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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: August 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 31, 2012TripAdvisor's "Dirtiest Hotels" Ranking Makes the Grade in CourtBy Eric Goldman: “Best of” and “worst of” rankings are perennially popular fodder for publications. They are great for grabbing headlines, stirring up controversy and baiting hyperlinks. Their sensationalism means rankings–especially “worst of” rankings–also can be litigation-bait. Fortunately, a recent court ruling found that publishing a “best of”/”worst of” ranking didn’t create defamation liability. Surely, this opinion will appear on several “best of 2012″ lists itself. More... [698 views] Hotels Hitting The Bullseye When Targeting Corporate TravelersBy John McAuliffe: It's no secret that when business travelers are preparing to hit the road they look to the web to book their hotels. Reaching these potential customers - and engaging them with a targeted story that appeals to their business travelling needs - has become a key component in online hotel marketing. More... [484 views] Accor to Accelerate Expansion After Hotel Company's Profit RisesBy Simon Packard: Accor SA (AC), Europe’s largest hotel operator, will accelerate an expansion plan after the French company reported first-half profit that beat analysts’ estimates. More... [480 views] Is Business Travel Ruining Your Business (and Your Life)?By Courtney Rubin: The U.S. is the world champion in business trip spending, with businesses spending an estimated $250 billion in 2011. Last year, a Columbia University study confirmed that business travel could literally be killing people. Now a new survey suggests even if the consequences aren't quite that dire, business travel is usually bad news. More... [199 views] Black and White – Hotel Websites and OTAsBy Martin Kelly: Hotel websites and online travel agents. They sell the same product yet their websites look completely different. They are chalk and cheese, black and white, Tom and Jerry. What gives? More... [750 views] Best Western Hotels Use UV Wand and Black Light to Sanitize RoomsBy Kevin Lewis: A national hotel chain with four inns across Elkhart, LaPorte and LaGrange Counties is quite literally "shining the spotlight" on a sanitary problem. More... [375 views] How to Market a Hotel In 10 StepsWhere to start when implementing a hotel marketing strategy? How to promote a hotel with the internet moving so rapidly with new developments every day, week and month … Here is a 10 step plan on how to market a hotel. More... [1713 views] London 2012 to Improve Perceptions of Brishish Welcome Even FurtherResearch reveals Britain increasingly seen as ‘friendly and welcoming’ but work to be done More... [238 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 30, 2012No Directions and NO KETCHUP! It's The People That Make The Difference!By Doug Kennedy: As a hotel industry trainer my life on the road is probably more cushy and comfortable than many of my fellow travelers, because the hotels that tend to invest money in outside training tend to have the best guest service to begin with. However sometimes I am asked to conduct training for off-site call centers and sales offices, and during these trips I end up selecting my own hotels basically at random. More... [755 views] Your Competition is Your InspirationBy Larry Mogelonsky: Examining how other hotels, including your competitors, work is a vital exercise towards self-improvement and, ultimately, ongoing success. And you can't do it by just surfing the web and its abundance of multimedia. You have to get on property, view the operations in full and observe any intangibles. Here are a few options… More... [779 views] Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts Accelerates Growth with Opening of 10 Hotels in 2012 to Become the Largest Upscale Brand in Greater ChinaIHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world’s largest hotels group by number of rooms and in Greater China, continues its rapid distribution growth in the region with Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts adding 10 new hotels to its brand portfolio in 2012. This will bring the total number of Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts operating in Greater China to 63 and make it the largest upscale international brand in the country. More... [392 views] The Power of Surprise : InnovationBy Matthew E. May: If there’s one thing we all learn in business, it’s to avoid surprises at all costs. But what if that mindset is preventing us from breaking through all the noise, and standing out from the crowd? More... [379 views] 2012 Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S.By Gayot: Once again we introduce our new Top 40 list in a tribute to the finest dining destinations in America More... [783 views] Fine Living For Fido: The Big Apple Gets First Dog ResortBy AFP: An expansive bed with soft pillows, a flat-screen TV, a gym and chef-crafted meals — at New York's first luxury hotel for dogs, opening in a few weeks, nothing's too good for man's best friend. More... [207 views] SMEs need more handholding if they’re to exploit Facebook’s potentialBy Lee Hayhurst: More than two thirds of tour operators aren’t yet taking Facebook serious enough, says Travis Pittman, co-founder and chief executive of TourRadar. More... [129 views] Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon DeliversRobert K. Stephen: Four Seasons has followed a targeted course of expansion, focusing on opening in destinations whereits guests need to travel for business and want to visit for leisure. Today, Four Seasons operates 88 hotels and resorts in 35 countries, and continues to be guided by the Canadian values upon which it was founded. More... [341 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 29, 2012Tour Operators: Who's in control?By Jean Francois Mourier: Many "old-school" hoteliers still firmly believe in the efficacy of the tour operator business model. and rightly so. Although it should no longer be the only tactic that hoteliers used to bring in bookings, it still is a very important part of a successful revenue management strategy. More... [717 views] Raise Prices Without Losing CustomersBy Tom Searcy: Sometimes you simply need to raise rates to keep your business viable. Use these five strategies to avoid a customer exodus... More... [1028 views] 15 Examples of Stunning Hotel Web DesignBy Jody Moss: As with pretty much all areas of business and consumer branding, hotels are increasingly becoming almost completely dependent on the internet for their bookings and subsequent sales. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that the hotel's website gives off the right impression to potential visitors. More... [1480 views] 4 Email Fails That Sales Managers Must AvoidBy Tom Costello: Email is arguably the number one tool used for prospecting yet many hotel sales managers remain in the dark about how to harness this powerful tool's full potential that can turn a cold contact into a lead.Why? Because the key element, and one that will get the attention of your recipient, is that it must be about your prospect and what problems you and your hotel can solve for him. What I see, from the hundreds of emails that I receive each year from hotel sales managers, is quite the opposite. More... [1523 views] Four Seasons Exec: Incentive Travel Makes ComebackBy Barbara De Lollis: Hotel Check-In last week sat down with Craig Reid, president of hotel operations for Four Seasons' Americas division, to discuss the state of luxury travel in today's still-uncertain economy. We spoke during the luxury travel agency network convention, Virtuoso Travel Week, which is held each year at the Bellagio Las Vegas... More... [219 views] SMEs Need more Handholding If They’re To Exploit Facebook’s PotentialBy Lee Hayhurst: In preparation for our Most Amazing Tour competition we analysed 1,500 organised group tour operators from all over the world and discovered some pretty shocking facts. More... [97 views] Airlines go Low Cost, Hotels Go Luxury – Will The Twain Meet?By Yeoh Siew Hoon: At the HSMAI Asia Connect held Wednesday in Singapore, one thing that stood out is the disconnect between what's going on in hotel development and aviation. More... [534 views] Lessons from Southwest Airlines' Stellar Customer ServiceBy Katie Morell: It isn't often that the words ‘exceptional customer service' and ‘airline' are in the same sentence. Tricky rules regarding flight-schedule changes, high fees and sometimes-rude employees have given the airline industry a bad rap. More... [381 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 28, 2012Anticipation…How Did I Forget That?By Don Birch: In a eureka moment I have realised that the traditional travel cycle of ‘inspire, research, validate, purchase, consume and