Revenue management professional and industry thought leader Lily Mockerman shares expert tips that will help struggling hotels easily and quickly improve total revenue management to increase profitability. Ms. Mockerman is acquainted with hotels' biggest revenue challenges, which often create amplified effects for already struggling hotels. Taking an inside look at the common problems brand and independent properties face, along with their unique advantages as well as disadvantages, Lily shares five tested tips that will help both types of properties achieve effective, measurable results. READ MORE

In our changing hospitality and retail climate, we're seeing Pop-Ups appear on virtually every corner. But why have they become so popular and why is it important as hospitality professionals to understand their impact on our business? Let's take a look at what's driving this phenomenon and how we can embrace this new type of service demand from guests seeking an authentic destination experience as a service model. READ MORE

Energy use reduction is a key factor in sustainability initiatives for hotels. Determining how to lessen energy usage and the environmental footprint of a hotel is the first step on a road that is ever-changing and evolving. The move towards more environmentally-friendly practices in the hospitality industry continues to prove its benefits on conscience, morale, and costs. Continuously implementing eco-friendly practices often reaps environmental, financial and social benefits that drive success. We've outlined the steps that hotel owners and managers can take to ensure a healthier environment and bottom line. READ MORE

With over 30 years of hotel marketing and technology experience, DJ Vallauri provides us with his perspective on hotel messaging apps and why he believes they will be as ubiquitous on websites as hotel booking engines are today. With venture money chasing the new messaging apps, Dj breaks down his thoughts on why it all will come down to the people-to-people level, stating technology is a great enabler, but it's about people at the end of the day. Dj firmly believes the hospitality business is about being “hospitable” and providing guests with the highest level of services and that technology can help, but should never replace providing personal service people will remember. READ MORE

Although historic hotel properties are distinct in character, repairing or replacing elements of these vintage structures offers a number of shared challenges. One need not look further than Manhattan's famed Waldorf Astoria, an extensive renovation project aimed at reinventing and preserving a landmark property and its architectural distinctiveness. And it is the preservation of those architectural elements - and their related, historic tax credits - that are central to these projects, regardless of scale. By understanding the challenges of repair and restoration, historic hotel owners and operators can better ensure the legacy they've been entrusted with will last well into the future. READ MORE

Skiers visiting Jackson Hole have two options when they are considering where to stay; Teton Village at the foot of the mountains, or the historic Town of Jackson which is 12 miles away. Teton Village offers accommodations for every lifestyle and budget and is a good choice for travelers who plan to spend a lot of time on the hill and make the most of the lively après ski. Downtown Jackson on the other hand is western-themed, with lots of old Victorian buildings, hotels, pubs and restaurants. This article will take a closer look at these two options skiers have for accommodation, and see how the two locations compete with each other (or work together) to attract skiers. READ MORE

As spa industry professionals, health and well-being are at the center of our business, and it's a focus that extends much further than the hands-on treatments we provide. The choices we make every day, from the products we use to the habits we cultivate, have the potential for positive impact — a win for our clients, our industry and our environment as a whole. By focusing on three simple elements, you can create an intentional strategy for change and actively reduce your spa's eco-footprint. So take note of these suggestions — and prepare for positive impact ahead. READ MORE

After years of notoriety, many hospitality ventures have embraced the focus of environmental sustainability. In fact, some are even considered leaders in the movement to combat climate change by engaging stakeholders through education, building certifications, and transparent reporting. With new and unprecedented global volatility and interconnectedness, the marketplace has required a shift to planning for long-term resiliency. Recognizing the relationship between short-term decisions and overall business strategy has never been more important. By proactively engaging stakeholders and combing through trends, the hospitality industry has the opportunity to leverage its influence and create meaningful shifts in its local and global environment. READ MORE

A hotel's energy use is complex and impactful. If not dealt with well, if the moving parts of a hotel's energy-use ecosystem are not recognized and prioritized, if progress is not made on the priority items, if efforts are ad hoc not connected and synergized, then the combined drag on a hotel's success will be substantial. Meeting this challenge well will result in a hotel's energy-use ecosystem become a strength, a competitive advantage for attracting corporate and MICE accounts, talent, and investment (or at least for Owner/investor contentment). The maturity model is a tool to bring about this outcome. READ MORE

We tried unsuccessfully on several occasions over the years to give independent QA providers standards for the butler service being offered by (463) luxury hotels around the world so they could incorporate those standards into their own and help raise butler-service levels in the hospitality industry in a way that our small organization could not, on its own, achieve. All to no avail, but we learned as the years rolled on: Many five-star properties asked us to conduct mystery guest assessments of their butlers, and some even of their whole properties. In doing so, we were asked to assess against internal hotel/chain standards, as well as those of other QA providers. Finding they fell short in various aspects, we were compelled to create our own standards... READ MORE

There's an old story about an economist who found a $100 bill laying on the ground, but didn't bother to bend over and pick it up. When he was asked why, he said that if it had been real, someone would have already picked it up. We find this story similar to the way food waste is treated in the hotel industry, wherein it's usually assumed that those resources are already being optimized. But in reality, most large hotels unfortunately send hundreds of thousands of dollars to the landfill each year. READ MORE

A perfect job description can encourage passive job seekers to become active, drawing out quality candidates and giving a hotel a deeper pool of talent from which to find the ideal new hire. For hotels, job descriptions should go beyond details of what the job will entail to become selling documents that attract quality candidates. However, writing an intro that accomplishes this can be incredibly difficult. Here are six steps that will help a hotel uncover stronger candidates. READ MORE

Please the “F” Word to Inspire Better Service! Don't worry…the “F” stands for FEELINGS and we need to use them as guideposts in all our service actions. Hospitality leaders and their teams should inspire their teams to etch the 'F' word front and center to their actions, reactions and behaviors to get more ups than downs, and more awareness of what causes positive or negative feelings. Gain new perspective on the infamous “F” word and why it can be a powerful strategy in Hospitality leadership and delivery. READ MORE

Local legislatures in states, counties, and cities across America are implementing new Paid Sick Leave laws to build a healthy workforce, but employers have no simple task in making sense of them. What is the difference between an accrual cap, a use cap, and a rolling cap? What are the pros and cons of the accrual method versus the frontload method? How does a PTO plan interact with new Paid Sick Leave laws? Check out this article for guidance from employment attorneys to help understand and successfully implement these viral laws. READ MORE

The often variety of content streams can be bewildering for sales and marketing executives in developing a successful hotel PR and social media campaign. Launching an integrated approach that includes travel public relations and social media must engage and ultimately sell to your target market. This requires a systematic and diligent effort with sustained momentum over months and years. Fresh and creative initiatives will propel your campaign forward, but all of that happens after the foundation is in place. Monthly and quarterly reviews to ensure you are on track and succeeding in getting your message out is also necessary to continually calibrate the results. READ MORE