armed police officers guard the front of the building that houses our law offices, and have been a fixture since the UN was in session over three weeks ago. The officers first appeared at the same time that government agents encased in flack jackets, bearing machine guns, and accompanied by canine units appeared on the streets outside of Grand Central Terminal and the New York Public Library. Last week also brought news that NYC's Office of Emergency Management ran a training exercise that simulated an emergency response to a 10-kiloton nuclear device exploding in Times Square, which according to the simulation, killed 100,000 people instantly, took down skyscrapers for a half-mile radius and inflicted damage up to two miles away, all as a radiation cloud swept over the entire metropolitan region. No doubt, the nation's safety and security are still critical issues. READ MORE

What steps do Hotel HR Managers need to take to determine if the Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”) requires that changes be made to the healthcare benefits offered to employees by January 1, 2015? Although the seasonal exception may apply to employees in the hotel industry, the fact that the definition for “full time” employees under the ACA lowers the threshold number of hours an employee needs to work to be considered a “full time” employee from 40 hours a week to 30 hours a week, requires that HR Managers recalculate whether the fifty (50) full-time of full-time equivalent employees cutoff has been met. In addition to factors that must be considered in determining if the ACA applies to your hotel, this article outlines what HR Managers need to do to prepare for the January 1, 2015 effective date of the ACA. Risks for non-compliance are outlined so that HR Managers are aware of how to act prudently in protecting businesses from unnecessary costs that can be avoided through understanding the law and taking responsive action. READ MORE

As people are becoming aware of the new sense of consciousness, they are also in the process of discovering their bodily limits as well as their infiniteness; all pretty much at the same time. More and more people are inclined to step aside from old-fashioned and outdated systems, currently presented in all societies around the world. There is a very powerful shift happening around the world that unites likeminded people who are ready to establish a new system of collaboration and cooperation instead of the old system of competition that has separated humanity and created endless fights and wars. No one is better than the other; we are all unique. READ MORE

AirBnB has done a wonderful job of crafting a perception as being a threat to hotels. However, as the dust settles, AirBnB may end up being no more than a niche product appealing to those who have few qualms about staying with strangers. Shared economy businesses like AirBnB will certainly influence the industry just as OTA's did in the early 2000's. But, the industry will adapt and learn to compete effectively against the emerging shared economy players. It is time to consider businesses that have been around longer than AirBnB that have been enabling the siphoning off of revenue from hotels. READ MORE

Money never sleeps, and neither do hotels. It's often one of the biggest challenges faced by hoteliers: maintaining facilities to the standards expected by discerning guests, and determining how and when to upgrade those facilities without turning away or losing business. Hotels need upgrades, but it's important to keep guests happy while major physical changes are occurring around them. Careful attention must be paid in facility upgrades, and hoteliers must minimize guest disruption and use renovations as an opportunity to refresh and maximize branding and revenue generating opportunities. READ MORE

Once you have made the decision to target the LGBT market, and have taken the necessary steps to become market ready (see my last article), you now have the challenge of building LGBT customer engagement. It is important to point out that, until now, I've been referring to the LGBT traveller as one homogenous market. You need to keep in mind that this is not actually the case; this market is comprised of a variety of segments. There are various ways that you could segment the broader LGBT market, such as by age, family composition, experiential, and so on. Ultimately, for any successful strategy and execution, you need to clearly identify your core target segment and have a firm understanding of their specific travel habits and motivators. The following is a variety of insights that will assist as you work on building your LGBT customer base and long-term loyalty. READ MORE

Do you hate having to pay up to 25% commissions to online travel agency and hotel bookings sites? You are not alone. With only 65% of bookings now made directly on a hotel or chain's website, you can't afford to ignore them, but with a great website you can get more people to book directly with you. Don't make these common mistakes on your website if you want to avoid those nasty commissions and have more guests come straight to you. READ MORE