report almost never explores the buzz of ‘anticipation'. Arguably for most leisure travellers, anticipation is a major component of the travel experience. More... [522 views] Hotelier Interview: The Remarkable David DodwellBy Madigan Pratt: Every hotelier should have an amazing year like David Dodwell. So what did he do to earn it? And what are his plans for the future? More... [616 views] 6 Luxury Travel Trends To Know NowBy Annie Fitzsimmons: "If you're doing something you love with people you love to be with, that's a great start," said Francis Ford Coppola as he turned up as a surprise guest at the newly rebranded Virtuoso Travel Week... More... [1592 views] The 5 Unwritten Rules That Will Kill Your BusinessBy Mike Michalowicz: It goes without saying that as business leaders we enforce rules that "go without saying." You know what I'm talking about-those unwritten rules like "The customer is always right" and "Hire only A players." These apparently obvious business success rules aren't necessarily written in corporate guidelines or HR manuals, but they obviously work. Or at least that's what we thought. More... [741 views] Hotel Lawyer: Dodd-Frank Act Presents Hotels with Decisions on Credit and Debit Card ChargesBy Robert E. Braun: The financial reforms following in the wake of the banking mess brought new regulations on the use and charges for credit and debit cards. There may be some benefits here for hoteliers, but there certainly are some decisions to make. More... [306 views] Top 10 Casino Hotels WorldwideBy Gayot: Let's admit it. At some point in life we all want to know if Lady Luck is on our side. And what better place to roll the dice and find out than a luxury casino resort or hotel? Naturally, we've included old favorites such as Las Vegas and Monte Carlo, but you'll also find a few surprises here... More... [609 views] Business Travel in West AfricaArm your travellers with good preparation, local contacts, cash and a flexible attitude, and they will be set to do business in West Africa, says Jane Labous. More... [195 views] Tropical Storm Begs Question: Why Travel During Hurricane Season?By Chris Owen: Tropical Storm Isaac is the ninth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It threatens the eastern Caribbean and the southern U.S. coastal areas with flight and power disruptions, cruise ships detours and more. But as we head into September, traditionally the most active month of the hurricane season, some travelers are still eager to drive, fly or sail through the area - but why? More... [219 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 27, 2012Choosing a Hotel Brand is Dominated by Emotion - Part IIBy Larry Mogelonsky: As hotel marketers we are so focused on rational differentiators and, lately, price and discounting, that we have forgotten about the emotional, or irrational, component, which the study indicates accounts for nearly 70% of the decision process. More... [927 views] What's the Big Deal With First Impressions? Leadership Lessons From Fine HotelsBy Barbara T. Armstrong: Smart hospitality leaders know one thing for sure: a great guest experience begins with a great first impression. And according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, hotels everywhere are energizing their efforts to “dazzle guests during the first, crucial 15 minutes of their stay—or at least avoid annoying them.” More... [728 views] The Importance of Deals and Coupons as a Marketing Strategy for HotelsBy Jason Harter: If you are in the marketing department of a hotel, you have the responsibility of bringing in new guests. To do this successfully you must advertise in a much more imaginative manner than anyone else is in your industry. The traditional methods of attracting the attention of perspective guests may not always be the best route in this modern technological age. You want the general public to want to go out of their way to stay at your hotel. The vital importance of deals and coupons to attract guests cannot be overstated. There are six ways to accomplish this. More... [550 views] Which Is London's Best Budget Hotel Brand?By Rajul: A while back we looked at which budget hotel chain was best, Travelodge or Premier Inn, with the latter just getting the edge across a raft of criteria. But time has moved on since then and with Premier Inn now angling more towards the mid-price market, there's room for another budget contender in the capital. Enter Tune Hotels, and its 'limited service' concept. More... [596 views] Hard Rock Takes on a New BeatThe Hard Rock Cafe franchise, famed for its rock'n'roll memorabilia, is expanding its reach into hotels and casinos -- but its chief executive says the brand will remain ‘special.’ "We don't want to be in every street corner, in every city of the UK," Hard Rock's Hamish Dodds told CNN. More... [269 views] Ten Hotels That Are Owned By CelebritiesBy Jennifer Polland: Celebrities travel the world and stay in countless luxury hotels, which means that they know the difference between a good hotel and a bad one. And when a celebrity decides to open a hotel, the hotel is likely to come with luxury amenities, excellent service and a beautiful setting befitting the rich and famous. More... [811 views] Understanding Your Customers Through ResearchBy Denise Lee Yohn: Most business leaders know the value of customer input and feedback. But if some recent developments are any indication, the right way to get that customer insight is less well understood and practiced. More... [319 views] The Rise of the Designer HotelBy Kristen Bellstrom: Pack your bags, label snobs. In one of the little-noticed but quirkier travel trends of recent years, brands best known for sequin gowns and logo-bedecked handbags are slapping their names on the marquees of high-end hotels across the globe. More... [413 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 24, 2012Helpful Hotels: 15 Great Examples of Remarkable Service That Earns Social Media AttentionBy Josiah Mackenzie: Customer service has always been a prerequisite to success in the hotel industry, but in this social media era where everyone acts as a publisher, there is additional marketing value to being remarkable. Getting the basics right, but also looking to create “talkable touchpoints.” Here’s a collection of interesting examples I’ve seen recently that might inspire you… More... [2609 views] Hotel Employees Dish Industry DirtBy Laurel Miller: Reddit, the popular social news website, has been hosting a lively discussion amongst (alleged) current and former hotel employees across the globe, in which they serve up tantalizing tales of misdeeds, mishaps, scams and shocking industry policies. More... [592 views] Cambria Suites Research Finds Productivity Is Key To Achieving Work-Life Balance For Business TravelersA new survey from Cambria Suites fielded by the GBTA Foundation, the research and education arm of the Global Business Travel Association, revealed that work-life balance is an important goal for almost nine of 10 surveyed business travelers. Seventy-one percent of respondents say the key to achieving work-life balance is focusing on "work-life productivity" while traveling, which means living their entire life more productively and putting equal focus on work and personal needs. More... [150 views] Three Leadership Traits that Never Go Out of StyleBy Vineet Nayar: When I was a kid, the children in our neighborhood would play in a nearby park every evening. Our undisputed leader was a boy barely a year older than I was, I think. He introduced the new kids to everyone, taught them the rules of games we played, and made sure no one felt left out. We also trusted him blindly because he had our backs whenever we messed up. None of the leadership lessons that I have learned, unlearned, or relearned ever since have left as indelible an impact as the ones I learnt as a child. Three, in particular, stand out. More... [1185 views] New Rules for Hidden Web ChargesBy Lee Hayhurst: British consumer affairs minister Norman Lamb said: "Many people have been ripped off at some point by hidden online charges while booking a holiday. The Consumer Rights Directive will put an end to certain bad business practices." More... [194 views] Dynamics Shifting in OTA-Hotelier Relationship as APAC Hotel Market MaturesBy Yeoh Siew Hoon: The ongoing battle between hoteliers and third party intermediaries over control of inventory and the customer is set to become more complex as a massive influx of supply and changes in consumer behaviour converge to transform the hotel landscape in Asia Pacific. More... [437 views] GuestComment Tries To Reunite Hotels And Guests With Real-Time ReviewsBy Andy Beal: Online hotel reviews are riddled with fraud and fiction, and legitimately negative reviews are often prompted by issues that could have been resolved easily if the guest had connected with the hotel