The following article addresses the impact of the millennial menu's impact on our foodservice culture and how it is going to change our industry moving forward. We will address how the course of how we view, buy and experience food will forever change as through this new concept food fully becomes part of our lifestyle rather than just becoming a function for the lives we lead. The millennial menu changes the format for foodservice, it's here and we must be ready to embrace this new era. READ MORE

In today's culture, unconventional venues and consistent development is imperative for success in the food industry. Expecting the unexpected is the new standard. Innovative fluidity that evolves with the new millennial consumer to give them something exclusive and different is critical for success. This article features how the development of the unconventional venue has progressed around the world, through the eyes of a hotel chef and how he continually seeks to transform what he offers and where he predicts the focus will shift to next. READ MORE

Hotels are not only looking for industry partners that provide them access to a diverse breadth of travelers, but also for tools and technologies that will help them optimize their revenue and overall business. Business needs constantly evolve at the pace of the consumer today, and by better leveraging technology partner tools, they can drive insights and efficiencies that will not only grow their business, but can maximize occupancy and ADR, and even improve guest relations. This byline will explore how technology partners, like Expedia Group, are powering the travel industry and mobilizing technical expertise to offer data-driven and tested technology solutions. READ MORE

What distinguishes a luxury hotel these days? User experience was the catalyst that drove designers as they created the architecture and interiors for The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston. A mesmerizing custom-designed chandelier that sparkles and glistens with 15,719 handblown Bohemian crystal glass components graces the lobby. A two-story Rolls-Royce showroom wraps around a sculptural white marble and polished chrome spiral staircase near the Grand Ballroom. Sybaritic white marble bathrooms feature five fixtures. A helipad on the rooftop awaits guests who like to arrive by helicopter. These distinctive elements create ambiance, a wonderful sense of discovery and memories. READ MORE

How do hotels and resorts maintain a competitive edge in the increasingly competitive Airbnb landscape? This article reviews some of the important and challenging operational and programming circumstances effecting hotels and resorts as they compete for the global tourism spend. Many times, this is like comparing apples to oranges. However, as Airbnb continues to expand their offerings, it is becoming essential for hotels to understand their own performance and comparative conditions. This article also reviews ways hotels can add value and differentiate themselves to boost capture by leveraging their principal and unique selling points. READ MORE

Wage and hour class actions are one of the biggest financial risks to employers. They can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorneys' fees and could require a multimillion dollar settlement. Employers should protect themselves from this risk by complying with federal and state wage and hour laws. However, the recent US Supreme Court decision in Epic Systems gives employers another critical line of protection: an arbitration agreement with a class action waiver. The Supreme Court affirmed that class action waivers are enforceable and do not violate the National Labor Relations Act. What is a class action waiver and how can your hotel capitalize on this ruling? READ MORE

With the ever-changing culinary scene and demands from millennials for locally-sourced ingredients, the executive chef of Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Chef Dan Vargo, discusses his role at the resort and how he's managed seven on-site restaurants, from the property's AAA Four-Diamond restaurant to its pool-side market. The resort's culinary offerings have evolved drastically with the help of trend research and outstanding relationships with local farms. In this piece, Chef Dan will dive into challenges, best practices and new ideas for keeping up with the evolving culinary scene. READ MORE

The generation which is shaping the current trends in the Food and Beverage industry, is the same generation who will somewhat dictate what "IS" and "IS NOT" in the kitchen, and in those around the world. These "Millennials" can also be blamed (slightly) for my graying hair! So what makes them tick? What drives the motivation to be "woke" social media foodie know-it-alls, instagramming all the "deets" of all we do, sometimes wreaking havoc with a Chef's perception of what ought to be on trend, and what actually is? We must admit that they are shaping the framework of current food trends! READ MORE

Airbnb, thought by some to pose an existential threat to hotels and resorts, continues to compete with them for market share. That being said, the off-the-charts growth that the short-term rental company experienced in years past seems to have leveled off, and it looks as though mainstream lodging has weathered the Airbnb storm. But how? With an eye toward an ever-expanding network of regulations, both here and abroad, that not only limit Airbnb’s inventory, but also hold its hosts accountable to hotel-like standards, hoteliers have staved off their (exaggerated) demise. In doing so, hotels and resorts have emerged stronger and more innovative than ever. READ MORE

Your guests have gone mobile; now you need to serve them in their mobile world if you want to be part of their life. Hotels have been much slower than others in the hospitality sector to leverage the capabilities of mobile, but at a time when mobile phones are becoming a standard it is foolish to ignore mobile’s potential to help your hotel. In fact, 40% of hotel guests already have a hotel mobile app, and another 30% are interested in having such apps. Read on to find out about the best ways to use mobile and messaging apps to improve guest satisfaction and hotel profitability. READ MORE

Marketers have a sometimes-overwhelming number of tools in their toolbox to generate leads and bookings. That often means falling back on the tried and true practices that have worked for years. This feature explores a few marketing strategies and tactics that teams might have missed, including the benefits of strategically deploying user-generated content, crafting effective linkbait, using influencer marketing at any budget level, and why chat and messenger bots might just be the future of marketing. We also take a look at how brands can use humor to be better, more relatable marketing and why that doesn’t have to be a scary proposition. READ MORE

Much has been written about the changes that Millennials have brought us, like newspapers, shopping malls, taxis and even hotels. Traditional room service may also be on that list. If our guests are younger, busier and more food savvy than ever, why were we serving them the same old room service? At Hyatt Regency Atlanta, we threw out the old model of room service, from menu to delivery, to better reflect how guests are using technology to order food when they're at home. The result has been a faster, fresher, more convenient room service that's reduced cost and waste and been a hit with guests. READ MORE

Think about professional tour guides and their role in making an entire experience come alive for everyone on their tour. They know their scripts but also all the in-between moments, stories and connections that will make the tour more memorable. They understand that reacting to their tour participants' emotions, questions and interests along the way will make the tour more meaningful. Now, apply this concept to everyone in your business, your organization, your hospitality environment. Inspire them to become hospitality tour guides! Make each moment, each transaction, each interaction part of YOUR tour and in turn your strategy to make your hospitality experiences more meaningful and positively memorable. READ MORE

Here at Geneva National Resort and Club, and at the Inns of Geneva National, we offer that special touch, the extra feel, that…. "Experience "our guests deserve. Whether you stay at our Inns, Golf on our amazing courses, or simply want a Wisconsin lunch in our Grill Room, we have it. Enjoying the experience is just the beginning of being our guest. Creating an experience beyond a few nights in a hotel room is the key to staying competitive with millennials and all of our guests. READ MORE

Research shows that guests see spas as nurturing environments to escape, heal and reconnect with their body and spirit. Successful hotel spas are creating spaces that use a holistic approach to wellness to give guests a healing setting for personal transformation. Spas that focus on a true wellness approach will be differentiated from the competition and build a successful business model as well. This article will explore the future of hotel spas and their place in creating deeply healing experiences for guests by taking ancient practices, adding pure ingredients and integrating modern results-driven science. READ MORE