The hot topic of late has been on how to engage guests through their mobile devices, and thus hopefully establishing a new group of loyal customers. Beyond engagement, we decided to take it a step further, looking into how much they use mobile media as a payment tool. Since mobile payments are used in the retail market already, what do our hotel guests have to say about mobile payments in hotels? Do they use mobile payments now? Will they use mobile payment methods to settle hotel payments? What about buying that cup of coffee at the coffee bar or the souvenir t-shirt at the gift shop? READ MORE

Dear Hotelier, I know it's hard to hear, hoteliers - but your guests are just not that into you. In the movie, "He's Just Not That Into You," a young woman is regularly disappointed when she misreads signals from men. These days it seems that many hoteliers are either missing or mis-reading signals about how the ever changing nature of our mobile experience is affecting guest expectations. READ MORE

For over 20 years, hoteliers have practiced MBWA (Management by Walking Around) to facilitate open, timely communication with associates and guests. With the advent of mobile technology and a flood of new ways to communicate, leadership becomes more challenging in an always-on, always-connected workplace. How does a hospitality professional lead a team in a digital world while holding true to the core competencies that make for a great hotelier? READ MORE

With guests bringing increasing numbers of Wi-Fi devices to hotels for business and pleasure (now including wearables), how will hotels accommodate them? From guest engagement and entertainment to internal operations and hotel services, Wi-Fi enabled devices can take hotels and their guests from check-in to check-out and everything in between. By understanding what applications are on the horizon, what can be done with the right technology and with an eye towards the future of Wi-Fi, hotels can increase RevPAR by optimizing operations, increasing efficiencies, and elevating guest engagement. READ MORE

The lines between business and leisure travel are becoming increasingly blurred. Fueled by the proliferation of mobile devices and the ability to stay connected, over half of business travelers now extend their business trips into leisure trips. This presents new opportunities for hotels, but they need to configure their services to be flexible. Conference and meeting planners also have to be cognizant of these changes, ensuring that they incorporate an element of leisure when they plan their meetings. This article will focus on hotels around the world that are responding to the blurring of business and leisure travel. READ MORE