Hotels are in a unique position as a service based industry is as hotel owners are constantly replacing their technology on property. There are many advantages in how hotel technology can conform to Moore's law of advancement without experiencing a large capital expenditure every couple of years. As new technology incorporates the ability to display advertising targeted to the guest, all decision makers within the hospitality industry should be focused on the advertising revenue that is possible, along with considering options for the guest to be able to use these services easily before, during, and after their stay. READ MORE

Change and the mind-boggling speed at which it has shaped every aspect of our lives has been no more apparent than in our growing dependence on mobility. Just look around you – people clutching at their mobile devices as if their life depended on it. And maybe it does! Interestingly too, our dependence with mobility has been almost instant, a seemingly uncanny natural evolution. Almost every industry has been touched by what it offers, whether it be efficiency in the way we do things, or accessibility to data, however you define that to be. This article explores how this most disruptive technology has helped transform not only the hotel itself, but almost single handedly, every aspect of the guest experience. READ MORE

You might hear some people suggest that we're entering the year of mobile, but that's not quite right. Yes, mobile has promised gains for the last few years, but are you ready to achieve these breakthroughs for your property. Despite massive increases in mobile traffic, there are a major reasons why so many hotels are not generating significant increases in reservations and revenue. Why is that? What's holding mobile bookings back? And, more importantly, in an era when mobile has come to the fore and driving direct revenues has taken center stage, what can you do to increase bookings on mobile for your properties? READ MORE

The digital era has ushered in a wave of innovations forever changing the way hoteliers do business, and technology is now of paramount importance to any forward-thinking hotel executive. Even the most reluctant of properties must confront how to make way for a more connected guest experience or risk getting left behind. In fact, according to the 2018 Hotel Technology Study, 62.1 percent of hotels want to increase spending on mobility technology in the next two years. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons exemplify one such mobile technology hoteliers need to include in their 2019 budgets. READ MORE

Everchanging challenges sweeping the hotel industry, from new technology-related consumer demands to rising labor costs to shifting competition, are making it more difficult than ever for hoteliers to manage soaring operation costs. With margins thinning, it's crucial hotel operators maintain profitability by performing financial audits. In this article, Steve Klein, a partner at South Florida accounting firm Gerson Preston, dives into the specifics surrounding the importance of a properly conducted, regular and thorough audit so hotels -- large and small -- remain sustainable and allow for greater efficiency to address the evolving landscape of the industry as we know it. READ MORE

Managing any hotel renovation requires management of a myriad of issues: budgets, deadlines, contractors, expectations and ongoing services to name a few. What often isn't top of mind in the early stages of a renovation is a plan to manage the inherent risk. This article addresses nine considerations every hotel operator needs to prioritize at the start of any renovation project. In fact, these nine considerations must take higher priority over your other considerations. Why? Because if you botch any of these nine considerations, many if not all of those other priorities mentioned above will be negatively impacted. READ MORE

Industry-wide, there is recognition and agreement about the pitfalls of hiring the wrong person. Aggressive estimates say that the cost of a poor hire can go as high as $240,000, and the US government says it is 30% of the the (ill-fated) employee's salary. But as we all know, turnover is real, and there is a 100% chance a hotel, hospitality company, TravelTech provider or chain of properties will need to make a new hire. Below are five ways to ensure your next hire is the right hire, every time. READ MORE

One of the most overlooked opportunities for hoteliers today is maximizing all hotel space for more profitability. Hoteliers know that empty rooms generate no revenue but finding a purpose for every space requires creative thinking, a comprehensive plan to execute ideas seamlessly and an understanding of the challenges that may arise. In this article, revenue management expert Lily Mockerman delivers original solutions for hoteliers looking to maximize hotel space and, in turn, maximize profitability. READ MORE

The hospitality industry is changing, and is rapidly becoming super high-tech. While we can argue that this benefits guests-and it certainly benefits vendors-how much is it taking away from the guest's personal experience? Theoretically, it should improve the customer experience, particularly through the use of data collected by using the various technologies. Let's look at how guests actually feel, especially the Baby Boomers who look set to remain the most prolific travelers for the next two to three years, and see if the numbers support the theory that technology has improved the hospitality experience. READ MORE

In the front of house, today's guests are more connected than ever, equipped with the ability to wield a smartphone like a magic wand from check-in to check-out. Meanwhile, staff members should be using the same mobile connectivity to accelerate operations for the back of house. This article explores the critical link between enhanced customization and rising customer expectations, as well as the needs for brands to "mobilize" their back-office accounting practices to bring staff members (at every level) up to speed and leverage "big data" to keep up with the industry's ever changing needs. READ MORE

Hotels continue to feel the effects of the sharing economy, so much so that chains, such as Marriott, are moving into the alternative accommodations sector. However, most properties have natural assets they can harness to deliver on what guests want without reinventing their model. To recoup revenue sometimes lost to sharing sites, hotels must boost their value proposition. This includes assessing how and when travelers want technology, leveraging staff in the right way and at the ideal times, and using data to their advantage in creating guest relationships that alternative accommodations simply cannot. Fortunately, every tactic will improve the overall guest experience, boosting a hotel's overall ability to serve the modern traveler. READ MORE

Research firm Magid digs into the opportunities and challenges presented by subscriptions in the hospitality industry, especially among loyalty program members. Magid found that travelers who already belong to a loyalty program are much more likely to be interested in a subscription program offering than those who are not part of loyalty programs. This research, which was conducted through an online study of 3,000 individuals who have an active subscription within one of 14 business verticals (Including meal kits, fitness, music, beauty, clothing and more), also delves into other consumer perceptions around subscription programs including price, offerings and "must-haves." READ MORE

Recently, the United States Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act ("PASPA"), finding that the federal legislation violated the anti-commandeering doctrine of the U.S. Constitution. Murphy v. Nat'l Collegiate Athletic Assn. et al. Previously PASPA had outlawed "sports betting" or gambling on the outcome of professional or collegiate athletic contests. As a result, states are now free to decide whether they wish to allow gambling on professional and collegiate sports inside their borders, or whether they wish to legislate guardrails or prohibitions around sports gambling. Allowing sports betting will have ramifications for any hospitality venue with a sports bar, lounge, or recreational facility. READ MORE

There's clearly a fun side to hospitality, one that we should embrace and celebrate, for our guests, our host communities and ourselves. Keeping hospitality entertaining is a great way to keep staff engaged. It's about teamwork, motivation and a sense of pride in one's work, as well as a way to show appreciation for what our people do to make us look great in a wide range of activities and interactions with others. In this way, fun also has a serious side and can accomplish a great deal for our organizations. READ MORE

Immigration courts are not sufficiently independent tribunals because immigration judges work directly under the State Department, and serve at the pleasure of the Attorney General, as do the assistant chief counsels, or the "prosecutors" in immigration courts. Recently, the Attorney General has taken a more hands-on approach in overseeing immigration courts by imposing performance quotas on immigration judges, which impairs their judicial independence. One solution is to extract immigration courts from the ambit of the State Department and to establish a more independent, Article III immigration court in the same vein as bankruptcy and tax courts. READ MORE