As guests become only more design savvy and active on social media, hotel owners and operators need to stay on top of trends in order to stay competitive. Overall, the trend in hospitality design is toward a new definition of luxury, one that is welcoming, generous, more residential and playful. From decorative lighting with personality to richly textured fabrics, from warm brass and Old World details to a modern take on minimal structure, Ray Chung, Director of Design of The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry provides five new FF&E trends that you really need to know about. READ MORE

Your team works hard to be a go-to destination for travelers. But attracting more visitors also results in increased waste, which impacts your bottom line. When managing your properties’ waste output, how can your team lower your environmental footprint while keeping costs low and efficiencies high? The answer is in the data: taking advantage of the newest technology will help your cost savings—and your sanity. Taking advantage of technology by connecting with the cloud, digging deep with data, improving with the Internet of Things and managing multilocation needs are the key pillars to waste management for the hospitality industry. READ MORE

Most hotel spas don't sell a lot of retail product. In fact, neither do hotels. But with a downward trend in bricks and mortar retail and an upward trend in Wellness, there just might be a new opportunity emerging. Instead of retail being an afterthought, how about taking a Retail First approach? In so doing, you will not only increase your revenues but also go a long way to establishing your hotel as a genuine Lifestyle Brand. The future for hotel and spa retail is now. READ MORE

In today's fast-paced digital world, spas have become a respite from the stresses of everyday life. As wellness vacations increase, resort spas have positioned themselves as the perfect place to unwind and disconnect, even if just for a little while. Every part of the spa experience should be seamless and stress-free, but to complete the wish of the savvy traveler, spas must be the ones to connect in order to allow their customers to disconnect. Spas need the latest technologies and operating systems to function at the highest level so their customers can truly have a worry-free experience. READ MORE

Today's hotel industry is rapidly evolving to meet the needs of a digitized society. These efforts require mobile and global marketing strategies to reach customers at an unprecedented rate. Social media has become the go-to tool to foster visual communication and engagement with target audiences, and marketers can use social media to deliver digestible, consistent, and influential content to potential travelers looking for "Insta-worthy" accommodations. From working with influencers, highlighting service features, and understanding diverse markets, social media gives hotels a platform to distinguish their brand and expand their customer base faster than ever before. READ MORE