management during their stay. With more than 90% of travelers changing their hotel choice because of an online reviews, this space is as valuable as it is confused. Hotels are desperate for a better way to collect -- and respond to -- feedback while their guests are still onsite. More... [381 views] World's Most Expensive Cities for a Hotel RoomBy Zoe Li: Survey details the 10 costliest cities for travel accommodation. Spare couch, anyone? More... [1349 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 23, 2012Would You Like to Contribute to ehotelier's New Year Feature? Here's HowEach year at ehotelier we invite readers to contribute their stories in an Xmas/New Year feature series. If you or a colleague would like to be published on ehotelier, send us your article/story by 30 November 2012 and have something to brag about at the office party. More... [254 views] Pineapple Service: The Smallest Gestures Can Make The Biggest ImpressionsBy Roberta Nedry: It's the small things that matter. Big things come in small packages... it's the little things that count. This is especially true in the hospitality industry. The littlest efforts can make the biggest impressions. They show a degree of caring in the most simple and mundane of gestures and that everyday life moments matter... even when away from home or office. More... [1417 views] Social Media ROI And Why Your Hotel May Be Focusing On The Wrong ReturnBy Matt Bitzer: As a hotelier, you rely on many different tools to sell your product: professional photography for marketing collateral, training programs for the sales team, advertising in traditional media, wining and dining potential clients, emarketing and even business cards. They all come at a price. Whether it's at the property level or supplied by the brand, someone has to pay for the tools that are essential to marketing and selling your hotel. So what is the ROI on those tools? If you've never bothered to calculate the return, why not? More... [1169 views] Have Location-Based Social Media Stalled?By Larry Mogelonsky: Now that we're past the hype phase, it's time to reevaluate these online networks. More... [676 views] The Latest Trend in Luxury Hotels: Extending Hospitality to Your Beloved PetsBy Lily Lin: More and more pet owners consider their beloved pets as a part of their family. Instead of leaving them behind when going on vacation, many look for hotels and air transportation that are pet-friendly. At the same time, competition motivates airlines and hoteliers to come up with new ways to attract new customers and keep the existing passangers and hotel guests loyal. More... [830 views] Agents’ Luxury Travel Sales Are Strong, Against All OddsBy Andrew Sheivachman and Maria Lenhart: Strong sales of luxury travel are defying the odds posed by a stubbornly sluggish U.S. economy. More... [120 views] Why You Don't Want to Be Like Steve JobsBy Barry Moltz: After reading Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (who had full access to Jobs during the interview process), I have concluded that you don't want to run your company like Steve Jobs. You can't duplicate his success by being like him. In fact, you don't need to be Steve Jobs to build your company. Let's examine Jobs' "successful" management practices from Issacson's book: More... [759 views] This is a People BusinessBy Bill Marriott: Rick Collins is one of the reasons I love this business. He’s a Guest Service Associate at the Courtyard Nashville Downtown and according to his GM, “Rick’s heart says, ‘do the right thing all of the time.” More... [494 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 22, 2012From Pricing Complaints to Personal Attacks: How to Respond to Challenging Guest ReviewsBy Daniel Edward Craig: Responding to online reviews has become routine for many hoteliers, and yet every once in a while a real zinger comes along that makes you catch your breath and clench your fists. How should you respond? Or should you respond at all? More... [1601 views] Training Program Refurbishment – Lessons from a DIY JunkieBy Tiffany DeShazo: I admit it, I'm a DIY junkie. If you have never refinished a piece of furniture before, let me walk you through the steps so we can discover the parallels between refinishing furniture and repurposing in the work place. More... [260 views] How to Get More Online ReviewsBy John Jantsch: It has been reported that approximately 52 percent of consumers will choose a company that has already received several positive reviews. Only 28 percent consider price and location as a determining factor. So, how do you go about getting more online reviews for your business? More... [672 views] A “Terrific Opportunity”: Your Hotel Customers On the GoBy Pamela Whitby: In this exclusive interview Hotwire president Clem Bason shares some secrets with EyeforTravel's Pamela Whitby. Google, he says, is a help not a hindrance, pure paid-for advertising can deliver Facebook ‘likes' faster and - as for mobile - well things are only just hotting up. More... [508 views] Why Less Is More in TeamsBy Mark de Rond: Why does baseball field nine players, basketball five, volleyball six, water polo seven, and cricket eleven? Simple as these questions are, they are deceptively hard to answer. But whatever the historical reasons, the number of people on a team has significant impact on performance. Here's why. More... [411 views] Ten of America's Best Historic RestaurantsBy Amanda Kludt: Those who want a side of history with their dinners -- and a higher probability for a return visit -- should seek out some of America's wonderful, still-thriving historic restaurants, from the centuries-old steakhouses in Manhattan to San Francisco's 100-year-old seafood counter, Seattle's midcentury four-star, and the Tex-Mex breakfast spot that Austin, Texas, politicos, from Lyndon B. Johnson onward, have called home for decades. More... [203 views] Floating Golf Courses, Villas And Hotels All Part Of Sinking Maldives Plan To Hover Above Rising Sea LevelsBy Mark Johanson: Maybe you've already heard: The Maldives is sinking. So what do you do when your tourist-dependent country is slowly disappearing into the sea? If you're the Maldivian government, you create a series of floating islands that include a hotel and convention center, private villas, yacht club and 18-hole golf course. More... [343 views] Get the Best Airplane SeatWe've all been there -- the small child kicking the back of your seat, the lack of legroom, the war over the armrest. While there's no fail-safe way to guarantee that aisle seat in the exit row near the front of the plane with no one sitting next to you, we have some tactics that will help. More... [800 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 21, 2012Many Websites for Booking Hotels, But Little CompetitionBy Ellen Creager: Have you noticed? Online hotel prices are becoming as homogenized as a bottle of milk. Big travel sites have gobbled up competitors. Discounters have bought other discounters. The concentration of nearly all travel booking engine websites ensures that most of them are reliable and efficient - but tend to have exactly the same price. More... [739 views] Are You Losing Revenue Because Your Hotel Website Isn't Mobile Optimized?By Matt Bitzer: When visitors arrive at your hotel website using their mobile phone what do they see? Is it easy for them to book a room? To find directions? To call the hotel? Or have you forced your potential customers to try to view and navigate your standard website--which was designed for large computer monitors--on a small, mobile screen about the size of a playing card? More... [805 views] Security Fix Requires Hardware Changes For Millions Of Keycard LocksBy Andy Greenberg: Good news for the security of hotels and travelers: Onity, whose keycard locks can be found on at least four million rooms around the world, has a plan to fix a security flaw that could allow hackers to insert a homemade device into its keycard locks and open them in seconds. The bad news: the fix requires hardware changes to every affected lock. More... [413 views] What’s Most Important in a Travel Tablet App?By Larry Mogelonsky: An interview with Daniel Brody of iHorse Technologies. More... [488 views] Technology is Making You Sick: Here's the CureBy Barry Moltz: In an interview with Dr. Rosen, author of iDisorder: Understanding Our Obsession with Technology and Overcoming Its Hold on Us, he described how to recognize the symptoms of a technology addiction. See if you find yourself identifying with any of the following behaviors described below. More... [434 views] New Cornell Study Shows Corrosive Effects of Negative Employee Attitudes on Turnover and New Hotel Pricing Tool to Optimize Room RatesHospitality managers have long suspected that there's a connection between the industry's high turnover and employee attitudes. A new report