In a world of extremes the hotel executive isn't immune regardless of the city or state they are located. As nightly news broadcasts provide the details of the latest flood or hurricane, terrorist threat, cyber attack or deadly food alert, the hotel executive must anticipate and plan for the unthinkable. Why, because it may unfortunately become a reality at the property or because the guests that are now checking into your hotel have just barely escaped with their lives, while losing all their worldly possession in their personal disaster. READ MORE

Over the years, Hoteliers have provided value to the luxury traveler via various amenities -- from thirsty bath robes and opulent spa escapes -- to bespoke mini-bars, personal butlers and the latest in technology at one's fingertips. These however, have become industry standards at high end properties across the globe and for the guest whom the dollar amount is not a question, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua augments world-renowned service with island-savvy and innovative approaches, offering both tangible and intangible added-value for our guests. READ MORE

As the weather outside turns colder and flakes of snow begin to fall, hoteliers of winter resort destinations may be wondering how to meet their staffing needs. Since it is not always possible to hire only U.S. citizens, human resource personnel may be required to look outside of our borders. One simple solution is the Trade NAFTA (TN) visa which allows our North American neighbors to work legally here with very little effort. This category is similar to the "H-1B Specialty Occupation" nonimmigrant category, except that there is no numerical limit on how many individuals can come here to work, there is no limit on their stay, and generally, the TN category covers a broader range of professional occupations. READ MORE

Green design is sexy. Green design is smart. It translates into luxurious design, be it ultra contemporary, high style or traditional and no longer means compromise. It transcends all styles and does not have to be raw, unrefined or primitive. It is about the careful, selective process and application of sustainable practices, concepts and materials, achieving sophisticated designs that are beneficial to the client, the community, and the environment. In this article we highlight 5 must-have trends that will wow your guests, generate distinctive style and drive long term investment returns. READ MORE

Hotels are now faced with a myriad of sales channels. Add online travel agencies (OTAs) to flesh-and-blood agents, an individual hotel website to the direct channel (which was dominated by phone bookings, pre-internet) and third-party room aggregators to global distribution systems, and you have a daunting range of available avenues for room sales. Today, the unquestioned growth leader among these channels is online. Clearly, the current size and future potential of this channel demands an innovative pricing strategy to match it. So how does your pricing strategy measure up? READ MORE

This article identifies some of the risks that Hotel owners and operators face, and provides a guideline for Hotel Owners and operators to utilize various security measures to assist in identifying, preparing for and mitigating risk. Hotels and specifically hoteliers have been providing lodging and other hospitality services for guests for centuries. From humble beginnings as rests for pilgrims and other travelers to the gleaming mega structures that abound today, the most respected hoteliers provide not only comfort but one of the most important basic needs-safety. READ MORE

Hotels face a universal challenge: how to manage security without encroaching on guests' privacy and experience. Hoteliers need to artfully juggle providing discreet security for their guests while ensuring that their stays are pleasurable. Due to their open-access nature, hotels present significant challenges to the management and security team. New York security professional, Craig Schwab's article titled, "Access Control: Best Practices for After-Hours Operation" features tips for hotel management to implement as part of their business operations to ensure the safety and security of their guests, staff and visitors. READ MORE

How often can we change an existing operational expense, into a cost saving enterprise? The security department is an often overlooked source of substantial expense reduction. It may pay for you to perform a cost-benefit analysis of security operations considering all related losses suffered across your business models. In this analysis, the associated insurance, legal, contractual and regulatory costs affected by these losses should be factored. The impact of negative press reports and its brand tarnishing effects can be quantified in lost revenue due to shifting customer loyalty as well. READ MORE

Over the last several years, hotel security monitoring systems have evolved into useful tools that enhance overall safety and security. CCTV systems are of crucial importance when it comes to maintaining a secure property and providing safety for guests. New digital technology, such as high-definition and larger digital storage options have changed the way this technology can be used in these monitoring systems. READ MORE

Guest safety is a top concern in hotels but inadequate lighting or landscaping that can conceal perpetrators can reduce guest safety and increase hotel liability risks. This article points out some of the more common failings in lighting and landscaping designs and provides suggestions on improving security. It addresses lighting around the perimeter of hotel properties and especially parking lots and addresses the difficulties in providing attractive landscaping with good security. READ MORE

There is no doubt that electronic couponing, or e-couponing, has changed the face of how we buy and sell goods and services. As with social media before it, hoteliers are finding - often through trial and error - how to use this channel to meet occupancy goals, increase brand awareness and benefit the bottom line. On paper, the benefits seem to be endless - e-couponing can increase how many people come through your doors, gets your hotel's name out in the population, provides a boost in low demand periods and engages a new community of guests with this targeted channel. However, it's important to realize that the benefits being waved in the faces of hoteliers from e-coupon providers come with real risks and challenges. READ MORE

What will be changing the hospitality business? How can we create effective business strategies? We all agree that running a business today is more complicated and requires more resources (financial, human, technological, etc.) than in the past. Have we ever asked ourselves why and what exactly it is that has really changed? The feedback that we receive from senior managers of international hotel corporations during think tanks and interactive workshops is always the same: "Everything is changing!"But what are the elements representing this “change”? READ MORE

Savvy Lodging Managers are actively pursuing the ways and means of greater efficacy in “gaining and retaining” customers. This article presents a helpful overview of how the savviest among us are methodically gaining insight into customer needs and then directly employing targeted value-propositions to meet those needs. The name for these activities is, of course, Customer Relationship Management or CRM. It takes both focus and technology to consolidate, automate, and synchronize business processes that help acquire, develop and retain customers. This article is geared to lodging managers who want to be more competitive and successful in the battle for bookings from today's travel consumer. READ MORE

The lodging industry has had many challenges over the past few years, but as of October 1, it can breathe a collective sigh of relief as the new debit card “swipe fees” go into effect, lowering burdensome fees charged every time a customer uses their debit card to pay for a room or other hotel services. Although these new rules can bring significant cost savings for hoteliers, it will not happen automatically. Some payments processors are hoping that the Durbin Amendment, which changed the interchange fees, will put extra money in their pockets instead of their customers. Hoteliers must educate themselves to ensure they are getting the savings they are due. READ MORE

Many revenue management professionals struggle when it comes to measuring and articulating the impact of their initiatives to senior management. Industry professionals should spend time considering the methods they use to measure the impact revenue management is having on their hotel so that steps can be undertaken to provide a compelling value proposition. In order to be truly effective in the job, revenue managers need to understand that devising, implementing and agreeing on “what success looks like”, in many cases, is as important as the activities themselves, and will ultimately go a long way towards supporting their success story. READ MORE