When hotel technology is mentioned, planners often think of audio-visual and Wi-Fi coverage in meeting and guest rooms. Those things, however, comprise only the tip of the tech iceberg; as hoteliers know, the real technology accomplishments begin way before attendee arrival. For the business of putting heads in beds - and groups in meeting rooms - the industry increasingly relies on technology that is itself evolving. In only a few short years, for example, data storage has evolved from proprietary servers (something you can spill coffee on) to virtual "cloud-based" technology, which allows for exponentially more data. READ MORE

Now that the locavore movement has become mainstream, locally sourced foods at restaurants have shifted from a value-add to an expectation for consumers. As such, to impress guests, more must be done in this regard. Indigenous ingredient sourcing offers one such solution as it serves to deliver as authentically local a dining experience as possible. Although not practical in all situations, the sourcing of foods that are native to a region can act as a clear point of differentiation to help grow a property's F&B revenues. READ MORE

Running restaurants in your hotel that are meeting points and social and business hubs for people in the local community is not as hard (or as hopeless) as it might seem. In this article we identify the four determining factors that can guide an orator to success in this area. As with just about anything, the first thing to do when embarking on a project, is find out who is doing it well and watch what they are doing. To this end we discuss some of the most successful hotel restaurants, and by understanding the history and context of their success, we can clearly see how by understanding and implementing the four determinants, even the smallest hotel in the most competitive market, can design and operate restaurants and bars that are attractive to the local community. And do so profitably. READ MORE

Too many leaders rush to the idea that just one more perk, one more raise or one more break-room game table would boost employee engagement. This thinking is flawed—that “more” might produce a bump in engagement scores. Reality check, here. These quick-hit, feel-good tactics do not produce long-term, sustainable engagement. With the latest Gallup data revealing that employee engagement scores are currently less than 32%—worse still, nearly 1 in 5 acknowledge that they are “actively disengaged”—there has never been greater urgency and need for leaders everywhere to think and act differently in order to engage their people. As a leader in the hospitality industry, what are your plans to stir up positive employee engagement in your organization? READ MORE

We have all been in a situation that called upon us to provide excellent guest service while our mind is distracted with other issues. Maybe our emotions are high because of the tiff we had with our spouse or we are distracted by the interdepartmental battle that is brewing or we are devastated by a loss in our personal lives. How are we to honor our commitment to excellent customer service amidst the storm of emotions battling in our mind? In this article, HotelExecutive readers will learn how to remain calm amidst any storm and maintain focus on providing the best to guests, employees, friends and family. READ MORE