Hotels brands have actively engaged in large-scale efforts to become more environmentally friendly. Individual hotels have made great strides on property. Many significant large-scale eco-initiatives are most easily built initially into the infrastructure and design of the building and surrounding areas. Given that the adaptation of these large-scale changes into the existing asset base is expensive and disruptive, hotels seek different ways to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. One way is to shift the focus from large-scale change to "small wins." Small wins can help a hotel create a culture of sustainability. READ MORE

As an industry we could add more sustainability to our benchmarking, as we benchmark the comp set for other hotel amenity and service attributes. Thus, our quest for hotel sustainability benchmarking began. In the years since, we've worked with the big support of hotel chains to push this concept forward, now benchmarking sustainable practices and performance across thousands of hotels worldwide through various initiatives. One of which, the Green Lodging Trends Report provides the empirical results for this article's title. Through this free benchmarking exercise, hotels can see how they compare among trends in over 100 best practices. READ MORE

Though historically associated with residential and low-rise commercial buildings, modular construction has gone more upscale in recent years. What are the benefits, and what should hotel developers consider before going modular? The term "modular construction" once conjured images of small construction trailers or antiquated mobile home clusters just off the highway-not the most alluring draw for high-end developers and top-tier hotel companies, nor for their gentrified clientele. Today, however, the concept of modular construction has evolved, with developers across the U.S. adopting a modular approach to building 2- to 4-star select-service, full-service, and even boutique hotels. READ MORE

Whether a guest is staying at your hotel for business or pleasure, their first impression can be a lasting one. Even before they walk into your hotel's lobby, they've already started to form their opinion of your hotel - whether that was based on a visit to your website or as they drove up to your hotel. Just as the messaging on your website helps to set expectations and provides your guests with a glimpse into your commitment to making their stay at your hotel an enjoyable one, so does the appearance of your landscape. Every touch point the guest has with your hotel impacts his or her customer experience, making it even more critical that those encounters reflect your brand. READ MORE

This article highlights the benefits and available options of third party outsourcing for hotels. Hotels have historically outsource services to restaurant operators, parking and audio visual professionals, with resorts often outsourcing recreational services and landscaping as well. Today's options for outsourcing are much broader, as new firms have developed business models to provide expertise with greater efficiency at lower costs. Have you considered outsourcing your entire housekeeping operation? How about stewarding, overnight cleaning, or laundry operations? Other options could be banquet services, night cleaning, HVAC Services or Accounting Services. READ MORE