Common Legal Issues that Confront Hotel Operators

By Daniel L. Brown, Esq. and Eric O'Connor - Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

The ultimate responsibility and goal of a hotel manager is to achieve a profit for the hotel’s owner and ensure that the hotel's guests are happy with their stay. To that end, a hotel manager acts behind the scenes at a hotel like a puppeteer with numerous day-to-day responsibilities for nearly all aspects of a hotel’s operations, including, but not limited to, supervising and managing personnel, marketing, sales, security, maintenance, and food and beverage operations...

Spa Operations: The 10 Most Effective Ways in Creating a Positive Bottom Line

By Gary Henkin, President, WTS International, Inc.

Spas have continued their geometric growth throughout the hospitality industry. For many hotel and resort properties, spas have become an integral part of the site’s amenity requirements. That said, a question that often arises is “If I build it, they will come?” As spas are expensive to build and operate, a premium must be placed on how best to maximize revenue, control expenses and optimize the chances for a positive bottom line. A spa needs to be operated and promoted effectively if it is to achieve net operating profits while positively impacting the overall performance of the property at large...

All You Wanted to Know About Sustainability Initiatives in the International Operations of US-based Hotel Chains

By Bill Meade, Vice President, PA Consulting Group

US-based hotel chains are in various stages of adopting corporate environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility programs. The trend tracks rapidly increasing utility costs, growing awareness among guests of global environmental issues such as climate change and scarcity of water resources, and the introduction of a wide variety of “environmentally-friendly” product and technology alternatives. US hotel chains are also taking advantage of collaborative voluntary initiatives at the local, national and international level...

Concierge Relationships that Benefit Guests Beyond Hotel Borders

By Shujaat Khan, Chef Concierge, The Capital Hilton, Member - Les Clefs d'Or USA

The more resourceful and well connected the concierge is, the more efficiently they work. A novice concierge who has no connections may take two or three times longer than the seasoned concierge to satisfy guests’ requests. The rewards of supporting your Concierges’ participation in networking events, locally, nationally and internationally, will not only benfit your guests and staff far into the future, it will positively affect your bottom line...

Ancient Solution to Many Modern Problems: Structural Bamboo

By Sam Small, Vice President – Developing Markets, Bamboo Technologies

Concrete is one of the most prevalent construction materials used to rebuild in hurricane zones. Unfortunately manufacturing concrete releases a lot of carbon gas into the atmosphere, which today is making for stronger hurricanes. As well, esthetically speaking, concrete doesn’t have a very friendly personality. In a modernized twist on the most ancient of building materials, Structural Bamboo offers an attractive solution that not only reduces the carbon released into the atmosphere it actually removes carbon from the atmosphere and sequesters it away indefinitely...