We welcome the Social Media to express what it is like to stay at our hotels. We need to have the media strengthen, extend encouragement, to provide comfort, to build occupancy. We need to learn from each other. Some of you may be seeking answers to questions and challenges you are experiencing in your social media relationships. Some are struggling with disappointments or losses. Each can be enlightened and uplifted and comforted as the media unfolds and shows its value. READ MORE

What if you could promote the one experience that helps travelers shed their recent hurried travel and life experiences so they can relax and positively enjoy all your property has to offer? Simply put; a spa brand that is remarkable and relevant to the hotel/resort's market and clearly executed in operations will attract the hotel's guests, add to their pleasure and build repeat and expanded business for the property. Your spa's brand is the conversation you have with your guests that sparks their interest and sets expectations. It answers these questions: Will your guests trust the spa's promise? Does your spa have what they need? Do they want to do business with your spa? READ MORE

Color is one of those elements in our lives about which we think little - unless we are trying to buy a sweater to match a particular pair of slacks, choose a paint tint from the thousands of chips available at our favorite home improvement store, or working with a designer and architect on a renovation. Color is usually just “there” - in our background. But color is more than just “there” when it comes to hotels and how it can prompt guest behavior. In this article, you learn what artists, designers, and retailers have long known -- the importance of color psychology to marketing. They know that color can dramatically affect moods, feelings, emotions and the perception of time. They know it is a powerful tool to communicate and persuade and that it can even affect brand image. Now, you'll know it too. READ MORE

The International Association of Conference Centers has proven to be an important part of the Millennium Broadway Hotel New York's success in one of America's most competitive meetings market. Dianne Pepe, director of group sales, tells us why. With meeting planners, corporations and association executives increasingly savvy about spending tight budgets on meetings, it's the strong value that an IACC-accredited conference center can offer that Dianne tells us is the key and the Millennium Broadway Hotel New York just happens to be the only accredited hotel and conference center in New York City. READ MORE

Omni Hotels & Resorts chief marketing officer and senior vice president of sales Tom Santora shares insights on the ever-expanding relationship between hoteliers and planners. As an hotelier with 25 years of experience, Santora's insights focus on culinary innovation, customization and tailored technology that meet the needs of clients for an overall attendee experience, reaching beyond the meeting room to make the difference for hotel conferences in 2013. READ MORE

This year's Super Bowl, Olympics and political conventions-all mega events in their own right, have put the spotlight on whether hotels in the host cities were ready to meet the technology needs of the onslaught of tens of thousands of "connected guests". While these events were a boon for those hotels that reaped the business, they also provided a much needed readiness test that hotels around the country can benefit from. Now is the time to assess and determine: Is your current wireless infrastructure sufficient to accommodate changing guest needs and perhaps, the next mega event? READ MORE

It looks like eighty percent of US business and leisure travelers are willing, nay, even anxious, to receive a discount on their room (or from this study, 1000 additional loyalty points) in exchange for not receiving daily housekeeping service. This is the extreme bottom line finding of a survey we conducted of US travelers that stay in hotels. The study was conducted in response to a below-the-radar emerging trend of offering travelers benefits in exchange for foregoing housekeeping. READ MORE

As we approach the 80th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition, the ratification of the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the states' establishment of what is known as the “three-tier system” for the sale and distribution of beverage alcohol, the federal courts and state legislatures continue to grapple with the issues arising from a 21st century industry operating within an early 20th century distribution system. In particular, while the U.S. Supreme Court's 2005 landmark decision in Granholm v. Heald provided substantive directives and substantial guidance concerning the constitutional issues surrounding “direct shipping,” Granholm also spawned controversial legislative initiatives and further litigation addressing its scope and meaning. READ MORE

“Yes” and “no.” If that answer seems to be less than helpful or direct, it's because the question is not as simple as it seems - it raises complex issues that you need to consider carefully before deciding to build, to buy, or to buy and renovate. Some are obvious trends, while others are more subtle nuances. My column examines a variety of the topics that affect a hotel's profitability in today's marketplace. By the time you're done reading, you'll be better able to decide for yourself whether we as hoteliers can ever make money again! READ MORE

In 2011, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP found the meetings sector comprised of two parts: "one portion overlapping the travel and tourism sector and the remaining portion belonging to other sectors of the US economy. Of the $708B of direct tourism output into the U.S., $113 billion (16%) was the result of the meetings industry." So why aren't hotels capturing more of the meeting industry's total $263B impact in the US? In this article, I provide insight into the value that Green Meeting strategies offer, and explain how their implementation can extend traditional service packages and position your property in new markets. READ MORE

Those who know me well know that I love to travel. That's why I'm so keen on helping clients in the hospitality industry create memorable experiences for their guests. I'm fortunate in that I've been to more countries than I can remember, but I have never had the pleasure of visiting Turkey until this summer. Hospitality is one of the cornerstones of Turkish life. The warmth, generosity, and attention to detail leave visitors like myself yearning to return. Here are some lessons direct from Turkey that can be translated easily by hotel providers in any country. READ MORE

Google may have its critics suggesting that it cannot succeed in the social space, that Google+ has not been a success, but the reality is, Google matters to hotels and so does Google+. Google is a focused organization, returning best search results via the most convenient channel and delivery systems available. Make sure you are maximizing your presence through a few, simple steps. READ MORE

Get ready for even more hotel defaults as brands turbocharge the default pipeline by pressuring owners with long overdue product improvement plans. Brands aren't kidding around; they are defending their brand integrity against competitors who are remodeling. And with the instant customer feedback the Trip Advisors are producing, they have to act more quickly than ever. Here's why a PIP is necessary, how to deal with a brand on PIP issues, and what could happen if you don't. Remember—brands aren't evil—it's the outdated amenities that will dry up the customers and the cash flow. READ MORE

Everyone can agree that the job of the revenue manager has fundamentally changed over the past few years. As revenue management has demonstrated success and gained visibility, revenue managers are taking on a much more strategic role within the organization. Many revenue managers these days have the sneaking suspicion that their revenue management solutions are no longer providing optimal recommendations. READ MORE

Given that we now live and work in the most complex society one could ever imagine, where predictability has become perhaps the first casualty of the new century, it is difficult to know precisely what is next. Based on emerging evidence, that some call trends, however, we can extrapolate some likely scenarios. I've picked five trends that I think will materially impact and perhaps alter the meeting planner and hotelier relationship once again. Here are my five key trends to watch. READ MORE