from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research focuses on how that connection works. More... [664 views] Asia Pacific Tops Global Hotel Pipeline for July: STR GlobalBy Nathan Greenhalgh: Asia Pacific dominated the global hotel development pipeline in July, according to new data from STR Global. More... [523 views] More U.S. Hotels Charging For Internet, Gym FacilitiesBy Michael B. Baker: Free breakfast has become more prevalent at U.S. hotels during the past two years, while free Internet has become less so, according to a survey conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and STR. More... [415 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 20, 2012Hotel Industry News In BriefHospitality industry news in brief.................. More... [630 views] Marketing is Dead – A RebuttalBy Larry Mogelonsky: Earlier this week, ehotelier published a very poignant article by Bill Lee entitled “Marketing is Dead.” In all likelihood the title was engineered not as an absolute statement of fact but rather a tool to spark debate. And debate we shall! More... [691 views] Social Media: Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’tBy Madigan Pratt: It seems that the article published last week entitled Marketing Is Dead has provoked considerable response. You’ve read Larry Mogelonsky’s views — now let’s hear from Madigan Pratt. What do you think? Join the discussion on our forum More... [562 views] Act Global and Think Local: How Not to Get Lost in TranslationBy EyeforTravel: In an increasingly online and accessible world, travel firms should be thinking not only about the social but the global aspect of social media. The day you set up a Facebook page, you’re global whether you like it or not. More... [470 views] The 5 Unwritten Rules That Will Kill Your BusinessBy Mike Michalowicz: There are five common unwritten rules that almost every business follows with the best of intentions. The outcomes, though, might be disastrous. More... [870 views] Are Hotel Concierges Becoming Obsolete?By Tracy You: To some travellers, they're still an essential part of any hotel stay, but are these cheerful know-it-alls going the way of the fax machine and traveller's check? More... [1634 views] Virtuoso Awards AnnouncedBy Nathan Greenhalgh: The Beverly Hills Hotel and the general manager of Villa d’Este, located in Cernobbio, Italy, won the top honors of Virtuoso’s 2012 “Best of the Best” hotel awards. More... [406 views] Top 9 Business Hotels in N.Y.C.Headed to the Big Apple to clinch that deal or check in on a valued client? Online lodging experts Oyster has prepared a breakdown of the best hotels for business travellers in the city that never sleeps (even if you do). More... [429 views] Moscow Hotels 'World's Most Expensive'By Oliver Smith: Moscow’s hotels have been named the world’s most expensive for the eighth year running. More... [344 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 17, 2012Why Your Big Brand Hotel Will Benefit From A Custom, Independent WebsiteBy Abby Heft: Have you ever tried to quickly update your official hotel website with time-sensitive information, but were told it would take weeks for the brand to make the change? Do you want to include links to your hotel’s social media accounts on your official website but the brand says you can’t? Has your brand ever prevented you from adding a link to a website you thought might be valuable for your visitors? Or maybe the brand has placed restrictions on the landing pages you are allowed to create within your site. More... [771 views] Customer Loyalty in as Little as 17 ½ MinutesBy Bob Taylor and Jim Hartigan: How can you entangle a guest to the point that they would NOT EVEN CONSIDER (or even take an appointment should one be offered) another vendor even if they were offering a PRICE REDUCTION of 25%? More... [865 views] Best London Hotel ConversionsBy Timea: London has a treasure trove of clever hotel conversions, many of which are somewhat hidden from view. Here is a little tour of some of my favourites. More... [680 views] The Business Benefits of Being NiceBy Darren Dahl: It’s easy to think of the workplace as something like a battleground—a place where only the tough survive. But what if the tables were turned? What if, instead of rewarding harsh and ruthless behavior, the most successful people among us were actually, gulp, kind? More... [559 views] Survey Identifies Key Trends in Amenities, Facilities, ProgramsThe American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) 2012 Lodging Survey, the most comprehensive industry-wide survey of its kind, polled more than 52,000 U.S. hotel properties regarding in-room amenities, security and technology features, food and beverage options, guest services, sustainability, property offerings, and much more. More... [473 views] Hotels That Serve Glorified Prison Food For BreakfastBy Dave Seminara: I've never been to prison, but I can't help but wonder if convicts get a nicer breakfast than what you find on the breakfast buffets at most American chain hotels these days. More... [360 views] Tokyo's Luxe New Hotels Offer City PanoramasBy Peter Neville-Hadley: The Park Hyatt Tokyo was going to fail, or so everyone said. It was hidden away atop three connected towers in the then unfashionable Shinjuku district, and made no particular effort to let anyone know it was there. Its unconventional vertical labyrinth was not reassuring. Worst of all it was run by foreigners who would never be able to provide service to Japanese standards. More... [322 views] Hotel Pet Hates: From Towel Art to Bath Butler ServiceBy Alex Polizzi: I am a very patient woman. I can forgive most of the common mistakes I encounter around the country in my role as Channel Five’s Hotel Inspector, but the one I can’t abide is the inexplicable disconnection between how some hotels perceive themselves and the service they provide and how the ordinary customer sees them. More... [501 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 16, 2012On The Move July 2012Global Staff Movements for July 2012 provided by Spectrum International. More... [1050 views] The Top Social Media Blunders Hotels Continue to Make and How to Fix it, NowBy Kirsten Rhode: When I ask hoteliers what their goals are for any given Social Media campaign, undoubtedly I still get the answer “I want to be in the top listing on Trip Advisor”, or “I want 10,000 Facebook Fans, or Twitter followers” While this is at a minimum very unrealistic for any new campaign, it is not the mindset that is going to generate business or increase customer loyalty. The point I always try to clearly explain is this, Social Media is not necessarily a numbers game, it is more contingent on the quality of the fans, followers and reviews you have on your respective sites. More... [868 views] Going Local, Taken to a Whole New LevelBy Larry Mogelonsky: Interview with Executive Chef Patrick Turcot of Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu. More... [392 views] How To Buy A Hotel Handbook: Franchise Issues in Hotel Purchase and Sale TransactionsBy Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®: In this article, we discuss some of our experience in dealing with a few key hotel franchise issues that need to be addressed during the hotel purchase and sale agreement negotiation and during the transition process. More... [464 views] Do You Need a Social Media Manager?By Angela Stringfellow: When you find yourself spending most of your time on social media instead of your core business functions, it may be time to consider hiring a dedicated social media manager. More... [690 views] Luxury Hospitality in 'Hidden Ireland'By Mackenzie Carpenter: Americans love to travel in Ireland, but sometimes it makes all the difference to go off the beaten path and discover, as I did, beautiful places hidden in plain sight. More... [307 views] Google to Acquire Frommer's Travel GuidebooksBy Alexei Oreskovic and Gerry Shih: Google Inc is buying the Frommer's line of travel guidebooks, the latest move to amass a trove of publishing content that could strengthen the No. 1 Internet search company's push to become a major online travel broker. More... [325 views] Hotel Doors In Norway: Closed But Not Instantly LockedBy Marc Weber Tobias: Norway is unique in the world in that it has a legal requirement that all electronic hotel door locks must be programmed to remain open for times that are defined by local fire ordinance. More... [341 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 15, 2012No More Paris Hilton: Chain Loses Rights to French HotelThe US socialite will be the only Paris Hilton left after the hotel chain lost the right to manage its sole establishment in the centre of the French capital under a court ruling. More... [1251 views] Hotels Don’t See Social Media as a PriorityHotels are putting social media on hold as a marketing and selling mechanism, while