How would you rate your spa's service Mojo? Often it is expected that the spa, by its own nature, will organically produce high service levels. However, the intricate guest journey through the spa begs for a better focus on service expectations. Does your spa's service Mojo exemplify the Spa Industry? Is it on the cutting edge of caring for guests so that they can completely and totally relax and feel cared for? READ MORE

Helpful interviewing and information gathering techniques can be vital to inquiries of significance to organizational, individual or other concerns. This article discusses information relating to successful interviewing and information gathering as well as challenges that could detract from attaining important information. Article information can be helpful, encompassing the spectrum of casual conversations to formal investigations; however, before conducting workplace interviews consult appropriate organizational representatives. Further, after reading this article, even if one is uncomfortable conducting interviews, the information provided will help in assessing the qualifications and techniques of those being considered to conduct interviews and gather information. READ MORE

Only a few years ago, hotels offered Wi-Fi as a differentiating perk to attract guests. Now as common as complimentary bars of soap and extra towels, hotel Wi-Fi leaves a lot to be desired, as guests frequently complain about slow data speeds and lack of coverage. As a result, more and more guests are turning to next-generation cellular services like 4G LTE to sate their demand for data, abandoning hotel Wi-Fi altogether. But hotels aren't built to support 4G, meaning that hoteliers are facing potentially substantial upgrades to infrastructure to meet the needs of guests, and won't see a dime in return from cellular carriers. But, is guest satisfaction worth the outlay? READ MORE

There are in my opinion 7 key technology trends that are going to impact on hotels in 2012. The iPad and its popularity as a consumer device is going to fundamentally change the in room guest technology experience. Mobile devices are now part of our everyday life and hotels need to ensure they have the technology for guests to access all there services The time for Cloud Computing whereby systems are hosted off premise has arrived. Social Media - how do hotels harness the power of it? With the fall in phones revenues hosted PBX is the future. Energy Management is increasingly important as the cost of power rises. Lighting and the choice of lights will impact on a hotels power bill. READ MORE

Long gone are the days when wireless Internet was simply a perk for guests using Wi-Fi for email. Today streaming HD video, voice-over-IP (VoIP), wireless gaming consoles and more are competing for that same bandwidth pipe. This presents a tremendous opportunity for hotels to leverage themselves as the tech-savvy choice for the connected guest. Hotel management can leverage wireless, too, with mobile billing and other services to streamline processes. In this article Jason Guest, Account Manager, Aptilo Networks provides an overview of these next-gen services and discusses how to implement and manage a future-proofed network to support advanced services now and in the future. READ MORE

As mentioned in a previous article, prior to the birth of IOS (Apple's operating system), truthfully, we only scratched the surface and played around with implementing Wi-Fi in Hotels. But now, four years later with millions and millions of IOS devices in the hands of millions and millions of our loving guests, this has become the most disruptive of technologies in the modern era. That along with the creation of the smartphone and its Big Brother - the TAB - where there are sales predictions of 153 million units next year, and climbing to 232 million by 2016. This has set loose a tsunami of unparalleled demand - for a strangely invisible service! No wonder CIO's call Wi-Fi a four-letter word. For the sake of repeating myself, today's Hotel Wi-Fi network (and more critically tomorrow's) is one of the principal areas in which your hotel will be judged. READ MORE

Much to the chagrin of property owners, free WiFi has become a guest expectation rather than a perk. Since the free WiFi model was introduced, hotel operators have faced the rapid adoption of bandwidth-hungry mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. Not only do guests expect free WiFi, but they also expect ease of use and constant connectivity, similar to what they experience at home. What was once a means to improve satisfaction and engender loyalty, free WiFi that underperforms can actually have the opposite effect, causing dissatisfaction and frustration with a property that doesn't provide a positive experience. READ MORE

In today's ever increasing 'digital age' the importance of providing a quality High Speed Internet Access system for your guests is more important than ever. The recent huge increase in mobile wi-fi devices has just added a new dimension to the problem. And yet to many hotels this service is seen as cumbersome, expensive non-revenue generating and does not rank highly at senior management level when increasing guest satisfaction is being discussed. This article examines some of the issues facing the hotelier today and suggests a few ways to overcome the problems. READ MORE

Everyone wants to be famous these days. Maybe that explains the rise of reality TV shows. So don¹t you want your hotel to get in on the act and claim your 15 minutes of fame? One way to feature your property is with Digital PR or electronic public relations. Think of Digital PR just like you would regular PR except you are focusing on electronic media rather than print or TV coverage. So the goal is to get your hotel exposure in ezines, email newsletters, blogs and other online outlets rather than just the NY Times. READ MORE

With the world economy better resembling a roller coaster ride, hoteliers need to have an effective pricing strategy to maximise profits, while riding out the ups and downs in the market. Currently transient demand in the US hotel sector is breaking all records, yet subsequent price increases are not keeping pace. Since April 2010 the increase in average daily rates has been growing at half the speed that it dramatically fell, when the full impact of the global financial crisis kicked in September 2008. The European economy is still in turmoil, with daily ups and downs, leaving the direction for the hotel industry hard to predict. If forecasting was easy, all weathermen would be rich. In these erratic and uncertain times, pricing decisions will have one of the biggest impacts on hotel profitability. It is more vital than ever that revenue managers understand industry best practice and the latest supporting technologies to ensure their hotel rooms and services are priced at the right rate regardless of periods of high or low demand. READ MORE

Hotel owners may look to strategies designed to increase bookings, revamped marketing campaigns or cutting expenses in order to grow their business and see more profits. What many hotel owners don't realize is that undiscovered cash flow may exist within their own property, if they know how to find it. The application of a cost segregation study may significantly reduce the hotel owner's tax liability and provide needed cash flow for other business endeavors. READ MORE

Luxury properties are wrought with upscale amenities from lavish architecture and furnishings designed to transform your world, exotic foods and ingredients to satisfy even the most squeamish and discerning palates, rare wines and cocktails procured specifically to take guests on a euphoric journey. Even what you smell, what is in the air, has been carefully selected to entice guests to embrace the full experience and pleasure of what the hotel has to offer. Yet with no expense being spared on providing these amenities; the security and safety for guests often falls short. READ MORE

Reduced occupancies. Apprehensive associates. Concerned creditors. All hallmarks of turbulent economic times and issues that we have each been facing during the past year. As business leaders, we directly affect how well our organizations weather the storm through our interactions with the various constituent groups that we rely on, namely our associates, our guests, and our vendors/capital providers. In people-intensive industries like ours, communication and accountability are inevitably critical to our success, and never is this more important than in today's economic climate. READ MORE

Today's travelers are choosing hotels that inspire them and effectively articulate why their rooms and amenities are 'worth' the price. But hotel listings on travel sites are typically lackluster and undifferentiated with unclear value propositions. The challenge for hoteliers is this: successfully conveying their hotel's unique value on the sites travel shoppers use to research and compare hotels online. Hoteliers can capitalize on their presence on travel websites by applying online merchandising techniques and using visual content to their advantage. READ MORE

From the looks of it, boutique hotels are popping up everywhere you look. This article addresses the pros and cons of the aftermath of the boutique boom and what lessons might be learned as we move through the current paralysis of the credit markets and the daily operational struggle to both preserve rate and maintain occupancy. This compelling article will assist owners and operators, alike as they carefully analyze this niche of the hotel industry, as well as give you a sense of what to look out for if you are considering owing, operating or investing in a boutique hotel. READ MORE