Hoteliers need to be equipped with the most up-to-date and cost-effective business solutions available. Finding the right technology partner can be like finding a needle in a haystack, so it's important that hoteliers come equipped to get the most of out of their investments. Especially for management companies balancing numerous properties, switching to an outsourced business model can make all the difference. For hoteliers looking to cut-costs and streamline their portfolios back-office operations, outsourcing hotel accounting can help tighten up loose ends and improve your management company's financial health. With so many technology solutions available, it's important to know your options and how they can best help your company. READ MORE

Selecting a skincare line is one of the most important strategic decisions you can make for your spa, as this long-term partnership carries a significant investment of time and financial resources. Failure to choose wisely can impact your brand, alienate clientele, and damage the trust of your staff. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the Personal Care, Beauty, and Anti-aging Industry is valued at $1,083B and growing. With more skincare lines introduced every day, there is a massive increase in marketing noise and false claims. This article will help you narrow down your options and find the best choice for your spa. READ MORE

Artificial intelligence undoubtedly is the wave of the future, powered by recent dramatic advances in computer capabilities. Millennials and Generation Z consumers have eagerly embraced the new technology in the sales and marketing of hotels, while members of earlier generations may be less enthusiastic, preferring a more traditional, face-to-face, hands-on approach. When it comes to such advances in A.I. as chatbots, personal guest histories and robotic concierges, is there a way to bridge this ambivalence that works for every segment of the traveling public? READ MORE

For most hoteliers, the hotel website is the hub of their digital marketing machine. It is the crucial last point of contact the hotel has with its guest before a booking is made...or lost. Building a fast, modern, user-friendly website and then marketing that website using appropriate digital marketing channels are important first steps in driving qualified visitors to the site and encouraging direct bookings. But there is still more to do to fully optimize the site: By providing a more customized viewing experience for website visitors, dynamic content and personalization can significantly improve conversion rates and lower customer acquisition costs for hotels. READ MORE

Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas strives to protect the environment and educate guests about its importance, all while providing world-class service in a paradisiacal setting. Travelers are getting savvier and are taking into consideration their carbon footprint while booking their vacation and even business trips. They are also thinking about the impact they have on the local community with over tourism becoming an important global issue. Cala Luna is proud to hold the highest Sustainable Tourism certification (level five) from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute. Their sustainability efforts include solar energy, sustainably-farmed produce, bamboo straws, beach cleanups, and more. READ MORE

The coronavirus pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on the hospitality industry. Designers and Architects will be challenged to find ways to make guests feel comfortable, safe and free from exposure to pathogens, while at the same time creating an invigorating and meaningful hospitality experience. The new normal in hotel design will need to use touchless technology to overcome the inherent danger of virus spreading from potentially infected surfaces to guests and hotel staff. Advancements in smart phone applications, facial recognition, voice commands, motion detection, heat sensors and virtual reality will be employed to create an enduring sense of safety in the hospitality environment. READ MORE

Sustainability is more than a buzz word; it is one of the most important issues currently facing our world. For hotels, it's doubly important because of its significant impact on the business' reputation and bottom line. This is why savvy hoteliers have turned their focus on making improvements to conserve energy and water. Sadly, towel & linen reuse programs have become so ubiquitous in hospitality that it has lost its meaning –or worse, it has gained a bad rap among clients don't understand them, see them as a marketing ploy or aren't informed enough about its underlying environmental cause. Do these programs really make a difference? Can they be done better? READ MORE

The most effective decisions regarding sustainability in a building facility are made in the early design and pre-construction stages. Traditional Computer Aided Design (CAD) planning environments, do not support the possibility of such early decisions. Energy and performance analysis are typically conducted, if at all, after the architectural design and construction documents have been produced. This lack of integration into the design process leads to an inefficient process of retroactively modifying the design to achieve a set of performance criteria. In order to assess building performance in the early design and pre-construction phases realistically, access to a comprehensive set of information regarding a building's form, materials, context, and technical systems is required. READ MORE

Hotels that set ambitious sustainability goals must address unique infrastructure, operations, and purchasing challenges, often without a road map. Those that succeed find the effort is worthwhile, enjoying water, energy and cost savings, increases in corporate bookings, and higher staff morale. But to get there, staff report the need for technical training, access to local networks, and support systems for solving problems. Where to begin? In an interview with eco-certifier Green Seal, the Fairmont Chicago's Colleen Sweitzer offers a firsthand account from a property that has reaped significant business benefits from its sustainability achievements. READ MORE

Hoteliers tasked with addressing risk management for both day-to-day operations of the hotel and for on-site restaurants have plenty to consider. Risk management for restaurants and bars is complex in its own right. For these businesses located on a hotel's premises, the risks are only amplified. Heidi Strommen, President of ProHost USA, a division of Distinguished Programs, examines the typical risks found in bars and restaurants, steps that can be taken to mitigate these risks and who is responsible for claims when an on-site restaurant and bar is a tenant of a hotel, rather than part of the hotel entity. READ MORE

The hotel lobby has served the same basic purposes for hundreds of years: sustenance, socializing, and doing business. What has changed over time is the way we do all three. With recent technology strides, today's hotel lobby is transforming, and perhaps not in the way you might think. Travelers are forgoing the grand formality of the former heart of the hotel in exchange for something that feels like home. As we look back through time, we can see how innovation has shaped the evolution of the hotel lobby. Better yet, we can start to think about how it will continue to morph into the future. READ MORE

Chef Cristian Rebolledo of The Harbor Club has worked alongside some of the world's most renowned chefs and at leading luxury properties in many destinations. With his thumb on the pulse of the hotel food & beverage industry, Chef Rebolledo shares an overview of some trends to watch for as the industry continues to play a leading role in the culinary world. From cross cultural fusions to purpose driven dining, he provides insights on how the hospitality industry continues to evolve its culinary offerings to attract visitors by catering to their lifestyles. READ MORE

Guestroom unavailability is the dirge of owner/operators during hotel renovation. How quickly can rooms be put back online is the defining issue of renovation success. As the industry becomes more complex it is imperative, to ensure such success, that all project stakeholders (Client, Designer, Architect and the GC) take an active role in design. Design Assist framed within the world of Virtual Construction as opposed to competitive "Hard Bid" pricing allows for better teamwork, and opportunities for enhanced project management. In this article we explore how Design Assist works as an effective solution for all involved. READ MORE

Thinking about the direct link between travel and environmental awareness can sometimes be a complex issue, given that there is little understanding of the impact of travel and the opportunities for tourists to leave a positive impact on destinations, although these opportunities are on the rise, they are minimal. This article explains a concrete and applicable example from the perspective of hospitality and how to travel sustainably, while generating environmental and social benefits. READ MORE

When I began this article on climate change resiliency practices it was not with the expectation of finishing it under a "stay in place" order with hotels and restaurants closed, parks and beaches cordoned off and overnight curfews. Today as I look out over a view of Miami Beach, all hotels are closed. In the downtown and airport areas of Miami some hotels are open, classed as essential. Tourism attractions are closed and six very large cruise ships are tied up to the docks in the Port of Miami. Whether land bound or floating, Miami's hotel and cruise industry has come to a halt with a huge question mark about when they may again open their doors and set sail. READ MORE