Virtually everyone has access to computer technology. This presents significant challenges for establishments seeking to protect their proprietary information. A tiny thumb drive can enable the download of thousands of documents of critical information. Images and data can be captured in an instant with cell phones and transmitted to multiple entities. Add to this the reality that businesses need employee talent to thrive, but a competitive economy also poses the possibility that current employees could be future competitors. What can an establishment do to protect their proprietary information? In this article we will discuss measures to reduce the risk. READ MORE

Deep within the filing cabinets of every hotel's Human Resources department hides a ticking time bomb: the Form I-9. Each of these federally-mandated, deceptively short forms holds the potential of inflicting thousands of dollars of damage on an unsuspecting employer. When the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division comes calling, as its audit numbers show it increasingly is, simple paperwork errors can be costly and criminal prosecution can follow. Learn about recent enforcement actions against the Hotel industry and advice on how to ensure your company is in full compliance. READ MORE

In the hotel industry, the myriad of complex business relationships also creates legal land-mines for the unwary. In that regard, hotel asset managers, hotel operators and franchisors should be extremely mindful of their legal obligations to their client, the owner of the hotel. Even if the hotel is a single asset, there are potentially four groups that, for a better term, have their fingers in the pie - the owner, hotel asset manager, hotel operator and franchisor. But at the end of the day, each of these relationships confer legal rights for the benefit of the owner and potentially, to the detriment of the asset manager, hotel operator and franchisor. READ MORE

The hospitality industry has become an ever increasing target for cybercrimes and accordingly, for related litigation. Although the prevailing legal standard requires hotels and other businesses to take reasonable steps to protect customers' personal information, juries tend to hold the hospitality industry to higher standards. Jurors relate to guests on vacation and believe they should not have to bring with them the same level of vigilance they apply to their everyday lives. With expectations heightened, how should businesses approach protecting customers' personal information from cybersecurity threats in this ambiguous regulatory environment, and what steps can be taken to mitigate exposure to cybersecurity lawsuits? This article explores these issues in the context of agency guidance and recent federal court opinions issued in the FTC's pending enforcement action against Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and related entities. READ MORE

A recent meeting planner survey conducted by the Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) reveals that meeting planners view event services managers (ESM) as trusted and valued partners. This sentiment holds true for first-time meetings and events as well as booking repeat business at hotels, convention centers and convention and visitors bureaus. READ MORE

In 2009, facing environmental crises such as pollution and resource scarcity, the City of Los Angeles embarked on a mission to encourage local hotels to adopt environmentally-friendly practices. With the help of several municipal agencies, the city launched the LA Green Lodging Program, which seeks to promote hotels that voluntarily green their operations. By adopting Earth-conscious practices and attaining certification through the LA Green Lodging Program, hotels will be rewarded with cost savings through lower utility expenses, promotional efforts by the program and its partners, increased bookings, and financial assistance that will outweigh the upfront costs associated with going green. READ MORE

Are you a manager or department head observing evident need for a customer service strategy but your owner(s) or headquarters not seeing this the way you are? Are you trying to convince them or bringing this up but they are not paying attention to this? Why is this so? What and how can we approach this situation to sell, justify and convince to them to invest in the appropriate service strategy? This article brainstorms brief concepts that should give some idea to assist in this situation, which I am certain many of you are going, or have gone through. READ MORE

As a transactional attorney working in the hospitality sector, I work with companies and individuals having a variety of different levels of experience in working with outside attorneys. If you don't work with attorneys often, you may be unsure of what to expect or how to manage the relationship. Those who work with attorneys more regularly may wish to increase their level of satisfaction and efficiencies. Not surprisingly, when working with an attorney, good communication is the key to maximizing the relationship. Prior to forming my own legal practice, I hired and supervised many outside attorneys on behalf of a large corporation, and observed a wide range of working styles and personalities. Here at Zeidel & Associates, we strive to apply best practices. Here are a few tips on how to help the attorney of your choice work best for you: READ MORE