they focus on driving direct bookings in response to their continuous struggle for better margins with the Online Travel Agents (OTAs), says research by Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (Switzerland) and RateTiger. More... [791 views] Marketing Is DeadBy Bill Lee: Traditional marketing - including advertising, public relations, branding and corporate communications - is dead. Many people in traditional marketing roles and organizations may not realize they're operating within a dead paradigm. But they are. The evidence is clear. More... [1175 views] Top 10 Boutique Beach BreaksInto/In need of a relaxing beach getaway? Boutique hotel experts Mr & Mrs Smith round up 10 of the world's most stylish shoreside stays... More... [1120 views] The Perception of HospitalityBy Alene Keenan: Many novice stews ask what it means to be a yacht stew, why we are called stews, and how hospitality in yachting differs from hospitality in hotels and restaurants. More... [428 views] Why Dignity is the Key to Customer ServiceBy Tom Rieger: For the last several decades customer service has cycled through an evolution of different metrics, all focused on measuring if the customer is happy. It started with satisfaction, then moved to loyalty, engagement, customer value, back to loyalty, then the recommend question, and even level of effort. Regardless of the label, the intent of these metrics is largely the same. Make the customer happy. More... [766 views] Hotel Rates on the Rise in Latin America, As Fallout of Sovereign Debt Crisis Hits EurozoneThe strongest growth in hotel rates in the first half of 2012 took place in Latin America, whilst hotel prices across the Eurozone either fell or remained flat, according to the latest bi-annual hotel survey from Hogg Robinson Group. More... [179 views] Hotel Industry Reacts to Expedia’s New Agency ModelBy Jason Q. Freed: Buzz is growing over Expedia's new payment model and its potential impact on the hotel industry. While many questions remain unanswered, the Expedia Traveler Preference program could place the relationship between hotels and online travel agencies under an even more intense microscope. More... [673 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 14, 2012Thinking Differently in HospitalityBy Robert J. Nyman: If you want to be perceived differently than your competitors, well then, you better do things different! Here's how. More... [1033 views] In Search of Hotel Excellence: Fairmont Le Chateau FrontenacBy Larry Mogelonsky: When you have a property that's more than just a hotel, but an icon for a city (and perhaps a country!), calling the role of General Manager complex is an understatement. Such is the situation that Robert Mercure finds himself in as one of the leaders of Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, Canada. More... [857 views] Landing Pages: The Secret to Online SalesBy Angela Stringfellow: Location. Location. Location. We all know it's one of the most basic principles of marketing. A good location helps draw customers and increase sales. With the advent of the Internet and digital marketing, location has become less important, but it's still critical to consider where you're sending your customers when incorporating digital advertising into your marketing mix. More... [473 views] Could This Be An End to OTA Commissions?By Jitendra Jain: An exclusive interview with Michal Wrobel, one of the co-founders of Treovi, a recently launched hotel distribution initiative that is causing industry buzz with a unique value proposition for hoteliers...an end to OTA commissions! More... [1548 views] What $8K a Night Gets You in Boston: The 10 Priciest Luxury Hotel SuitesBy Joe Halpern: They all offer tons of floor space, top-of-the-line amenities, world-class service and commanding views. But it's the price tag that separates the swankiest hotel suites in the Boston/Cambridge area from all the luxury suites - that, along with the privilege of being even able to afford spending the night in one of the most coveted rooms in the area. More... [358 views] Homegrown Luxury Hotel Has Global AspirationsBy Matthew Fulco: International brands have long ruled the roost in China's luxury hotel market, attracting discerning travellers from home and abroad. Typically lacking their foreign counterpart's hospitality acumen, most Chinese hotels have competed for the market's middle and lower tiers, and few have ventured overseas. But not everything made in China is created equally. More... [200 views] Six Baby Barn Owls Check Into a Marriott HotelBy Barbara De Lollis: Instead of moving six baby barn owls, the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront Hotel welcomed them - and started naming their long-term guests. More... [387 views] Juicing While Travelling: Hotels Offer Juice-Themed VacationsSeveral properties around the country are now offering juice-themed vacations for the die-hards and juicing bars for the more casual. More... [261 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 13, 2012Hotel Industry News In BriefHospitality industry news in brief................... More... [672 views] A Beginner's Guide To Hotel Link BuildingBy Kim Leveque: One of the most important tactics in optimizing your website for search engines actually takes place off-site. Link building is the on-going and at times daunting task of connecting with other relevant, quality websites to add a link back to your web property. More... [1069 views] People Management Translates into Superior Economic PerformanceCompanies that are highly skilled in core HR practices experience up to 3.5 times the revenue growth and as much as 2.1 times the profit margins of less capable companies, according to new research by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA). More... [446 views] The 8 Things You Should Never Say to a ClientBy Mike Michalowicz: They say words make up just 10 percent of communication, while things like body language and voice inflection make up the majority. But words are critically important in business. In fact, if you slip up with the wrong word choices, it can be deadly. Here are eight verbal slip-ups you should try with all your might never to make. More... [1960 views] Gordon Ramsay Checks In to Hotel HellBy Alex Strachan: The last time Gordon Ramsay checked in to a low-end, lice-ridden, lowdown hotel that no self-respecting rageaholic would be caught dead in, he didn't blow a gasket exactly but - well, he did blow a gasket, actually. Sometimes, though, out of deep anger comes great inspiration, and Hotel Hell is the result. More... [769 views] UK Hotel Industry Alive with InnovationLarge hotel chains are quick to adopt and adapt innovations developed in other industries, while smaller hotels make almost continual incremental changes in response to customers' needs. The UK hotel industry is alive with innovation and new ways of improving service for customers, research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has found. More... [835 views] Cheaters Pick Their Favorite New York City Hotels For An AffairBy Julie Zeveloff: When it comes to cheating on their spouses, New Yorkers are willing to spend a surprising amount on a hotel room. Adulterous dating website AshleyMadison.com just released the results of a survey looking at the favorite hotels of cheaters. More... [453 views] New Cruise Fees Being TestedBy Genevieve Shaw Brown: Carnival Cruise Line is testing out a new fee, one that would, among other things, allow priority seating at dinner. Sound familiar? More... [188 views] Intel, W Hotels Team Up for Screenplay CompetitionBy Edward C. Baig: Got a really great screenplay idea—about an Ultrabook? Intel is teaming up with W Hotels on a global online competition and promotion in which aspiring filmmakers place the thin and light Intel-inspired portable computers in a key role in what are supposed to be 10-minute films. More... [213 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 10, 2012Global Hotel Sentiment Falls As Continued Economic Issues Continue to BiteThe latest survey compiled by Horwath Hotel, Tourism and Leisure (HTL), the world’s largest hospitality consulting firm, shows that the improved optimism at the start of the year has once again been stymied due to the prevailing global economic uncertainty. More... [367 views] Intercontinental Hits Back at Hotel Price-Fixing ClaimsThe world's largest hotel group yesterday hit back at claims that it unlawfully colluded with online travel agents to fix the prices of its rooms as it posted bumper half year results. It emerged yesterday that if the allegations are proven, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) could be in line for a record fine of up to pounds sterling 115m. More... [673 views] How to Come Out On Top in Hotel MarketingBy Stefan Hull: The blurring of search and social is presenting new challenges. Here, Stefan