Everybody likes to be popular. Whether it is having lots of friends in high school or going to a bar "where everyone knows your name," we all like to feel a part of something larger. That is really what social networking is all about. You want to be a part of a group with common interests or a community that shares like ideas. The same sentiments above apply to hotel marketing principles. Everything that your hotel does on Facebook or Twitter needs to play into this paradigm which centers on the connections within the community. So, what do you, as an hotelier, need to do? READ MORE

While attending The LeWeb Conference in 2005, I became convinced that user generated content would revolutionize the web. But it was not until the last few years that the implications in the hotel industry started to become evident. In fact, until just this year, hotels were not making significant investments in this area. But with feedback from the social web now affecting all hotel departments, the case for investing in reputation management is stronger than ever. In my conversations with managers of small independent hotels to executives at some of the largest hospitality groups in the world, I have noticed a few major trends related to reputation management that are affecting the industry. READ MORE

Our guests are no longer Baby Boomers or Gen Xers or Gen Yers. Those monikers defined them by the year in which we were born. They were described by age. But no longer. Now, thanks to a myriad of converging forces, they can all become members of the same generation - one that is defined by choice. They can choose to be members of Generation C. The Gen C nickname had its genesis around 2004 when trend watchers began noticing a new type of consumer emerging - one that crossed age boundaries and defied traditional segmentation strategies. In this article, you'll read about five trends that helped form Gen C and what your hotel can do to take advantage of the opportunities it offers. READ MORE

As search engines consider social media channels on their Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), it is important for hotels to have a strong presence on these channels and manage it well. The most common mistake that hoteliers make today is ignoring the importance of these channels with the concept that managing such channels takes too much time out of their busy lives. Although this may seem overwhelming, it's important to know that we are only at the beginning of the imminent social media explosion and the online activity in these channels is bound to increase. The question now asked is, should hoteliers care? And the answer to that question is absolutely YES READ MORE

You remember those days. Your hotel made it on the front page of the daily newspaper, or scored an awesome feature in a prestigious glossy travel publication. You ordered tons of hard copies and sent them along with personalized notes to your repeat guests. You laminated copies of the article to place in fancy frames all around the hotel, and your office. You added copies to your press kit and send off to media to generate more interest. It worked like a charm for new marketing and sales opportunities. Well, those golden days of print are gone. Yes, gone and disappeared for good. READ MORE

Steven Slater bid farewell to the passengers on his flight, including an explicit message to the passenger who disobeyed his request to return to her seat. He then grabbed a couple of beers, activated the emergency slide, and escaped down it. And as if nothing had happened, he got in his car parked at the airport and drove home. This incident has much relevance to the hotel industry... READ MORE

The Hotel Gym today can take on many looks. Limited service hotels that in yesteryear would rarely have considered the offering of such an amenity, today find themselves rapidly defining a space for fitness. Larger hotels and resorts for some time have made varying commitments to the fitness amenity. However, in some cases today, many can claim they rival a well equipment health club. The common denominator between these hospitality based environments remains their relevance and appeal to the guests they serve. The following review of these fundamentals will help you remain on point when it comes to the active care required to support the ongoing evolution of the hotel gym. READ MORE

In our gadget-obsessed world, technology has grown from a convenient amenity to an essential element of every hotel's design and services. The challenge is to blend high-tech with high-touch - namely, to use cutting-edge science in a meaningful and memorable way that enhances every guest visit. Let's look at nine ways you can meet that challenge, attract more guests, and justify higher room rates. Most of these are relatively easy and economical to consider for either new construction or renovation, although a few are more exotic, more expensive, and require considerable advance planning. READ MORE

Is your establishment doing all it can to accommodate guests with disabilities who are blind or have low vision? If not, a significant sector of your potential business is being ignored, not to mention the perils that may arise from potential disability discrimination or physical injury claims. It makes good sense to implement or enhance measures that go a long way toward making guests with vision loss feel welcome. READ MORE

The hotel market today is increasingly global, webcentric and competitive. To succeed, revenue and general managers must incorporate sophisticated intelligence systems into their practices to optimize rates and assume optimal margins, market share and brand integrity. In response, competitive and price intelligence technologies for the lodging industry are now moving beyond simple rate monitoring and analysis, and incorporating qualitative customer rankings and reviews. From technology-driven Web extraction tools to focused business solutions, qualitative data is driving bookings and marketing programs. This article reviews the way qualitative information is changing the intelligence market, and how hoteliers can best evaluate new market offerings. READ MORE

Each year, many hotel owners decide to sell their business for a variety of personal and financial reasons. Whatever the cause, selling successfully requires the owner to think creatively and strategically to attract the maximum number of potential buyers and weed out those who aren't serious about buying. As the Internet has emerged as one of the most efficient and effective vehicles to publicize your business sale and attract potential buyers, part of this strategy should include an online listing. Here are some guidelines for a well thought-out and well-written listing that will allow a seller to attract more prospects and ultimately close a deal. READ MORE

In many ways, email marketing suffers from image issues. Because a few unscrupulous marketers churn out unsolicited or untargeted emails, it is seen by some marketers as something to avoid. But when email campaigns are built and executed responsibly, they can provide a high level of service for your guests and profitability for you. It is not uncommon for hotels to get a higher return on investment from email than any other digital marketing channel. The secret is to know how to publish great email. It's not about pushing out "email blasts." Instead, it's about planning tightly targeted segments and producing content that is useful for each of them. READ MORE

