From hotels to coffee shops to department stores, the proliferation of mobile technology and payments has changed how businesses interact with customers. According to PayPal, more than 67 percent of consumers planned to make a purchase using a mobile device during the 2011 holiday shopping season, a telling indicator of the pervasive mobile trend in today's marketplace. Beyond payments, mobile has specifically created new opportunities for hoteliers and their guests. From using near-field communication (NFC) to eliminate the need for plastic door keys to mobile technology speeding up the check-in process, there are multitudes of ways hotels are jumping on the proverbial mobile bandwagon to take their customer service and operational efficiency to the next level. READ MORE

How would you feel if your hotel was accused of leaking guest data? Well it could happen if you don't hoist data security up the priority list. Not doing so could be very expensive. Carrier IQ in the US and the Leveson Enquiry in the UK are two examples of companies and their employees illegally gathering personal information for financial gain using the medium of the mobile phone. Both were revealed by individuals tirelessly following up clues and publishing their findings, despite pressure being exerted from without. At first sight they may seem far removed from the hotel industry but closer study shows they are not. READ MORE

Inspections and checking for compliance with standards is an ongoing job at every hotel, every day. Think about operations like guestroom status update, property maintenance and repairs, and housekeeping inspections, to name just a few. Now innovative mobile applications (mAPPs) are available to help owners and managers conduct many routine ongoing activities in a faster, smarter way so they can operate their properties more productively and more profitably. These mAPPs are new. They're now. They're WOW - and my column examines how these software programs can help you increase staff efficiency, heighten guest satisfaction, and improve the bottom line. READ MORE

Some lists we love - like those fun rankings of favorite desserts, most popular vacation spots, and highest-earning celebrities. Some lists we hate - like our personal daily “to do” list. As hoteliers, we use lists all the time for everything from tracking room inventory to scheduling maintenance projects to tracking ROI and RevPAR. Now I've created another list for you - the “what's hot and what's not” list. I'm not sure if you'll love it or hate it, but I am sure it can help you as you make FF&E decisions this year. READ MORE

Thousands of hoteliers will face foreclosure or even bankruptcy this year as the sluggish economy has owners falling behind on loan payments. There are no easy solutions, but there are some things you can do to avoid foreclosure or receivership -- or both. My column offers six tips to help anticipate the problem, plan a course of action, and proactively maintain control of your property. We certainly hope you will never have to use these tips, but they are a valuable start to forestalling foreclosure on your property so you can "Keep It." READ MORE