In this article, we explore wellness tourism and how the hospitality industry as a whole can better leverage wellness to maximize revenue. A new perspective and one that comprehensively addresses the domains of wellness can offer significant insights into maximizing hotel spa revenue by creating better products, experiences, and promotions. Further, research is introduced from Wellness Tourism Worldwide including PEACE, an acronym that frames the wellness traveler experience as both a mental process and as an outcome,. Other hospitality consultants weigh in on the subject. READ MORE

The word deprivation is defined as the state of being kept from possessing, enjoying, or using something – the state of being deprived. The word remains stigmatized by most, especially when referring to taking something away our basic senses. However, Sensory deprivation, or REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy) has more benefits than it name portrays – from deep relaxation and improved serotonin levels to relieving chronic pain to promoting healing and energizing your skin and immune system, nothingness is the new everything. Floatation is part therapy, part meditation, part transcendence and all relaxation. Classically known as sensory deprivation, floatation therapy is suitable for everyone. READ MORE

In today's world, we're connected in ways we've never been before. Our smartphones, tablets and laptops are great for building community and promoting businesses, but that constant connection brings high levels of stress - and our bodies are paying the price. Overexposure to environmental toxins exhausts us mentally, drains us physically and throws off our natural frequencies. By harnessing the healing properties of pure Himalayan salt in skillfully designed ways, hotels and spas, epitomized as places of rest and relaxation, can deliver the rebalancing our clients need and the calm they crave. READ MORE

Hospitality procurement involves significantly more than on-time and under-budget deliveries. In fact, a better way to describe what a procurement professional does is that they orchestrate an intensive and multifaceted process with an incredible amount moving parts at a given time. Because of the complexity and artistry involved in the processes that procurement teams utilize, there can be some uncertainty about what it is that they exactly do. Perhaps best known for on-time deliveries and transparent pricing, the reality of procurement is that team members engage themselves in much more creative, fluid and proactive roles throughout the entire design process. READ MORE

Payroll and related labor costs account for nearly 35% of a hotel’s operating budget. Despite increases in minimum wage and health insurance responsibilities, this line item presents the most controllable of the expenses, thanks to Staffing Guidelines and Rooms Production Analysis. And in light of these rising wage and healthcare costs, it becomes even more imperative hoteliers implement proper labor practices and standards at the property level. Hotel managers can wrest control of their properties’ biggest expense — payroll — by developing, monitoring, and constantly updating their scheduling and staffing practices while zeroing in on payroll areas where they can make the most difference. READ MORE

In this article we explore Mass Tourism’s impact on destinations where large numbers of tourist visit the same location, often at the same time of year. We look at examples that have both positive impacts, including improved local economy and negative impacts, including environmental degradation, on a location’s ecology and culture. Many local governments, such as the Philippians, and tourism corporations, such as The Walt Disney Company, are beginning to address the negative impacts of Mass Tourism and to promote a program of sustainable tourism. READ MORE

Today's hotel guest is often subject to increasing levels of stress, sometimes brought on by the journey to the hotel itself! Upon arriving at the hotel property, whether for work or leisure, guests are seeking a way to integrate wellness practices into their daily activities. The hotel spa beckons as a traditional oasis of calm and tranquility, offering guests a respite from the daily grind. But today's hotel spas have evolved far beyond the standard menu; cutting-edge hotel brands are providing opportunities for guests to experience deeper and longer-lasting well-being activities and treatments, often extending outside of a spa treatment room, to positively impact their stay in multiple ways, and encourage return visits. READ MORE

Powerful new digital technologies continue to revolutionize the world of hospitality, including how we train and manage our staff and how we interact with and serve guests. During implementation, we must use care in how we secure, access and interpret the information lode available to us. Our greatest challenge is to employ these new technologies in ways that enhance, rather than diminish, the human touch and judgment that are at the core of what we do in hospitality. READ MORE

With more than 20 years of experience in accounting, forensic accountant Tiffany Couch, provides information on the most common fraud schemes perpetrated by hotel employees. Although no one sets out to hire dishonest workers, the fact is all businesses lose 5 percent of their annual revenue to fraud. Worse, it takes an average of 16 months before fraud is discovered, by which time the perpetrator(s) have often stolen thousands in cash and product. This article examines fraud in hotels – including specific examples that can happen in every department– and practical suggestions on how to detect, deter and prevent fraudulent activity. READ MORE

Is it still relevant to think of hotel spas as designated spaces within a hotel building? Any hotel owner, developer or manager needs to be reminded that while the term spa refers to a physical space the more compelling well-being refers to a specific value proposition. Guests are looking more for valuable experiences and less for specific spaces. Still, many hospitality projects overdevelop the spa space which then underperforms in terms of financial return. The well-being concept can be applied to any hotel at any location. The application of the well-being concept can provide hotel with added value in the competition for market share. READ MORE

Sharing the joys and challenges of driving hotel profitability during high seasons is revenue management professional and industry thought leader Lily Mockerman. Mockerman, president and CEO of leading revenue management company Total Customized Revenue Management LLC (TCRM), delves into the proven strategies and tactics to increase overall profits when rooms are at or near capacity. By approaching this challenge with a strong understanding of unconstrained demand, hoteliers can identify those times that limiting less profitable channels will actually increase overall profitability. This ensures the plan is achieving optimal performance levels, measuring results and proactively planning against common pitfalls found in high-demand strategies. READ MORE

This article reviews important keynotes to protect wellness and hospitality investments after a decade of significant market and industry change. The recent U.S. tax cuts in 2018, have given many households and companies, a sense of relief from taxation with an improved economic outlook and sense of stability. This has ignited a swell in travel, business, and consumer spending. This article reveals how recalibrating investment outlines, management and strategic planning can increase the life-cycle and sustainability of the business, and how to prepare for the increasing speed of change in the years to come. READ MORE

As guests become only more design savvy and active on social media, hotel owners and operators need to stay on top of trends in order to stay competitive. Overall, the trend in hospitality design is toward a new definition of luxury, one that is welcoming, generous, more residential and playful. From decorative lighting with personality to richly textured fabrics, from warm brass and Old World details to a modern take on minimal structure, Ray Chung, Director of Design of The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry provides five new FF&E trends that you really need to know about. READ MORE

Your team works hard to be a go-to destination for travelers. But attracting more visitors also results in increased waste, which impacts your bottom line. When managing your properties’ waste output, how can your team lower your environmental footprint while keeping costs low and efficiencies high? The answer is in the data: taking advantage of the newest technology will help your cost savings—and your sanity. Taking advantage of technology by connecting with the cloud, digging deep with data, improving with the Internet of Things and managing multilocation needs are the key pillars to waste management for the hospitality industry. READ MORE

Most hotel spas don't sell a lot of retail product. In fact, neither do hotels. But with a downward trend in bricks and mortar retail and an upward trend in Wellness, there just might be a new opportunity emerging. Instead of retail being an afterthought, how about taking a Retail First approach? In so doing, you will not only increase your revenues but also go a long way to establishing your hotel as a genuine Lifestyle Brand. The future for hotel and spa retail is now. READ MORE