Group business has historically represented a significant portion of revenues for hotels. Revenues encompass rooms, food and beverage, and all ancillary revenues, and a drop in this segment can have a tremendous impact on a property's profitability. Group business began to plunge in January 2009, when this segment dropped 5.4 million roomnights from the previous year (per STR data). The group average rate for hotels in the United States hit its peak during 2008 at $105.37. Group average rates have dropped since, at an annual average of $103.93 during 2009 and below $100.00 through 2010, according to STR. This article will address some tips for your sales staff to penetrate this market regardless of market conditions to ensure that your property(s) is positioned for profitability. READ MORE

Whether personal or professional, the meetings industry is primarily based on relationships. Meeting planners are often influenced by their colleagues and the relationships built with the service personnel they work with to help produce successful meetings. Often times, the decision for a meeting planner to return to a venue or destination (or not) rests solely on the ability of convention services managers (CSMs) to develop thriving client relationships. To do this successfully, CSMs at hotels, convention centers and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) need to take personal ownership of their client's events and work diligently to fulfill their needs, all while making suggestions to them for improvement and efficiency. READ MORE

For many hoteliers, 2010 will forever go down in history as the one that got away. As the economic downturn bottomed out, hoteliers around the globe received an unexpected boost from international tourism demand which offset some of the implications of financial recession. Future forecasts are frustratingly mixed. Whilst some financiers are flying the flag for recovery, naysayers continue to cast doubt with cries of a double dip recession. As long as savvy hoteliers are amply prepared with the right intelligence, they will make educated and informed decisions when developing their negotiating strategies for 2012 and enter into the year in a strong position. READ MORE

Research is showing that customers want loyalty programs that are personalized and more tailored to their specific needs and wants. And with only 20-40% of program members regularly accruing points toward reward redemption, hotels that incorporate these findings into their loyalty strategies will make great strides in engaging 60% of their loyalty program members. An inside look at current loyalty programs from industry leaders will shed light on what hotels should do to make sure that their loyalty programs appeal to the widest segment of travelers. READ MORE

What makes us feel welcome, comfortable, appreciated in any environment? What kinds of emotions are triggered when we experience a welcoming feeling -and when we don't? How do hoteliers instill the spirit of welcome in their teams and create a warm sense of belonging the moment their guests arrive? And, how can the power of welcome move beyond borders and reach out to guests before they even set foot on the property? READ MORE

Executive Director of Operations Jesse Boles takes the guesswork out of the hiring process by helping you determine what you're really looking for when you go out into the market to find your people. He helps you wade through resumes, establish an interview process that will cut down on turnover, and walks you through the entire hiring process to the point at which you make that final hiring decision and final call. Does your management team know how to conduct an effective interview? Find out how to vastly improve your chances of hiring people who are the perfect fit. READ MORE

Online Reputation Management must be front and center for today's savvy Lodging Manager. Why? Because today's savvy traveler finds it compulsory to conduct online research to see if you have a good reputation, are worthy to "buy" from, and look for "feedback" on how past guests have been treated. It is easier than you think to monitor and quickly respond to positive reviews from past guests as well as manage negative criticism and feedback on your property, staff and services. This article presents a helpful overview of Online Reputation Management and how you and your staff can and must control the ball in today's socially connected world. READ MORE

Beginning with Arizona's controversial SB 1070 law, more and more states have begun proposing new legislation to try to close the gap in a broken system.  If you're a hotel manager or owner and have tried to procure a visa for a foreign-born employee, you may know how badly this country needs to update its outdated immigration laws. In our current system, individuals without a bachelor's degree in a specialty occupation field will face much difficulty qualifying for a work-based visa.  If you operate a seasonal business like a ski lodge, some visas may suit your needs just fine but other hoteliers may find themselves out of luck. READ MORE

Have you ever found yourself in a hotel room with grab bars, a roll-in shower and a fire alarm strobe? More than once while traveling with people with disabilities I have swapped rooms with someone who reserved but was not rented an accessible room. Among friends and colleagues creative thinking, a shake of the head and good-natured chuckles solve the problem. The fact that certain members of the traveling public are unable to obtain lodging meeting their needs is no laughing matter, and the U.S. Department of Justice has intervened to improve the travel experience for individuals with disabilities. READ MORE

Guest Service practices are concerning us lately. We understand that trimming the operational costs is a must during times like these, and I also understand that there is a constant pressure from ownership as well. We have to maintain levels of competitive in order to see ourselves with or beyond the index line in competitive reports. Rates have been reduced in order to increase (motivate) occupancy levels. Yet there needs to be a service sense of urgency from a hospitality establishment, and I am noticing that this is not being implemented as a fundamental part of the daily operation of a hospitality facility in many brands. This article is intended to alert what truly is happening and what remedies can be implemented so that guest services are consistently up to par. READ MORE

Sale is the only means of earning profit in any business. Hotel managers are also not an exception to this phenomenon. In accommodation sector it is the sale of rooms that brings more revenue. When sale is the only means of earning profits as in other business, hotel managers also think that sale of room, good occupancy is the only means to improve the bottom line, since room sales compared to any other sales of the hotel provides better departmental income. Hence to earn more revenue by selling more rooms' managers adopt ARR /ADR technique... READ MORE