Why would anyone think about New Year's Resolutions now when it is more than half way through the year? It's simple. It's never too late to start. But just as this is true for yourself, it is also true for your hotel. But do you even make resolutions for your hotel? If you don't, you should. And it isn't too late to start either. If you could turn the calendar back to January 1st, what resolutions would you make for your property? For your staff? For your marketing plans? In a hats- off-to-David Letterman, here are five to give your thinking a fresh mid-year start. READ MORE

Nearly every employer has enforced written policies regulating conduct at the workplace. However, few have taken the time to think about effective and lawful policies that regulate employee behavior after hours and outside the workplace. Today, in the age of social media and smartphones, employees have much greater visibility when they leave work, resulting in increased exposure and potential for harm to an employer's reputation. So, can employers monitor or discipline employees for policy violations that occur when an employee is off-duty and off-premises? READ MORE

In today's fast-paced, overscheduled and hyper-stressed world, it's not easy to find the time to slow down. In the past, activities like a quiet visit to a coffee shop or well-deserved appointment at the spa allowed you to quiet the mind. Not so anymore. The traditional spa experience may not even allow the separation needed to slow down the pace. At day spas everywhere these days, guests are seen carrying their cell phones and iPads and even continuing to use them during their treatments. With this frenetic pace, people are not slowing down enough to ask important spiritual questions: Why am I here? How can I contribute to what is needed in this world? How can I find peace? And one thing is for certain, you aren't going to find the answers to those questions at Starbucks or on your smart phone. READ MORE

Let's be honest and straightforward. Smart Leaders and Companies never compete with another, they support each other, share experiences and goals in order for others to learn from and evolve; because they understand that the benefits of sharing will benefit everyone and increase the abundance within their community. Each of these smart leaders and companies are very well aware of their uniqueness, personality traits, special talents and skills; and by sharing all of these features with others they will create a more wonderful world to live and work in, for everyone. READ MORE

Standards exist everywhere in the world around us. Development of three primary standards used by event planners for meetings and events creates a new bar for hotels which serve as a primary venue for meetings and events. This article aims to increase hotelier's basic knowledge issues addressed in standards - environmental issues (waste, diversion rates, air quality, water conservation) and sociocultural issues (Fair Trade, sustainable wages, and legacy issues). The article identifies “hot buttons” where planners will be looking to hotels for sustainable practices. Finally, nine tips are offered to help hoteliers prioritize sustainable initiatives within the context of their own hotels, customer base, brand, and also their own opportunities. READ MORE

If possible while reading this article, sit with your bare feet directly on the Earth's surface - concrete, dirt, gravel or grass. You will experience what you are reading about, how contact with the Earth's natural healing energy, electrical field, restores your body's natural electrical field. The positive shift you feel is the beginning of process in which your body becomes recharged from the multitude of Earth's electrons when direct contact is made. This is Earthing, a simple, safe and natural healing process that reduces inflammation, improves sleep and energizes the body. READ MORE

We are in the Age of Wellness. The archaic cultures of waste and over-consumption, have given way to a healthier and more holistic mainstream ideology. Corporate social responsibility, sustainability, going-green, and locally grown are just a few phrases that define this era. Virtually every business sector has taken a stance on wellness including automotive, finance and energy. Finally tourism has joined this growing trend. READ MORE

As the wellness movement expands hotels are scrambling to offer a healthy environment to their health and fitness focused guests. Owners and general managers realized years ago that the spa is more than an amenity, but now the market is driving them to further develop their spa and fitness components. The challenge is to combine spa and fitness to create an authentic wellness experience that is true to their hotel brand. READ MORE

In this business, our over-arching focus is often on how well we are serving our guests. Yet, perhaps an equally important question for management to ask is, how well are we serving our employees? Having a healthy and productive staff is an obvious boon to a hotel. Yet, most often health care benefits fall short of providing all employees with options that truly serve their day-to-day wellbeing. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 22.3 million people in the U.S. did not receive medical care in the last year due to cost, and another 15.7 million did not receive much-needed care due to cost. READ MORE

Today's hotel managers face the challenge of growing revenue while simultaneously combatting continuously rising costs. While the hospitality industry has always been vulnerable to short-term impacts from global or regional events, new buying patterns encouraged by Internet booking channels, as well as the costs of using them, continue to be extremely unpredictable. In this increasingly uncertain environment, hoteliers have no choice but to constantly predicting future outcomes and adapt to them as they change. READ MORE

In hospitality, our greatest asset can also be our most powerful threat. The hallmark of every respected hotel has always been its personnel; it's the empathy, the personal touch, the sunny disposition, and the individual commitment to creating a superior guest experience that differentiate a brand and earn customer loyalty. In today's world, customer experiences, both good and bad, can be shared virally in an instant, and the success of every hotel hinges on the delivery of effective customer service. READ MORE

ELLE Magazine's first-ever ELLE Spa, is recognized among the best new spas by Conde Nast Traveler. ELLE is not only an all-inclusive spa, it is also a wellness center equipped with plush amenities, incredible ocean views and offer therapeutic healing massages and body treatments. With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Eden Roc Miami Beach's gardens and ocean, the 30,000 square foot space boasts design and decor inspired by the Mediterranean coastline as well as Miami local artist Paloma Teppa's Plant the Future walls and figurines which lead to the ultimate whimsical spa escape. All who visit are invited to enjoy the custom do-it-yourself scrub bad, an oceanfront fitness center, aqua therapy with Finnish Sauna, Eucalyptus Steam, Hot & Cold Plunges, an expansive relaxation lounge area which includes a fireplace and outdoor spa terrace bar area. READ MORE

Generation Y dominates the ranks of floor staff in hotel restaurants - an area renowned for problems in performance and turnover. This is often attributed to stereotypical characteristics - such as poor work ethic, no interest in the job, inability to remain focused, weak communication skills… Our research into Gen Y however has revealed a balance of contrasting positive values. The key to motivating them is to target aspects of the job that make best use of these attributes. The selling and service of wine is the perfect vehicle. When used in conjunction with the technique of “wine bites” it encourages professionalism and makes for valuable contributions to diner service and F&B profits READ MORE

The world of food is changing. People of all walks of life are starting to become more health-conscious and selective in their meal choices. As demand for healthy food options increases, it presents an opportunity for hotels to become F&B leaders in this area. One such area worth exploring is nutraceuticals - that is, supplements and functional foods that can be added to meals in order to enhance its nutrient content. Incorporating one or more of these augmented foods may be a more practical method of appealing to the wellness-minded crowd because it won't require a complete menu revamp. READ MORE

With the concept of wellness tourism continuing to infiltrate the ideals of travel, it is revolutionizing the psyche and re-creating tourism as we know it and the Wellness industry right along with it. As our society has increased its fascination, interest and necessity for complementary and alternative therapies, where the paradigm shift in healthcare has been slow and combative, the spa industry has exploded. READ MORE