With the growing popularity of consumer-generated media and review sites, it is critical for hotels to have a strong presence on the top review sites. Good reviews can create a solid foundation for future bookings, while too many negative reviews can lead to the demise of the hotels future booking potential. Up to 70% of global consumers say that online consumer reviews are the second-most trusted form of advertising. An additional 46% of travelers post hotel reviews after their vacations. There are strategies that can be implemented to take a proactive approach to receive more positive reviews and actions that need to be taken to mitigate the backlash from any negative reviews and to restore the hotels good reputation. READ MORE

As an increasingly globalized and interconnected world economy continues to emerge and as United States companies continue to expand abroad, what constitutes legally acceptable business practices in the U.S. is often in direct conflict with incongruent foreign business practices and customs. These issues are especially prominent when they concern dealings between U.S. companies operating abroad and foreign officials who act as the gatekeepers to market entrance. Given these complexities, the question then becomes what is a multinational hotel company supposed to do when foreign officials are open and even welcome bribery as an acceptable facet of business or in a country where gift giving, even to foreign officials, is culturally acceptable and expected? READ MORE

If asked to define your "Circle of Trust" you would likely come back with a select handful of your closest combination of family and friends. People who you probably consider your confidants. If you are a hotelier your "Circle of Trust" is growing by the minute. They are everywhere; omnipresent. Never mind a handful; it could be a stadium full. There is never a down moment; when one stops talking about you, the next one starts. Who are these people? What are they saying? Why are they in your "Circle of Trust," a group that is traditionally defined as a much more intimate crew? We'll take a look at this ever expanding circle, the new definition of it and how to keep this circle working for your property to drive positivity and revenue. READ MORE

Years ago, there was a movie in which someone leaned out of a window and yelled: “I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!” When it comes to information about themselves, a similar scenario can be applied to today's hotel guests. So what does this mean to your marketing plans? It means that people are increasingly taking ownership of their personal information, forcing management to rethink their approach to gathering market statistics. Historically, guest data has been something that hotels have obtained as a byproduct of their transactions with them. But the days of a so-called free lunch are over. In this article, you'll see how Big Data, Analytics, and Exabytes will be increasingly important elements in your hotel's marketing strategies. READ MORE

We're all looking for an edge. In the ever-competitive environment in which we operate, it's one of the never changing business constants….find the “edge”! Whether competing for corporate, leisure, government or the increasingly sophisticated segment of “group” finding that edge in the piranha pool of a hotel's competitive set is never easy. Hitching your wagon to a big brand family and the theoretical catnip of the loyalty program is thought to be a business necessity in most every domestic market where corporate and group business fuel a property's financial vitality. READ MORE

International travelers based in the People's Republic of China have heretofore ventured forth exclusively as members of tour groups. This paradigm will gradually be altered as an increasing number of Chinese travelers set their own itineraries and travel independently. A profile of these travelers' preferences depicts a sophisticated set of travelers who seek to gain the most from their trip. Although they appreciate the touches of home (such as the availability of tea service and Chinese-speaking staff), they are motivated to learn and experience as much as possible about the destination. Thus, they place a premium on time and efficiency. READ MORE

Travel and travel security standards have changed tremendously in the past several years. People travel more, visit more remote destinations, and yet they expect a higher level of safety than ever before. This need for security is especially prevalent in group business. When planning an event, meeting and event planners need to consider myriad security aspects - ranging from personal travel safety to a destination's security status and more. In this article, Paulo Salvador, Worldhotels' Global Vice President Marketing and Sales, identifies trends and key security standards for group business and gives insight into how Worldhotels ensures these standards. READ MORE

The conference and events division and the often-associated group business play a key role in operating a successful hotel, and the evolution of this segment is critical to develop both market share and yield. The segment also contributes profit to a number of revenue centers within the business. READ MORE

There are no federal or state laws that require you to offer occupational training to your employees, but by law, employers have a responsibility for the safety and health of all employees. Providing a safe work environment includes the obligation to provide safety training specific to an employee's job duties and potential workplace hazards. In many of the hotels we work with, employee training is often forgotten about because there just is not enough time. If you are already allocating time and resources to required safety training, it won't take much effort to add concise water conservation training to your repertoire. READ MORE

For decades, hospitality has taken a backseat to other industries when it comes to advancements in technology. Now the industry is about a decade behind in its use of analytics and Big Data to create impactful innovation that lead to new levels of revenue and profit. This problem will only get worse as it becomes almost impossible to lure analytical talent to the hotel industry. Introducing the solution - the Hotel Data Scientist profession. READ MORE

Not long ago hotels could survive without producing content, but over the last several years, hotels had to engage in and play in the marketing space of social media, online public relations, blogger relations, and article and email campaigns. Hotels have had to become even more active in digital marketing, and even that has changed tremendously in the course of a few years. The onslaught of information for customers has now forced businesses to have to become even more creative, more engaging and entertaining. Hotels have had to fight for their brand and engage with the empowered and entitled customer. READ MORE

In the age of digital RFP's, face time with prospective clients has significantly decreased. Planners want to do business with people they know and trust, yet have limited availability to foster these relationships with their suppliers. The importance of face-to-face exchanges cannot be underestimated. An amazing amount of communication, up to 93%, is done outside of spoken words. Body gestures and tones, which cannot be seen or heard over the phone and through email respectively, play a very important role in the overall conversation. Research for “The Future of Meetings” revealed that networks and relationships were easier to build and ultimately stronger when forged in person. READ MORE

Sustainability has come to mean more than just protecting the environment and our natural resources within it. It often now refers to what is called “people, profit, planet”, or the triple bottom line. Community involvement is part of that triple bottom line. It's the “people” in “people, profit, and planet” and may take on many forms. It may include raising money for local charities, organizing clean-up days for local parks or beaches, volunteering for a local Habitat for Humanity project, or simply educating locals and guests about sustainability in general. This article discusses how hoteliers can become involved in their communities, and why it is important for them to do so. READ MORE

Playing the part of a trusted housekeeper in a English countryside manor in the 1930s in the 2001 feature film, Gosford Park, Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren notably observed that she “had the gift of anticipation” when it came to knowing what her guests wanted, sometimes even before they, themselves, did. READ MORE

The technology trend today is mobile event apps. Planners want to pitch their notebooks, and attendees realize the paper meeting guide is already outdated. While most of us have used conference apps, few of us have probably ever glanced at the behind-the-scenes costs and requirements. This article summarizes the growth trends, what features attendees want, the content management challenge, and how hotels can assist meeting planners and their group business with event app content. READ MORE