Many travelers are claiming that they have become more environmentally conscious when they travel and are seeking out hotels that have made commitments to protecting the environment. Hotels have followed this trend and are greening their operations in order to cater to these green travelers. What has been asked of many travelers is whether or not they are willing to pay a premium stay in such hotels. Some survey results indicate that they are; others say they are not, and still others want to pay less for a green hotel. If the results are so mixed, what is a green hotelier to do? READ MORE

As part of their decision making, guests, meeting planners and travel agents now inquire about a property's green efforts. They ask us upfront about recycling programs and energy saving initiatives, how we work with our clients to reduce food & beverage excess and waste, and how we will reduce the amount of paper that is often heavily used during meetings. READ MORE

In a world where everyone is increasingly engaged with online transactional systems, it is readily apparent that the convenience afforded by live information sharing and online payment services must be balanced and underscored by a solid security framework. In the hotel sector, where card payment technology to book rooms and for actual transactions during guest stays is common, it becomes a much higher priority. Smart hoteliers can combat this risk by adhering to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). READ MORE

In today's tough and difficult economy, it easy to feel as though things may be hopeless. However, by being bold, creative and forward thinking, you can make your hotel stand out above the rest. Steven Belmonte has some ideas of how to not only endure this economic downturn, but how to use the modern technologies provided to us as well as our imaginations in order to show up the competition and put your hotel on that pedestal. Some ideas can be expensive where others are completely free. Big or small, putting these plans into place can make a huge difference in the success of your property. READ MORE

Succession and career development concepts have been thoroughly explored at the executive and management levels, with most companies providing cultural and experiential training required to cultivate future leaders. But perhaps an even greater return on investment is available by identifying and developing hourly employees in bench positions - jobs that typically are critical to an operation and can wreak havoc if unexpectedly vacated. READ MORE