Branding used to be something that was thought of as separate and distinct from other corporate functions like finance and operations, and certainly from the HR-centric world of employee training. But as the Internet (and particularly mobile media) has become ubiquitous, brands have been forced to operate in an increasingly transparent world. Today everything is marketing and marketing is everything, which means that corporate culture-and the behaviors it fosters-is as much (or more) a driver of brand perceptions as advertising ever was. READ MORE

While Management adores continuous profits as much as owners, their task is to deliver them. That is easier said than done. Even when revenues are growing year on year, retaining profit growth is a challenge all by itself. However, by leveraging the power of contribution margins and understanding how your costs behave in the operation, you are on your way to bringing home the targeted profits. There is probably no better way to make your business your owner's favorite. You can enable your owners to laugh all the way to the bank. READ MORE

South America's growth prospects still make the region attractive for the development of new projects: Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador lead expectations regarding investment opportunities, both in new and in existing projects. Uruguay is awaiting changes in Argentina to recover the sustained growth it had reported for years. Venezuela lacks capacity to attract foreign investment, at least from players who are no longer operating in the country. The situation in Argentina is uncertain—no improvements apparent in the near future. And though Cuba is not Latin America, how does this Queen of the Caribbean fit into our future? READ MORE

Driving sustainability practices in lodging companies is the two-fold need to reduce operating costs and the impact of resource use on the communities in which hotels and resorts operate. From Los Angeles to Miami, hotels need to reduce water and energy use. In New York, Chicago and San Francisco city wide efforts to reduce carbon emissions is causing hotels to search for methods to measure and report. The corporate responsibility reports of major lodging companies publish company-wide carbon emissions goals and reductions as well as the results of waste, water and energy conservation. For many hotels and lodging companies measuring carbon emissions can be a new challenge. READ MORE

Have you ever wanted to make your travel process easier and less of a headache? After all, you have limited time and want to get things done, as soon as possible. Many travelers feel the same way, and look at ways to streamline their travel research process. This is one of the many reasons Online Travel Agents (OTAs) are so popular; they streamline every part of the buying process, from research to booking. But travelers are ready for the next step in convenience for travel, mobile apps. READ MORE