The facts of the Turnberry Case are more like something we'd see in a James Bond movie than in real life. But then again, fact is stranger than fiction. In real life can a hotel manager be ousted from a hotel without notice and cure - even with a carefully crafted hotel management agreement in place? READ MORE

Guest safety and security are not the sole responsibility of a property's security or risk management team. Every hotel employee plays a role in maintaining the security of the property and its guests. Therefore, training in basic security awareness and response is a necessary component of every employee's orientation and continued training, no matter what department they work in. Security training issues to be covered include protecting guests' information and assets, recognizing and reporting unsafe conditions, fire prevention, and anti-terrorism awareness. READ MORE

Good news for hotels: they need not sacrifice hospitality to security. Whether a property is established or in the early stages of planning, its design can achieve both attractive and functional security features. Such features can facilitate the operations and technology of a well trained, coordinated security team at the same time that they provide guests with pleasant, inviting visuals. READ MORE

Hotel Executives are not expected to be insurers of guests' safety and security; however they do have a legal duty to provide reasonable measures for their protection. Decisions about security staffing or physical security measures should not be based solely on cost implications or occupancy levels, but instead should be based on a risk assessment that determines both the threats to the hotel and the vulnerabilities of the hotel. Only after knowing what the risks to the hotel are should mitigation measures be put in place. Mitigation measures need not be all encompassing, but instead may start with simple solutions and escalate as necessary. READ MORE

If you think being the General Manager of a hotel on land is challenging, imagine being a GM on a cruise ship where you are “on duty” almost 24/7, where your crew of thousands to take care of hundreds, sometimes over a thousand guests, is composed of mostly young people from all over the world---who also work long hours. Not only that but your front-line staff speaks several different (non-English) languages and worships in a handful of faiths! And on top of all that, your guest population is very demanding and highly discriminating. Learn how these hotel managers engage their employees on many levels and in many ways. READ MORE

Issues relating to discounting and value are brought to the fore by the sudden popularity of “social coupons,” which are activated when a group of people accept a particular promotion. The social coupons typically involve a steep discount, which challenges businesses to create promotions that do not lose money. Although studies have found that the social coupons do bring in additional business, they also raise the specter of cannibalizing existing sales. Instead of deep discounts, hospitality operators might better find ways to add value to existing services, especially since research has shown that the amount of the discount is less important than the fact that the business is offering a “deal.” READ MORE

The thing that has changed most in the hotel business over the past decade is the amazing proliferation of product choices in virtually every segment imaginable - from design of the public spaces into "community" areas to the services available from the concierge. In this article, you'll read about how identifying your property's top attribute will help you set your hotel apart from its competition. READ MORE

Since the launch of S&H Green Stamps in the 1930's, loyalty marketing has blossomed into a $4 billion industry. And while the traditional collect now/redeem later points scheme had proven effective for years, social media and new technologies have made it well within the capability of marketers to use data intelligently to build strong customers relationships and gain a long-term sustainable advantage. READ MORE

Food professionals are known to be creative and innovative and have incorporated the latest food trends into their menus. Trends change similar to fashion and sometimes after a short period of time, a probably much longer lasting movement can be seen making its way into menus and contemporary food offerings of all kinds and levels: the interaction between food, nutrition and health. READ MORE

As a result of extensive research and consultation with Clarion franchisees, Choice Hotels International has embarked upon a 3-year strategy to reposition Clarion as a “focused service” hotel for the midscale “gatherings” market. What is focused service? A more targeted, streamlined and efficient way to meet the on-site food and beverage needs of today's corporate and group hotel guests. It means eschewing the old fashioned definition of “restaurant” as a traditional sit-down, three-meal facility, and focusing on more flexible ways to meet guest needs for convenient meals. This could include basic menu offerings provided in a multi-use space. READ MORE

One of the most crucial, and perhaps overlooked, strategic components is the understanding trends in the local restaurant scene and more broadly. There needs to be a savvy understanding of which trends will be a flash in the pan and which are long term and appropriate for a hotel. In addition to having a finger on the pulse of the restaurant world, the following are ten top strategies I believe hotel chefs can employ to compete and win. READ MORE

Customers, brands and markets are constantly evolving and changing and how you evaluate and react to these dynamics within the parameters of your own investment discipline can position you for some tremendous upside as our industry's performance improves. READ MORE

In the hospitality industry, the most important and vital investment you can make is your investment on your people. Your people are the lifeline of the hotel, keeping thing moving and working correctly. Steven Belmonte believes that by nurturing, mentoring, and encouraging them you are ensuring not only their success, but are ensuring the success of your hotel. It's important to remember how you got started in the industry and to remember what a difference it made in your life when someone took you under their wing, believed in you, and gave you the necessary tools to succeed in this business. Now it's your turn to give back. READ MORE

ADA compliance changes are coming; most businesses are already aware of this fact and have at least started talking about how it will affect them. The question is - how painful and complicated will this process be? Compliance changes are inevitable, they can be daunting and overwhelming or with a few simple steps and some professional advice they can be manageable. With nearly a quarter of the U.S. population looking for accessible places to stay or vacation - the hospitality industry can greatly benefit from being ADA compliant. So where do you start? Do you have a plan? What do these changes look like? Do you need some help understanding the ADA compliance changes? READ MORE

The rise of user-generated content is one of the most disruptive forces in hospitality since hotels moved their marketing materials and booking engines to the Web. Why? User-generated content is the great equalizer of marketing. It allows consumers, not brands or properties, to own the reputation of a hotel. It allows boutique hotels with small marketing budgets to compete against large chain hotels with lavish loyalty programs. It allows great service and quality to drive marketing through consumer reviews. READ MORE