Hull, insight director at digital marketing specialist Propellernet, describes how marketing strategies should adapt to ensure the best exposure in both earnt, owned and paid media, and hears the views of hotel panellists brought together for a roundtable debate More... [329 views] Mitigate the Risk in Social Media SellingBy Barbara Giamanco and Kent Gregoire: It stands to reason that sales, the most social of business activities, would make use of social media. Platforms for online collaboration are rapidly changing the way we work, offering new ways to engage with customers, colleagues, and the world at large. Sales reps now have the ability to participate in global conversations about their products, their field, and their expertise. But some companies are so worried about potential mistakes or loss of control that they don't allow participation. That's a bad idea. More... [225 views] How to Navigate Additional Hotel FeesBy Clem Bason: While they might be common in nearly every service industry these days– banking, entertainment, dining – their expansion within the travel industry is relatively new. Just like those other industries, travel providers need those revenue streams in order to maintain or improve their current levels of service. The difference in travel is that the recent fee expansion has created both a heightened sensitivity from customers and a trial/error period for providers. That’s not a great combination, but problems can be easily avoided if you know what to look for. More... [203 views] Survey Reveals Generational Divide Over Relaxation HabitsThe 2012 Princess Cruises Relaxation Report, commissioned in celebration of National Relaxation Day on Aug. 15, revealed that Boomers and their adult children's generation of Millennials have very different vacation habits, from social media vices to work-life balance, with the latter finding it more difficult to, or simply refusing to, truly disconnect while on holiday. More... [268 views] Hotel Toiletries Getting Too Upscale to Leave BehindBy Irene Levine: Some of the miniature toiletries at upscale hotels and resorts are so beautifully bottled, fabulously scented and downright seductive they seem to dare guests: Try me. See if you can resist taking me home! More... [649 views] Why Ecuador's New Mashpi Lodge Is Better than the RestBy Nicholas Gill: In a highly biodiverse Andean rain and cloud forest in northwest Ecuador, the recently opened Mashpi Lodge is outdoing every old-guard enviro-conscious hotel. Here’s how. More... [198 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 9, 2012Discussing the Benefits of Google Hotel FinderBy Larry Mogelonsky: A comprehensive interview with Craig Wingate, CEO of Woodcrick Ventures. More... [895 views] The Art of Leadership: Become a More Effective Leader in Three StepsBy Richard Lorenzen: Leadership has been and always will be the most valuable asset on earth. Without it, no amount of money, resources or talent will ever achieve sustainable success for any organization. But with it, all other odds and obstacles can be overcome. Leadership is what moves us from point A to point B; leadership is what makes each of us all that we have the potential to be. Leadership is what gives us hope for a better tomorrow. No one ever said it was easy. Follow this process to become a more effective leader. More... [897 views] Observations on Hotel Safety and Security for Hospitality BrandsBy Dr. John Hogan: There are many issues facing Hospitality Brands and Hotel Management Companies as they expand their operations in global markets. With the expansion comes increasing pressure to address safety and security issues in both the marketplace and the training classroom. More... [611 views] Five Tips for Getting the Most Out of Online AdvertisingBy John Jantsch: Online advertising is quickly becoming the main advertising platform for all businesses. A study by Pew estimates that income from digital advertising will increase by 40 percent between 2011 and 2015. Within the next four years, online advertising could soon overtake all other forms of promotion. More... [467 views] Recession Taught the Value of Business TravelKatie Johnston of the Globe staff spoke to Michael McCormick, executive director of the association, about the mistakes companies made during the recession and why so many business travellers are flying coach. More... [206 views] New Website Connects Gay Travellers with Gay Friendly HotelsBy Robbie Laurie: World Rainbow Hotels, the gay & lesbian travel organization which made the headlines a year and a half ago as the first ever supplier of gay-friendly hotels on the GDS (Travel Global Distribution System), has launched a new website allowing LGBT consumers to locate and book with genuine gay and lesbian-welcoming hotels. More... [353 views] Reputation Changer Helps Hotels Ward Off Bad ReviewsThe hotel business is becoming increasingly impacted by online review sites—but companies like Reputation Changer can help hotel owners take control of their online image. More... [292 views] Is Ibiza's Hedonistic Ushuaia Hotel the Most Hi-Tech on the Planet?By James Day: The pool has underwater speakers, 5,000 clubbers are gathered around a large LED-laden stage and I paid for my drink using my finger. This is Ibiza, more specifically Ushuaia – a hedonistic hotel like no other that’s staking a claim to be the world’s techiest. More... [612 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 8, 2012Who Do You Trust with Your Hotel Investment?By Patrick Landman: Surprisingly enough we see many hotels being managed by former F&B or Front Desk managers with little true experience in finance or business strategies. The hospitality industry is known for its policy to promote from within. Putting an un-experienced or not sufficiently skilled manager in charge of your hotel operation without the proper support team, means you are taking a risk with the results of your investment. More... [477 views] Are New Hotel Launches a Sign of Market Recovery?By Larry Mogelonsky: Discussing the new Hilton Oceanfront Carlsbad and launching a hotel in 2012. More... [729 views] Online Goliaths Battle for Distribution Supremacy - A Hotel StoryBy Gavin Landry: Recently I attended the NYU International Hospitality Investment Conference in NYC. There was quite a buzz in the hallways as deals were being made and lots of enthusiasm permeated the event. It was great to see and stood in stark contrast to last year's event where there was nearly the opposite sentiment and bank's wallets were the equivalent of a clenched fist. More... [296 views] Make Your Next Business Trip More ProductiveBy Carla Young: Travelling for work usually means an entire day wasted standing in airport lines, sitting in uncomfortable chairs and making small talk with strangers because the battery on your laptop died halfway into the flight. It doesn't have to be that way. Business travel is one of my most productive times because I am able to focus solely on work tasks without the typical office or family distractions. The key is capitalizing on the hidden pockets of time while avoiding the major travel productivity roadblocks. More... [554 views] Today’s Hotel Property Deals Involve Less Risk and More BalanceBy HVS London: A new report from hospitality consulting and services company HVS London suggests that traditional hotel management agreements (HMAs) are becoming more owner-friendly as owners secure a level of control on operations and a guaranteed return to at least cover debt service. More... [197 views] 16 Hotels That Are Worth Checking Into For Their Restaurants AloneBy Jennifer Polland: Sometimes, the best dining experiences are right inside your hotel. Whether you're looking for a high-end sophisticated dining and lodging experience or a hip and trendy eatery-hotel, we've found the best hotels for foodies in America. Not only is their food first-rate, but their restaurants are a visual treat as well. More... [722 views] Light at the End of the Tunnel for South African HotelsBy Elma Kloppers: Occupancy rates in South Africa's hotel industry are expected to recover by 2016, thanks to rising tourist numbers and a levelling off in the number of rooms being brought to the market. More... [323 views] Los Angeles' Craft Cocktail Scene Spills onto a Wider StageBy Jessica Gelt: As carefully concocted, pre-Prohibition era-inspired drinks become big business on an international level, the apple martini is going the way of the VCR. Craft cocktails are now the hallmark of many fine dining programs, with as much attention being placed on the garnish in the glass as to what's on the plate. More... [146 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 7, 2012Another Cutback Doesn’t Have to Mean More Stress!By Jim Hartigan: "We need you to do more with less!" The dreaded mandate sent down from on high has become an all-too-common refrain