Manchester Pride, in Manchester, England, is a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender life. Annually, the 10-day festival draws thousands of gay and lesbian tourists from England, Europe and around the globe. Gay tourists come for parties, live music, a parade and a candlelit vigil. Manchester Pride raises more than lb100,000 for HIV/AIDS charities. During Manchester Pride 2009 in August, I interviewed Graham Bradford, Regional General Manager, Malmaison Hotels, Great Britain. Mr. Bradford is responsible for the Malmaison Hotels in Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool, England to discuss his views on how gay and lesbian tourism can build room and food and beverage revenues. READ MORE

Spa Benchmarking is one of the “hottest” topics in the spa and hospitality industries. It is a relatively new discipline; therefore, it is filled with challenges and opportunities. While spa benchmarking studies are very much needed, not all studies are useful... some can actually be quite damaging and harmful. There are too many studies that lack credibility, integrity, quality and reliability, yet they receive significant press coverage. Poor information, conclusions and recommendations can be very detrimental when a spa relies on this information to make operational, personnel, marketing and investment decisions. READ MORE

Hotels and spas share many attributes, perhaps none more salient than that both are in the service industry. Whether we're selling rooms for the night or massages for the hour, what differentiates one service provider from the next is the overall guest experience. Frontline employees shape guests' perceptions and make the difference between a "Wow!" experience and just an average one. READ MORE

In today's tough economy, customer value and quality service are everything in the luxury resort category. As the industry wades deeper into an uncertain 2009, some fractional resort and luxury hotel developers and operators look startlingly like deer caught in the headlights -- paralyzed by doom-and-gloom news and declining sales reports. Yet high-end property owners and mangers should know that luxury is, and always has been, a cyclical business. So as we wait out this market downturn, let's not hastily cut concierge programs and guest service personnel in a panic to balance the books. READ MORE

For an industry that survives on providing their guests with optimal customer service it always amazes me to see the lack of emphasis placed in the hotel fitness center both in terms of proper planning and the maintaining of the facility. What is even more shocking is seeing neglect in facilities that, at one time, were a proud amenity and focal point of the hotel. The only rationalization I can make for this oversight is the inability of management to both budget and approve the funds needed to maintain these fitness centers. READ MORE

Is the unstable economy throwing shadows over your sunny vacation destinations or business travel hot spots? The current economic climate is undoubtedly influencing the way you do business and like many, you likely are looking for places to cut back. Marketing may seem like the best place to get started, but in tough economic times it is more important that ever to keep the lines of communication open on all fronts. READ MORE

Surely, you know what your company's mission statement is. But, do you have a green mission statement? Sitting down and working through all of the possible intentions and outcomes of a green mission is the first step to setting a green strategy that is authentic. What are you looking to accomplish? Who are you trying to engage with your green message? What does green mean to your company today? What will it mean in 5 years? Use this mission as your "roadmap" to the greening of your company. It will provide an anchor that will keep you on track with your goals - if followed; it will literally show the way as you live your new mission. READ MORE

According to Smith Travel Research, “The outlook for 2010 looks slightly better than 2009, but the industry still is expected to end 2010 with decreases in all three key metrics. Occupancy is projected to end 2010 with a 0.6-percent decrease, ADR is forecasted to end the year with a 3.4-percent decrease, and RevPAR is expected to end with a 4.0-percent decline.” Although this outlook is less than optimistic, there are strategies that can be implemented to turn your business around regardless of your base of business. This article will address the key components to put your property(s) on the path to success in this new economy and maintain success regardless of market conditions. READ MORE

When it comes time for hotel owners to sell their businesses, they'll often rush to make improvements to make their establishments more appealing to buyers. While it is sometimes possible to make "quick fixes" to make a business more appealing to buyers, the hotel owners who have the greatest success selling are the ones who have taken the necessary steps to improve their businesses all along the way. In this article I discuss five important questions hotel owners should ask themselves - whether planning to sell soon or much later down the road - to ensure their business is fit for sale. READ MORE

While some signs of economic stabilization have started to emerge, many hotel workers are still handling heavier workloads due to downsized staff levels - a stressful situation that can result in worker burnout. As a hotel leader, it's essential to closely monitor your staff and make an effort to reduce burnout and promote healthy work/life balance. This article offers five solutions to help your hotel workers manage these challenging times, so that they can keep stress levels low and productivity high. READ MORE

Fractional ownerships have emerged as the hot new trend in the hospitality industry. Fractional ownerships enable multiple individuals to own a specific piece of real estate in common, with each holding a deed for an undivided share in the property that may be bought, sold, traded, or bequeathed like any other real estate asset. In addition, much like a timeshare, each interest entitles its owner to possession of real estate for a certain amount of time each year. However, in timeshares, the "owner" typically purchases only a contractual right to occupancy, not an interest in real property. Thus, the critical difference between the two concepts is in the nature of the investment. READ MORE

The trend over the past few years has been for more colleges and universities to add lodging products to their campus community. Some of these are single use facilities dedicated to executive education and weekend MBAs. Many are mixed use facilities that cater to all of the university departments and administration. Many of the departments on campus will have lodging and meeting needs. It is intended that these facilities serve as the front door and the living room of the campus. One of the keys to the success of these lodging facilities is that the operator fully embraces the philosophy and mission of the campus. READ MORE

When President Obama was elected in 2008, it was with the promise that the new administration would take long-awaited steps toward regulating greenhouse gas emissions. They delivered, and didn't delay in introducing the Climate Bill, a document that if passed into law will change the way that America does business. This article discusses the opportunities all businesses will have in the not so distant future, and how to make the most of them. READ MORE

Hotel closings are hitting record levels, but for all the right reasons! Unlike closings caused by the "great real estate depression" of the early 1990s, hotels are closing today in record numbers for major rehab and construction projects, conversions to condo hotel or residential condos, and expansion. The robust recovery in the hotel industry has brought plenty of business and leisure travelers willing to pay for a better hotel experience, or wanting to get in on the condo hotel boom. Hotel developers and owners increasingly find that construction is so extensive that it is advisable to close the hotel while the work is being performed. READ MORE

Going green is not a trend... it has a life of its own that continues to grow and gain momentum. This phenomenon is becoming so prevalent that people are moving away from the term "green" and have embraced the larger concept of "sustainability" because it better describes the long-term and on-going evolution and revolution of personal, cultural, economic, environmental and global well-being. As more and more individuals and corporations are engaging in the sustainability culture, it is important to see how well-aligned this is with the spa revolution of the past 10 - 15 years. Spas went from being trendy to being on-trend; from being a luxury to a necessity; from elite to main street; from loss-leaders to profit-makers. Substitute the word "sustainability" for "spa" and you will see the similarities and synergies. READ MORE