For many years, lodging developers were told that there are three conditions that ensures a level of success when it comes to lodging site development: 1. Location, 2. Location, 3. Location. Today the emphasis for lodging development is based on the following three conditions: 1. Market Position, 2. Market Position, 3. Market Position. Having the right product placed at the right site at the right time in the right market are what lodging developers are facing. This article will explore several site conditions that will try to measure up to those pressing criteria. READ MORE

As the pace of daily life has sped up to a breakneck speed, some of the subtleties have been lost in the name of heightened efficiency. However, in the case of how most hotels go to market, it is possible that this has led to a decrease in effectiveness. As media overwhelms the average consumer, the ability to stand-out may reside in the lost art of storytelling. In today's landscape the skill of weaving a compelling storyline into the content we create will likely be the difference in whether or not a message is both seen and heard. READ MORE

Hotels face many considerations when deciding to go green, but with more than five billion square feet of space in the United States alone, the hospitality industry represents an enormous sustainability opportunity. Hotels are poised to transform the market by creating healthy, smart, efficient, responsive, resilient, and above all else, sustainable buildings. Despite these positive shifts in the green hotel market, there are many myths that prevent hotels from incorporating green practices. Hotels may be operationally intense, but that also means there are significant opportunities in changing the way we all operate our hotels, making them greener and more efficient. READ MORE

The hotel industry is uniquely positioned to help reduce the use of plastic water bottles and lead the charge in the responsible consumption of drinking water. In fact, many hoteliers have already diverted millions of single serve, plastic water bottles from landfills and waterways. With hundreds of millions of room nights sold each year, the hospitality sector plays host to a global audience for whom it can lead by example; very few other industries wield this level of influence. With its tremendous buying power, hotel groups have the unique ability to reshape the market and demand that suppliers deliver eco-friendly solutions that contribute to global sustainability. READ MORE

Westin is the wellness leader in the hospitality space. As the global demand for well-being evolves, Westin continues to develop new programming and experiences in lockstep with consumer lifestyle trends. Most recently, this has meant innovation around sustainability and the relationship between philanthropy and well-being, all with the ultimate goal of inspiring change in the hospitality industry more broadly. Westin's new campaign, Project Rise: ThreadForward, is an unprecedented sustainability initiative that collects, processes, and reweaves hotel bed linens into thousands of pairs of children's pajamas, closely aligning with Westin's belief that sleep and giving back are two core elements of wellness. READ MORE

While Total Revenue Management is primarily focused on implementing a holistic approach to increase your hotel revenues, the fact of the matter is that none of this is possible if you don't have the right technologies by your side. Whether or not your hotel has the resources of a five star international chain, it is essential for you to start using the latest technologies to make the most of a total revenue management approach. Using the latest software and systems will allow you to collect important and high quality data in a timely manner, and enable you to use this data to your advantage before it becomes obsolete. READ MORE

No one can have missed the current debate about plastics and the environmental problems this hugely convenient material causes. But how does this affect the hotel sector, and what do I need to do as hotelier to be part of the solution rather than be part of the problem? Only 14 percent of all plastic packaging is collected for recycling after use, and vast quantities of the rest escape into the environment. This results in a financial loss of USD 80 to 120 billion per year; and if the current trend continues, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 according to recent research. READ MORE

As more travelers continue to seek more authentic experiences and one-of-a-kind moments when traveling, hotels have the increasing challenge of standing out in a crowded market. This is even more true for the business traveler, who has high expectations. As a hotelier, it's important for you to understand what drives travelers to select your property to ensure you're your maximizing your occupancy and revenue. Furthermore, as the global business travel industry continues to grow year over year, hotels should consider re-thinking their strategy to tap into this lucrative market. By understanding business travelers' search and booking preferences, hotels can successfully drive more bookings from business travelers and differentiate themselves from competitors in a crowded space. READ MORE

Managing reputation risk in the hotel industry today is like operating in the reputational equivalent of a tornado zone. These are incidents that strike quickly and suddenly and are often beyond management's control. Anything from inappropriate or criminal behavior by guests to a hotel's response to a natural disaster can destroy a brand's reputation and impact its business in tangible, measurable ways. Stakeholders need to feel confident that the company has processes in place to mitigate these risks, prevent reputational damage and recover from it when it occurs. But how do hotels communicate that without inviting the attention of potentially malicious actors? READ MORE

The hospitality industry's shift toward technology solutions is a recent development. Not that long ago in fact, fax, paper and legacy systems ruled the industry. But in today's online and connected world, the technology boom has firmly taken hold, big data and analytics are finally ingrained in the hospitality professionals' day. In this article, Gino Engels offers his insights on how data reshaped the online booking landscape. We will explore the value of data, from automation and time-saving to personalization through predictive analytics. Lastly, we'll show you how to gain a competitive edge by capitalizing on different data-sources. READ MORE

Viva Las Vegas - “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” - not anymore, at least not when it comes to hotel security in the aftermath of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, the deadliest mass shooting in the United States by an individual. Hotel owners, operators and brands are taking a hard look at their security policies and procedures with an eye on balancing the safety and privacy of their guests, and safety of members of the community surrounding their hotel, with the comfort and “hospitable” environment that guests expect in hotels. This article will explore whether the Las Vegas shooting will significantly change the way hotel owners, operators and brands approach their security procedures. READ MORE

The Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is the definition of luxury -- an urban oasis surrounded by the decadence and glamour of West Hollywood, California. Through ongoing sustainability initiatives, their staff have learned that you don't have to sacrifice guest experience or quality of service to be green. In fact, being green can improve guest enjoyment and impart a lasting impression that keeps them coming back. In this interview, Rex Umbay, Director of Engineering at the Sofitel Los Angeles for 4.5 years, explains why sustainability is important, shares the lessons he's learned through the hotel's sustainability journey, and offers practical “how-to” advice for other hotels looking to go green. READ MORE

Spire Hospitality, one of the nation's leading and most respected hotel management companies, identifies and implements green initiatives across its nearly two-dozen managed properties, aiding in the reduction of the environmental impact of the industry, serving as good stewards for the earth's resources and the communities where each hotel calls home and forecasting how integrating simple, sustainable practices can positively impact the bottom line. Tim Foley, vice president of operations, shares insight into which green practices are most easily implemented and how to encourage and measure the environmental and financial impact of green tourism. READ MORE

If you live in an area that has had a McDonalds or Starbucks pop up you may have noticed they are erected within days. In these smaller structures the strategy to build in a modular fashion has given operators an incredible advantage. In the retail world ringing the register in record time is a huge advantage. With hospitality facilities being much more complex is modular construction going to go mainstream? We will explore challenges & opportunities for hoteliers to adapt the modular strategy. We will also look at the upside potential towards sustainability as the industry matures. READ MORE

This article highlights Spa and Wellness program innovation and investment risks. While wellness and spa are commanding high-level investments across the hospitality and travel sector, knowing how to measure risk versus reward during conceptual development and assembling sound operational framework, can mitigate challenges and safeguard imperative returns on investment. This article also addresses management, leadership and employee turnover challenges that can often disrupt profitability and downgrade quality, consistency and program performance. READ MORE