If there is one thing that has been constant over the last twenty months, it is change. Changes are all over the map in the hospitality industry and, in the spa industry, most changes are categorically the same as hospitality and other businesses driven by world economy. Using the understanding of these changes as springboards for repositioning and renovating current spas or developing new spas; we can pay attention to the changes and be prepared for the return swing of the pendulum and placement in the compelling forefront. The five major changes included in the article may not be big surprises, however, they are notable. These changes are not passing trends or fads that will soon be past tense. These are changes that are indicative of the future. READ MORE

Service excellence, customer involvement, and customer satisfaction are all facets of the same jewel for the hospitality industry, because they all contribute to increased revenue and profitability. These issues were examined in detail in keynote speeches at the recently concluded QUIS 12, the international Quality in Service conference held in June this year at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. This meeting of the biennial QUIS conference featured four keynote speeches. READ MORE

There is an abundance of ways to make a difference in the communities we serve and in which we live and work. Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives differ from brand to brand and by property to property, each driven by a genuine desire to be of service. Truly effective CSR programs combine this dedication to service with an abundance of heart to create meaningful and effective programs that bring real value to stakeholders. Here are some guidelines on effective CSR initiatives that can help your hotel create programs that will work. READ MORE

Pop culture ultimately affects hotel design and guest experiences, whether we realize it or not. As hospitality designers, we constantly look at the latest trends in technology, fashion, celebrity lifestyles and more. At the same time, we scour, find and determine the upcoming trends to stay ahead of consumer demands. Today, pop culture and technology meet today's fast-paced world while always changing and evolving. An ongoing trend in pop culture is accessibility, attainability and sustainability. In this article, we'll discuss how those pop culture and technology trends affect hospitality designs in the spas, restaurants and hotels we frequent. READ MORE

We began the PanEarth program at Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle as a hotel-wide program that honors the triple bottom line: people, planet, profit. The program was initiated last year as a conscious effort to place sustainable and environmentally friendly practices as a top priority. Through PanEarth and the hotel's valuable partnerships, guests can contribute to the local community and neutralize their carbon footprint during meetings, events and hotel stays. We believe it's a win-win situation for us all. READ MORE