recently. The term "cutbacks" calls to mind all sorts of terrible images, including layoffs, pay cuts, inadequate technological resources, swarms of locusts, and fire-breathing hydra, just to name a few. So it's no wonder that the first mention of cutbacks can send an otherwise fearless corporate manager fleeing to cower under the nearest desk. More... [463 views] Doing the VIP Treatment RightBy Larry Mogelonsky: As a member of the ‘working hotel team', I am often given an upgraded room, but rarely am subject to the true VIP treatment. Having recently experienced this at a local winery, I am now more cognizant of the value of these efforts and its implications for repeat business coming from such activities. More... [951 views] Strengthening Your Social Media Presence: Understanding Proper EtiquetteBy Sarah Zibanejadrad: In our last installment of the "Strengthening Your Social Media Presence" series, we will be covering the importance of knowing and using correct social media etiquette to interact with your following. By now, you have already improved the quality of content you promote through your social media outlets and have begun to build a sturdy foundation of followers. At this point, the trick is to keep those followers happy with how you interact with them and present your brand online. More... [452 views] The Hotels vs OTA Paid Search War – Get Your Defensive Strategy RightBy Pablo Delgado and César López: This post examines how 3rd Party Retailers / OTAs capture business intended directly for hotels...and how to approach / fix the problem. Also evaluated is the value OTAs CAN add, i.e. via generic and destination level searches. More... [988 views] Is This the Scariest Hotel Swimming Pool Ever?Calling all thrill seekers: dive into this glass-bottomed swimming pool hovering 100 meters above Shanghai's traffic. More... [1470 views] To Be Your Best, Try Being 'Uncomfortable'By Todd Wilms: It seems like our nature is geared toward comfort and the pursuit of comfort. Isn't that the goal of our labors - to achieve some coziness? To be your best, however, the place to be is "uncomfortable." More... [428 views] Raffles Hotel Singapore to Celebrate 125 Years in SeptemberThere are a few hotels in the world whose names have become virtually synonymous with the cities in which they are located - and none more so than Raffles Hotel in Singapore. More... [420 views] Hotels with iPads (and Other Gadgets) You Can Use Outside the RoomBy Jen Leo: If you are a Mac user, you might have ended up in a more expensive hotel room-so get your money's worth and stay somewhere that's hooked up. We found 15 properties around the world that have iPads, iPhones, and Kindles waiting for you, and many let you leave the hotel and use them on the town. More... [494 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 6, 2012Hotel Industry News In BriefHospitality industry news in brief.................. More... [585 views] Gold Medal Revenue ManagementBy Jean Francois Mourier: If you’re anything like me, you’ve been sitting in front of your TV in awe of the skills of the Olympic athletes. From the quick hands (and feet) of the fencing team (and the sad, sad loss for South Korea), to the excitement of tennis and volleyball, the summer Olympics bring together every country’s best athletes who are all vying for a gold medal and the acknowledgement of their mastery of their sport. While we don’t give out gold medals in revenue management, there are properties that stand out amongst the rest as being more successful. So, how can your property win the gold medal in the revenue management Olympics? More... [727 views] Strengthening Your Social Media Presence: Build a Foundation of FollowersBy Sarah Zibanejadrad: For our latest installment in the “Strengthening Your Social Media Presence” series, we will be covering how to create an engaged, interested following on social media channels that you can use to leverage as email subscribers. If you’re just now joining in, we are covering the necessary steps to improve your social media in order to help your email marketing efforts. If you’ve already begun to follow the advice mentioned in our first blog in the series, you will have the content needed to lure and keep followers – Think: “If you build it, they will come.” More... [365 views] The Rising Mobile Tide: Five Trends for 2012-2013Putting in place a mobile strategy is no longer a nice-to-have, it is the essential weapon in a fast-paced and competitive sector. EyeforTravel.com identifies some emerging themes. More... [988 views] Casino President Applies Lessons Learned on ‘Undercover Boss’ to MGM Grand RenovationBy Ron Sylvester: The MGM Grand is in the midst of a $160 million makeover to renovate its hotel rooms, remodel its casino and revamp its restaurant and entertainment offerings. Many of the ideas for the "grand renovation" came from MGM employees. That’s due in large part to the experience MGM Grand President Scott Sibella had appearing on "Undercover Boss" in spring 2011. He worked side-by-side with rank-and-file employees to better learn how the resort works and identify problems that need addressing. More... [244 views] Olympic Visitors Shun London Hotels After Congestion WarningBy Sofia Horta e Costa and Maria Tadeo: London hotels, shops, restaurants and major attractions are losing sales as visitors heed warnings of overcrowding in the capital from Mayor Boris Johnson. More... [404 views] Hyatt Hotels Continue to Earn 'Best Place to Work' RecognitionHyatt Regency Orlando International Airport Earned Top Honors in Orlando Business Journal's 2012 Best Places to Work, Adding to Hyatt's Growing Workplace Accolades. More... [400 views] Top Hotels For Getting Away With A GroupBy Sarah White: Whether it’s a girls’ getaway, “mancation” or big family gathering, group vacations are travel’s newest trend. Resorts from Maine to the Dominican Republic offer the most options for entertaining big groups, with multi-bedroom accommodations to keep your crowd together. Startle.com editors vetted the options to create a list of top destinations for group travel. More... [184 views] How to Navigate Additional Hotel FeesBy Clem Bason: While they might be common in nearly every service industry these days– banking, entertainment, dining – their expansion within the travel industry is relatively new. Just like those other industries, travel providers need those revenue streams in order to maintain or improve their current levels of service. The difference in travel is that the recent fee expansion has created both a heightened sensitivity from customers and a trial/error period for providers. That’s not a great combination, but problems can be easily avoided if you know what to look for. More... [235 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 3, 2012The Smart Hotelier’s Guide to 2013 Digital Marketing Budget PlanningBy Max Starkov & Mariana Mechoso Safer: This is the perfect time to review your business goals and objectives. What did you achieve in 2012 that you would like to continue and even improve upon next year? What business goals did you not achieve? Were you often distracted by the ‘next big thing’ and, as a result, did you lose sight of hotel digital marketing fundamentals such as keeping your property’s SEO strategy up to date? More... [757 views] 2012 World’s Best HotelsBy Christopher Parr: For the 17th year, US-based Travel+Leisure Magazine have published the results of the 50 World’s best hotels according to a readers’ survey. More... [1330 views] What's the Buzz in Burgers?By Larry Mogelonsky: Use this new foodie trend as a platform to re-imagine your own menu. More... [646 views] Tourism and Good Health: Medical TourismBy Peter Tarlow: Tourism and health has taken on two new meanings. Health tourism can be broken down into two components, people who travel to a particular spot for medical reasons, such as cancer centers or for specific operations such a coronary bypass, and people who travel to a location for medicinal reasons such as rest and relaxation. Medicinal tourism caters not to the sick but to those who seek new levels of wellness. Examples of medicinal tourism are spa or centers that cater to non-essential cosmetic re-makes such a weight loss. More... [423 views] Strengthening Your Social Media Presence: Kick Start With ContentBy Sarah Zibanejadrad: If you do not ensure that your social media efforts are as strong as you want your email marketing campaign to be, you are setting yourself up for failure. More... [334 views] Multitasking's Real VictimsBy Daniel Gulati: For the modern professional, multitasking is an immutable part of daily life. Yet 97% of us are hopeless at it. It's a well-cited observation that juggling two or more things at once depletes our health and harms our productivity. As we clock in more hours on smartphones and social networks, we've ushered in the "provisional