Virtually every time I speak on a hospitality panel or at some other engagement and the subject of wellness comes up, the same four questions come up, What is wellness anyway? Can I increase profitability of my spa by integrating wellness programming? How can wellness (and my spa) increase the value of my property? After all the investment involved in building a spa and integrating a wellness program, can I achieve an acceptable return on my investment? The answers to these questions is the subject we will explore in this article. READ MORE

The 2017 ISPA U.S. Spa Industry Study found that there are already an estimated 32,930 unfilled spa service provider positions in the United States. Massage therapists account for the largest number of unfilled positions with a total of 18,780 representing 57 percent of the openings in 2017. When looking at leadership positions, there were approximately 200 unstaffed full-time spa director positions and 1,030 spa manager positions. A shift in the senior living sector to become more mind-body-spirit-centric will naturally pull skilled workers from the spa and hospitality industries into senior living and healthcare. Conversely, the hospitality industry will begin to draw skilled employees from the healthcare and senior living industries. READ MORE

There are many approaches in interview techniques as part of your hotel recruiting strategy. For hiring managers looking to find the perfect candidate, the phone interview can be fraught with opportunities to inadvertently scare off the best prospective employees. This can happen for a number of reasons, all of which can be overcome with a bit of preparation and practice. This article looks at ways to get more out of phone interviews and as a result, you will spend more time interviewing the most qualified candidates and greatly increase your chances of hiring an A-player. READ MORE

Hotel operations rely on and profit from advanced technologies in areas such as the physical operation of a property, the communication systems we use daily, and in managing hotel operations, everything from staff scheduling and guest reservations to human resources and tracking return on investment. This reliance on technology will continue to grow, driven by our impulse to understand and serve guests in new and better ways, as well as external competitive factors. This article considers what is driving this trend and how we might approach our future in technology. READ MORE

The concept of a revenue productivity engine begins with a theme lifted from W. Timothy Gallwey’s best-selling book, The Inner Game of Tennis. Tennis is not only a game of endurance and skill, but also very much a game of psychology. The same can be said about creating your revenue productivity engine. It’s imperative to understand your revenue psychology—making sure your revenue performance will equal your revenue potential, minus any interferences - before setting out on the journey. Operating in the here-and-now ensures you crystalize your goals throughout the organization. Using an analytics framework is the sure-fire way to instill a culture that operates on data proven by science and reduces overthinking which allows inconsistent judgment to cloud the vision. READ MORE

So do you follow Yogi Bear or Yogi Berra? More than a century ago the French philosopher, Paul Valery, said that “The trouble with our times is that the future is not what it used to be.” His prophecy is truer today than it was then. Spurred on by globalism and technology, we live in a world that is more interconnected and interdependent that ever before. Communities and countries are increasingly dependent on one another and technology allows information to spread throughout the world as fast as fingers can send a text or a tweet. Given this scenario, then, this article will show you which Yogi should be the business Sage for your hotel. READ MORE

In the midst of managing the day-to-day operations, hotel and spa owners and managers must constantly look forward and evaluate how to increase efficiency and profitability. As you balance overseeing current business and forecasting for the future, you are faced with the challenge of considering what changes will bring the most benefit to your organization. For spas, keeping watch of the latest trends in the spa industry and making relevant changes to your facility, treatment menu and customer service practices are important for success. But how do you know which trends and latest innovations will bring that success, and which ones may not be worth their return on investment? READ MORE

In all aspects of the hospitality industry is seems we're always seeking the next big thing to move the revenue needle or racing to be the first to market with the hot trend. With so much media attention on unplugging are we just falling for the next buzzworthy spa marketing tactic? Hardly. For destination spas, the magnitude of this movement is undeniable when you consider the global wellness economy now represents a $3.7 trillion dollar industry. Our guests are walking around with fully charged smartphones but completely depleted health batteries. Before investing in the next buzzworthy trend for your destination spa, consider plugging into the simple art of unplugging. READ MORE

Wellness tourism alone amounts to $1.6 trillion worldwide and has grown twice as fast as tourism overall. The business case for delivering a robust wellness proposition to your hotel guests is clear. Yet, is your organization authentically walking its wellbeing talk? This article shares how four organizations from diverse industries are making wellbeing strategic and building work environments to unleash human thriving for greater fulfillment, performance, and impact. The article also offers a vision of the hospitality industry as uniquely positioned to be a force for wellbeing, benefiting your organization, evolving humanity, and uplifting our planet. READ MORE

The rewards of a successful spa retail program are vast. This article provides best practices to launch a robust retail program online and offline. With proper resources and support, hotels and resorts will realize healthy profits, a higher level of guest satisfaction, and recognition as a true wellness brand. Make a commitment to your guest's wellness by offering home care programs that will extend the spa experience long after guests leave your property. Don't underestimate the power of one spa product to carry positive memories that will lead to loyalty and repeat visits. READ MORE

Wellness has gone mainstream in the hospitality industry, but few companies are considering that the largest driver of human wellbeing for the foreseeable future will be our relationship with technology. In favor of our modern devices we are sacrificing sleep, movement, safety, healthy relationships, mental health, productivity and more. Hotels and spas that are serious about wellness will need to educate themselves on the impact of technology on human wellness and consider their role in society as a place to experience the true modern luxuries: mindfulness, silence, meaningful connection, and respite from technology. READ MORE

This article focuses on specific market analysis and data applicable to the development and operation of dual-branded hotels. Much has been written about the dual-brand concept over the last several years, particularly related to the asset type’s benefits and challenges. Instead of providing another such piece that rephrases the same concepts in different ways, this article will focus on data collected from our work with dual-branded hotels over the last several years. While a review of the history of dual-branded hotels and some basic concepts are necessary, this article will hope to provide new data and prove, or disprove, some commonly accepted themes related to dual-branded hotels in the United States. READ MORE

A shift is taking place in the hospitality industry as travelers are growingly seeking accommodation that provides unique experiences and a taste of the local culture of their travel destination. This concept plays an important consideration in the design of multifamily properties across the nation and a host of design strategies have been deployed to help property owners attract and retain today’s largest consumer generation – millennials. From design strategies to meet millennials’ needs and research concepts that cater to the local market, to tips for designing inviting community spaces, award-winning interior architect, Felicia Hyde shares her perspective on multifamily design strategies that can help hoteliers boost curb appeal and attract more guests. READ MORE

In the last several decades, boutique hotels have become a major part of the hospitality market. This article looks at the early development of boutique hotels on the west and east coasts during the 1980’s, and how those early concepts have been embraced by the hotel industry. Boutique hotels are a natural use for historic buildings. The history of the building (and associated neighborhood and city) can be used for thematic and design elements, while many historic buildings offer central locations advantageous to hoteliers. As part of this discussion, the article examines Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar in Philadelphia as an example. READ MORE

Golf communities may not be news right now, but one enterprising company is breathing new life into the concept. As well as selling a variety of home lots and providing a club house, restaurant, pools and activities, Clear Creek Tahoe in Nevada is adding five-star hospitality, a hotel attitude to facilities and service, and the added wow factor of providing a boating and ski lodge at Lake Tahoe, half an hour away. READ MORE