Before there were personal computers, the typical family in the U.S. sat around the dining table every night, chowing down together. With the advent of TV dinners in the late 50s and 60s, families still ate together, but they were glued to their favorite shows instead of involved in close conversation. Then along came all the fast food chains, enticing families away from the home-cooked meal. The eating-out habit took hold in the American consciousness, escalating over the years until now, for the first time ever, Americans actually spend more on eating out than they do on meals at home. READ MORE

Critical to the success of any hotel and as important as friendly attentive service and comfortable sleeping arrangements is food & beverage. That includes dinner of course but let's not forget to mention breakfast, lunch, snacks and late night fare as well. Many years of experience in the hospitality industry tells me that the food & beverage portfolio of any hotel is a hugely important part of guest satisfaction and continued loyalty to your brand. In the midst of a culinary renaissance today everyone can benefit – guest and operator alike. This article will examine consumer demand for delicious healthy dining and operators need to be mindful of ever changing gastronomic trends. READ MORE

Millennials have become the fastest growing consumer segment in the hospitality industry. They have also become one of the most discerning audiences, demanding authenticity, connection and social responsibility from the brands they invest in. Hospitality brands must now look at the entirety of their mix of products from the design aspects of their properties to how they are creating guest engagement and entertainment in order to attract new customers and keep current ones loyal. Scott Acton, CEO and founder of Forte Specialty Contractors breaks down how to design F&B for this new generation to create long-term loyalty. READ MORE

The recruiting process can be very difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Recruiters that leverage successful approaches from other areas of a hotel, such as marketing and sales, can generate value for the industry by limiting the amount of time that roles go unfilled and finding stronger candidates. The easiest way to get the most out of the hiring process is to be thorough and never stop recruiting. In this article we take a look at 4 key ingredients that ensure a maximum return on your recruitment investment. If you employ these techniques in your hiring process you can be guaranteed to bring in stronger employees. READ MORE

The events of the last 12 months – from the Las Vegas massacre to large-scale point-of-sale (POS) attacks to the #MeToo movement – have dramatically changed the risk landscape for hotels. Industry leaders are increasing guest-staff interaction, revamping longstanding “do not disturb” policies, ramping up to fight cyberattacks and phishing, bolstering employee safety training, and even providing panic buttons to housekeepers to prevent sexual assault. We’ll take a deep dive into three key risk areas – guest security, data security and employee safety – and identify interventions that all hotel owners and operators should make during these changing times. READ MORE