In today's world of 24/7 information access via smart phones and tablets, the next generation of hotel guests expects instant gratification and craves constant connection to the data and services they seek. This has significantly impacted the hospitality industry, as hoteliers are faced with the challenge of keeping pace with ever-increasing service expectations from guests through a growing number of outlets. In order to meet these expectations, hospitality organizations are examining internal processes and looking to new technology platforms to help boost efficiency and speed service to guests. READ MORE

Hotels are critically dependent on revenue from events such as conventions, trade shows, and exhibitions. The more successfully and efficiently hotels can execute meetings and events, the more they can garner both return and referral business, a very essential way to increase room revenue and profitability. However, for any executive or business meeting planner, when deciding where to host an important event or other large gathering, there is a lot at stake. The decision to choose the correct venue is one that can be incredibly time consuming and potentially determine the turnout and overall success of the gathering. While the destination is always an important factor, site size, flexibility of layout, comfort of chairs, audiovisual (AV) capabilities, Wi-Fi access and strength, lighting, and even power outlet accessibility are also critical factors to consider when determining an event space. A hotel can accomplish more effective events by creating modern, sleek, but still warm and welcoming event spaces that meet these needs yet are also comfortable and convenient, and leave hosts and the guests with outstanding experiences for the most efficient group event. READ MORE

Revenue management is a relatively new discipline in the hotel industry. Changing market conditions, the evolution of the analytics and the expanding role of the revenue manager have forced an evolution even in this relatively young practice. In the excitement of all that is new, it is tempting to set aside the practices of the past and write a new playbook for the future. Revenue management is changing, by necessity, with the times, but there are still some core components of this crucial function that must be maintained. READ MORE

The reasons that people attend tradeshows depend on whether they are exhibitors or attendees, although the purposes cited by the two groups intersect, according to a study of 2,257 tradeshow participants. Exhibitors are strongly focused on developing sales leads and demonstrating products, while attendees are chiefly concerned with educational opportunities. Tradeshows are increasingly using technology solutions to support those goals, including matchmaking and scheduling software, as well as on-site wi-fi, mobile apps, and internet cafes. Also important to participants' satisfaction with a tradeshow are sustainability programs, notably recycling and a reduction of paper collateral. READ MORE

Closing the Deal with Tough Customers in a Competitive Environment: Closing the deal with a tough customer in a competitive group hotel environment can be challenging - but it doesn't always have to come down to price. Even when the client has a handful of hotels from which to choose, these strategies will help your hotel sales team weave together a customized plan of attack that hits client hot buttons, maximizes relationships and showcases standout site benefits that can make the sale…while steering the conversation from price to value. READ MORE

The economic downturn of 2009 caused dramatic changes in the hotel group sales market, primarily in the automotive, financial services, insurance, and pharmaceutical industries. The number of incentive trips and meetings were drastically reduced and even cancelled across all industries. Five years later, meeting planners are faced with a new wave of opportunities and challenges and now have to re-think and understand how the "groups game" has changed. Here is a brief overview of best practices for how meeting planners can maximize their success in today's competitive landscape. READ MORE

Well into the third quarter of 2014, we can now safely say that this has been the year of meta-search. With consumer loyalty being diluted by their concern over value for money, meta-search has become the platform of choice for travellers starting their search for accommodation. From Google to TripAdvisor to Expedia and Priceline - everyone is investing heavily in the meta-search platforms, and the distinction between the traditional online travel booking sites and travel rate aggregators is getting blurred. READ MORE

Thanks to social media and review websites, guests are controlling and shaping the reputations of hotels large and small every day, and they have changed how hotels can and should manage their precious reputations. By proactively participating in social media, hotels can influence whether these engagements are positive or negative, as well as remedy issues of concern more quickly. Social media success is well within reach of hotels of any size or budget. It may require a modest increase in resources, but more importantly, it will significantly change the way you think about your brand and enhance your reputation. There are five steps you can take to both protect and enhance your hotel brand's reputation. READ MORE

Have you ever scheduled an early-shift employee to cover for a late-shift employee who has just taken medical leave? The covering employee probably was not excited to have to work that extra shift. While the logistics of employee schedules can be difficult, it can be even more burdensome (and more important) to handle the employee's medical leave appropriately and in accordance with the law. What do hospitality employers need to be mindful of when an employee takes a medical leave? This article discusses some of the strategies and principles that employers can use when medical leave issues arise. READ MORE

In today's increasingly competitive landscape, hotel owners and operators must search for new ways to set themselves apart from their competition. One of the areas that is emerging as a potential game changer is a hotel's restaurant. A quality restaurant with a creative concept and distinctive personality can “captivate” the customer, becoming a profit center by taking on a life of its own and serving a destination for not only the hotel's guests but also for people who live in the local community and are seeking a quality dining experience. READ MORE

Guests are back even if rate is not. New construction in select markets has returned and significant renovations are occurring across all asset types. With each new cycle there is a need to refresh current amenities and at the same time incorporate changes to make amenities relevant and appealing to your guests. One challenge for operators and designers is how to understand how recent lifestyle and demand shifts are driving change. READ MORE

Besides how flavorful a dish is, one very critical aspect of meal design is whether it fills you up. Meal satiety can significantly influence a person's emotional state of mind which in turn can change a guest's opinion of a restaurant or even a hotel. As the hospitality industry is concerned, sensory-specific satiety describes how various foods react differently with the gastrointestinal tract and how you might better induce satiety by incorporating specific ingredients. This extends to the use of organic foods as well as considering the other four senses and how they work to amplify the overall dining experience. READ MORE

'Consolidated Purchasing Power' with food or any other medium suggestions efficiency, savings and economy of scale. If you are in the business of being a chain restaurant offering a standardized menu throughout your operations with consistent menus, and defined dish specifications then the recipe for success can be efficient, quickly successful and generate enormous savings. But what if you are a national hotel ownership / management company operating multiple hotel brands in different geographical regions with varying property sizes, and still looking to drive economy of scale, reduce unit prices and generate the maximum product rebate potential, while at the same time respecting property menu brand standards, regional culinary fashions and requirements, and ultimately stabilizing a consistent food cost margin for the property type? READ MORE

Wine consumption among Americans has been on the rise for 19 straight years. According to the Wine Market Council, about one-quarter of the U.S. adult population is made up of “core” wine drinkers, meaning they drink wine on a consistent weekly or monthly basis. These core drinkers want and expect choices. Six in 10 consumers order wine once a month, or more often, in on-premises locations, such as bars, restaurants, hotels and lounges, according to Technomic's 2013 BarTAB Report. READ MORE

The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) market is one segment that several hotel operators have begun to look at for a variety of reasons. Research has shown that the LGBT market has a host of qualities that make it an extremely appealing customer base: Competition is continually growing. But we're not only competing with the new hotel down the street; we're competing on a global scale with properties in destinations that are actively and aggressively trying to capture a larger share of the travel market. Hotel operators need to constantly be looking at opportunities to drive new business and increase the number of room nights sold. Often these opportunities are focused geographically. For example, many local CVBs and DMOs are working with the hotel industry to invest resources and energies into the emerging markets, such as China and Brazil. But new markets are not restricted to geography. We know that segmentation can happen by a variety of demographic and psycho-graphic methods. We need to look outside of the typical market segments to find new ways to grow business. READ MORE