That is the big question these days. How do I really measure this social media hocus pocus? What is the true value or benefit of social media? How many bookings did it generate? Too bad there are no magic buttons to push for one easy answer. There isn't one tool or one firm that can track and measure every possible social media mention that your hotel obtains. Social media is too vast and too dynamic to pin it down. It does not fit nicely into a certain box or stand still long enough to be properly measured. Social media also likes to mingle with so many other departments and areas of your hotel that measuring it is becoming just as difficult as measuring the impact of your hotel's name or lobby. READ MORE

In a changed hospitality industry, post economic collapse, a new low-price standard has been set for construction services. How did construction pricing get to this point and what are the risks associated with hiring inexpensive labor to complete projects? We are a national general contractor specializing in hospitality construction services and are among a limited few who remain strong in the industry. Read on to learn about the conditions leading up to this point, where the industry is headed, and what to be mindful of for your next project. READ MORE

Looking back on the state of the mobile app market over the last twelve months it is apparent that everyone has been focused on one question: “How many downloads did I get on my app?” But what is the actual value of that number? What does it tell us about our return on investment? The answers in the most simplified terms (respectively) are: minimal and not enough. By shifting the focus from downloads to what's truly important we will find out exactly how well our app is performing. And just what is truly important? Behavior. Analytics for mobile applications bring our customers' behavior to light, ultimately allowing for better business decisions and bigger returns. READ MORE

A recurring theme we see in hotels that are most popular in online guest reviews is that they make guest satisfaction a team effort. Continuously improving quality is coordinated between all departments by sharing online feedback and a plan for action. We see that the degree to which hotel executives take insights from reviews and turn this into measurable action steps for their staff is directly connected to how popular that hotel will be on the social web. READ MORE

There have been a lot of Aha moments in marketing. Positioning. Branding, The New Coke fiasco. The advent of Social Media. And even Flashmobs. One such moment occurred in 2004, when many believe the concept of Swarm Marketing was born. Basically, dictionaries define a swarm as a large number of things massed together and usually in motion. Think about a school of fish, a horde of bees, or a herd of wild horses. And think about consumers too. Connected by social media networks, consumers are sharing the swarming traits of these fish, bees, and wild horses that will change the way you think about marketing your hotel. In this article, you'll read about the three characteristics of swarms in nature and how they apply to your customers and potential customers. READ MORE