conversation": a face-to-face discussion that falls apart as one or more participants default to checking their phones, only to restart as the handsets are put back away. But why is it that when we talk about multitasking, we focus exclusively on how it hurts the multitasker? More... [217 views] Muslim Travellers the Next BoomFrom halal spas to prayer rooms at airport terminals, the global tourism industry is gearing up for a projected boom in Muslim travel over the next decade, experts say. More... [510 views] Japanese Food on the Tip of the World's TongueJapanese food could one day rule the world after being voted global travellers' third favourite culinary delight, a new worldwide food survey from Hotels.com reveals. The survey, which questioned more than 27,000 travellers, shows there is now tough competition for more traditional favourites such as Italian and French cuisine from food from the Far East. More... [432 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 2, 2012Ask For The Sale To Increase Bookings By 440%By Doug Kennedy: After more than 20 years in the business of front desk and reservations sales training, I’m extremely excited that a new white paper study has confirmed what we trainers have known all along: training our staff to ask for the sale will increase the likelihood of getting the business. More... [1234 views] World’s Biggest Hotel Chain InterContinental Hotel Group and Leading Travel Websites Booking.com and Expedia Accused of Price-FixingBy Martin Hickman: A two-year investigation by the Office of Fair Trading provisionally found that Holiday Inn owner InterContinental Hotels Group had colluded with Booking.com and Expedia to limit discounts to the public. More... [1088 views] The Life of a Hotel Doctor: Everyone Wants to Get HomeBy Mike Oppenheim, M.D.: “Our flight leaves at nine. My son was vomiting all afternoon, but he’s sleeping now. Is it OK to go?” More... [282 views] Richard Leonard on the Power of AdviceThe world's most successful hospitality leaders have contributed their views to a thought-provoking film, entitled The Power of Advice. The film, presented by HVS Executive Search, offers insight into the careers of the most successful industry personalities as each discusses their personal experiences with giving and receiving advice and how it impacted their path to success. The first of the film's Bonus Features was released today, and is an interview with Richard Leonard, Managing Director at Angelo Gordon and Company. More... [242 views] Marketing to Women? Keep These 3 Facts in MindBy Stephanie Buck: Throughout history, women have strongly impacted buying habits—they control 85 percent of purchasing in the U.S. As a result, brands have tapped their influence by creating strategic marketing campaigns that relate personally to the female audience. More... [535 views] London Boutique Hotels Round-Up - July 2012By Timea: 2012 continues to be an exciting year for London's boutique hotel sector, whether you're in the industry or a visitor to the capital. As well as recent openings, tantalising details of upcoming new hotels continue to emerge and boutique properties across London keep on innovating. More... [412 views] China Turns to German to Make Mao Hotel World ClassBernold Schroeder, who helped build Banyan Tree into one of Asia’s top upscale resort chains, was headhunted by state-owned Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Group Co. (2006) to create a hotel brand in the ilk of Germany’s Kempinski and Hong Kong- based Shangri-La. More... [560 views] Hotel Shops Get an Upgrade: Not Just for Toothpaste AnymoreBy Nancy Trejos: It used to be that the gift shop at a hotel would have nothing more than postcards, T-shirts, and sundries such as toothpaste and pretzels. Over the years, retail spaces in hotels across the country have evolved into much more. Hotels are putting much more thought into their retail spaces, in some cases going for luxury, in others simply trying to represent the local community. More... [302 views] Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 1, 2012A Tough Job: Targeting the Fickle and Attention-Deprived Travel ConsumerBy Ritesh Gupta: The greatest challenge with digital advertising - also potentially its biggest strength - is the capability to track your conversion funnel. But to succeed travel marketers need to go for a more holistic view of the purchase path which usually crosses multiple sites and channels. More... [685 views] The Evolution of Distribution: How We Sell Rooms - More Changes Are ComingBy John Burns: Opportunity comes in innumerable, ever changing and not necessarily "hotel friendly" forms. Opportunities demand identification, evaluation and selective use. One day's successful opportunities adoption might not be productive the next month, or even the very next day. More... [685 views] Scotland Now Has Its First Bed Bug Sniffing Dog Team – K9 Sweep.Both dog and handler at Scotland's K9 Sweep have been trained and certified in the US by a leading dog trainer in California, who has trained police, drug, explosive and termite detection dogs over many years, more recently adding Bed Bugs and, amazingly, e.coli detection dog training to his brief. More... [340 views] Top 10 Most Expensive London Hotels: Are They Worth It?By Rajul: We thought it would be interesting to look at London's top 10 most expensive hotels while superimposing an investigation of their WiFi charges - information which several do their best to hide before you book, preferring to hijack guests who cannot live without this basic amenity. More... [1151 views] Report: Customers Still Prefer Company Websites to FacebookBy Courtney Rubin: Are you neglecting your company website in favor of your Facebook page? Or have you decided that because you have a Facebook page, you don't need a stand-alone web site? More... [527 views] TripAdvisor Survey Reveals 47% of U.S. Hotels Expect Higher Rates Ahead of Fall Travel Season Compared to Last YearTripAdvisor today announced the results of the latest TripAdvisor Industry Index™, the world's largest hotel survey. With more than 25,000 responses from hoteliers around the globe, and over 5,000 from the U.S. alone, the survey has revealed some startling findings about today's top hospitality industry trends. Among the key findings: U.S. hoteliers expect pricier rates for travelers ahead of the Fall travel season, as nearly half (47%) expect rates to go up higher this year compared to the same time last year, while only 16 percent expect comparatively lower rates. More... [192 views] The New York Hotel Where James Bond Likes to StayBy Sarah Turner: The first US hotel from the British Firmdale group, it offers guests their own drawing room with an honesty bar where they can help themselves to drinks. There's also a private cinema, a surprisingly rare asset for a New York hotel. It helps bring in a good supply of celebrities - Lindsay Lohan and Emma Stone have been here for screenings in recent months. More... [380 views] Hotels Are Trying to Break Out of Their Cookie-Cutter WaysHotel rooms are no longer just a place to shower, sleep or maybe indulge in a breakfast in bed. They're now also spots to pick up a souvenir - and no, we aren't talking about stealing the towels. Like that painting over the bed? How about that drawing next to the TV? At hotels around the globe, guests now have the option to purchase the art work in their rooms. More... [338 views] 
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ehotelier Hospitality News Archives: August 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 31, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 30, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 29, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 28, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 27, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 24, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 23, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 22, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 21, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 20, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 17, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 16, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 15, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 14, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 13, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 10, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 9, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 8, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 7, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 6, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 3, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 2, 2012Global Hospitality Newsletter: August 1, 2012
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