It is common knowledge that to develop a strong service culture, organizations in the hospitality sector have to invest in training initiatives. But training for a service-oriented culture requires more than a single program or class - training needs to be ongoing in order to avoid apathy on the part of employees. This article will focus on the training initiatives of three tourism destinations - Telluride and Aspen in Colorado, and Northstar in California. From interviews with management and those involved 'behind the scenes', the article will show that it is the continuous training of employees that differentiates these resorts from the competition. READ MORE

Today's move toward integrating technology into all aspects of the hospitality experience is driving innovation and streamlining key processes for guests. But, is this new push for more technology taking away the personal touches and human interactions that make the hospitality industry so hospitable? Lisa Ross, president and partner of integrated communications firm rbb Communications, shares how brands and properties can use digital tools to enhance human interaction, foster trial, and develop brand loyalty. READ MORE

Providing a safe and healthy workplace is not only required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), it is also essential to protect a hotel and its employees from the negative repercussions of work-related accidents and illnesses. As a hotel owner or manager, it is important to maintain a safe work environment to protect employees and better control related costs. This article explains what to do before, during and after a workplace accident, as well as actionable steps hotel executives can take to create a safe and healthy work environment for all employees. READ MORE

Do you know how to read a balance sheet and know the value of your hotels assets, liabilities and equity? Can you analyze an income statement as to its profit, revenues and expenses? Do you collect credit card charges on a timely basis? If you answered no to any of these questions, you are at a distinct disadvantage from a financial perspective. This article will explore the financial red flags that creep up on you that can be monitored and controlled before disaster sets in and therefore is too late to take corrective action. READ MORE

Women are integral players in the hospitality and tourism industry as they make up more than half of the professionals in both academia and industry. And yet, there is a glaring disparity regarding the representation of women in managerial and executive roles in this field. There are many reasons for this gender gap including the ways in which promotions are handled, leadership styles and representation, a dearth of sponsor and mentors, and a lack of work-life balance. However, there are many ways to combat these issues, facilitating the growth of qualified women in higher level positions in this industry. READ MORE

Corporate culture is an interesting phrase, as it is a noun that is hard to define, but somehow we know if our companies have positive or negative cultures. My colleagues at SHRM (Society of Human Resources Management) say this about culture,” Culture basically defines the proper way to behave within an organization.” But if employees disconnect from the training process because you have a negative learning culture, you will fail. For this article, I will give you my tips how to create a positive learning culture. READ MORE

Intentional design of your new hire's entry into your organization can be the thing that has the biggest impact on their experience and on your ability to retain them. The work is not over once you complete the recruitment process. This is actually where the real work begins. An onboarding experience that goes beyond introducing the new hire to their co-workers and the basics of their job can have long-lasting effects. A successful onboarding experience will have beneficial effects not just on your new hire but on your guests as well. READ MORE

At every industry meeting I attend the topic of workforce, the difficulty in finding talent and good workers, becomes a theme throughout the meeting discussions. Industry actions are spurred by experienced industry leaders that are committed to building educational and economic opportunity across the US, and advancing long-term career opportunities to build a more highly-skilled, competitive workforce. In partnership with the National Restaurant Association the American Hotel and Lodging Association, has received a Department of Labor contract to develop a management level apprenticeship program for the hospitality industry. In addition to developing our domestic labor market global recruiting can also create value. READ MORE

Revenue technology is following the evolution of the mobile phone. What once was just a rate-setting and forecasting tool is now the convergence of all data insights you need to influence revenue productivity, whether at your desk, on the road or at home. An RMS visualizes thousands of data points, and an RMS mobile app or voice-enabled assistant, like Amazon's Alexa, make access to that data simple, convenient and possible from anywhere with an internet connection. READ MORE

Not only did it shock the world, but last summer's massacre in Las Vegas served as a major wake up call to the hotel industry. In the months since the tragedy, we've seen major hotel chains take a renewed stance on security. In this article, we talk about the new reality for hoteliers in terms of security and the steps they can take to keep their hotels safe for employees and customers, as well as maintain a profitable business. Insurance can play a key role here as the underwriting process and regular risk control checks can uncover risk exposures related to security - exposures that can be mitigated. READ MORE

Digital marketing global thought leader, Hillary Bressler, puts together her most worthwhile statistics that will resonate with marketers looking to keep ahead of this fast paced game. The days of a 12 month locked in marketing plan is so yesterday. The times in digital marketing are changing FAST! Agile marketers must be able to turn on a dime with their strategies. Solid statistics are vital for marketers to keep up on the latest shifts. With so many marketing statistics out there today it is crucial to decide which ones are valuable to building your strategy and which ones are interesting, but useless. This article focuses on stats that make marketers think twice about their strategies. READ MORE

In the age of consumer experience-seeking, industries are increasingly crossing over, borrowing elements from other disciplines to create a more engaging guest experience. Scott Acton, CEO and founder of Forte Specialty Contractors, discusses how the hospitality and retail industries are capitalizing on this trend. From its beginnings with all-inclusive resorts that offer accommodation and excursions to the modern-day retailer offering build outs to engage with their products and designer brands opening hotels, hospitality and retail is only becoming more and more interconnected. Learn a few key ways to utilize the hospitality-retail concept to create the strongest ROI when designing and building for hospitality. READ MORE

Millennials are the largest generation in the American workforce. They were raised in a vastly different world than preceding generations. Millennials have arrived in the workplace and are actively changing how organizations are run. High millennial employee turnover saps us of the talent they bring and the training we've given them. Leaders are frustrated and not always confident in their ability to lead and retain millennials. So how can we reduce millennials turnover to leverage their skills and improve our own productivity? Stay Interview conversations conducted by leaders are the best solution. Stay Interviews are one-on-one meetings supervisors conduct with each individual employee to build engagement and retention…and to build trust. READ MORE

High-volume recruiting is about numbers, big numbers of open positions and candidates. It feels stressful and overwhelming because as recruiters, we know that sourcing and screening quality candidates take time and planning. This is challenging for a recruiter who not only has to follow a consistent process but also keep candidates and hiring managers informed and satisfied. So, how can you manage high-volume recruiting? I know what it's like to feel the pressure to fill jobs quickly—but you have hundreds of resumes to review and hiring managers are breathing down your back about finding someone yesterday. READ MORE

We have all at some point had to either hide the true emotion we are feeling or manage it, in order to create memorable experiences for our guests. While most hospitality professionals are particularly friendly people, we have all had that one difficult day when we had to put on a mask, go out there and fake being all welcoming and cheerful. We have also come to expect it as part of the job and with time we have become extremely proficient at it. That is probably the reason we do not hear hoteliers discuss “emotional labor” (the need to manage our emotions for our jobs with specific display rules). READ MORE