Over the years I have been asked countless times, "How do we make training stick?" and "How can we create and become the kind of company that revolves around service?" They know they want the type of environment and the type of employees who live and breathe service -- creating a grand experience for the customer and renown for their property and brand. To get started, let go of lip service, and commit to doing the work required. In order to create and sustain a service culture there are five important questions that employees must be able to answer in order to be able to make their best contribution. I like to think of them as The High Five! READ MORE

I have heard it said that necessity is the mother of invention and that desperate times require desperate measures. These old adages are certainly playing themselves out through the big changes in concierge services that are happening in Las Vegas. Who would ever have thought that the heart and soul of a concierge's job and the wizardry and effectiveness of technology would culminate in a partnership that generates millions of dollars of revenue while serving customers efficiently? It's what's happening in Las Vegas and what's happening in Las Vegas should not stay in Las Vegas. READ MORE

Property management systems have come a long way since hotels began implementing them in the 1970's and 1980's. At that time, the primary goal of a PMS was to automate basic processes such as housekeeping and reservations. Now, as we approach 2010, new architecture makes PMS integration with other systems easier than ever, and guest-centric functionality is moving property management solutions from static entities that merely track reservations and perform check-in and check-out to dynamic systems that enable hoteliers to predict guest behavior and realize a competitive advantage. What, exactly, do these next-generation property management solutions have to offer? READ MORE

Concrete is one of the most prevalent construction materials used to rebuild in hurricane zones. Unfortunately manufacturing concrete releases a lot of carbon gas into the atmosphere, which today is making for stronger hurricanes. As well, esthetically speaking, concrete doesn't have a very friendly personality. In a modernized twist on the most ancient of building materials, Structural Bamboo offers an attractive solution that not only reduces the carbon released into the atmosphere it actually removes carbon from the atmosphere and sequesters it away indefinitely. READ MORE

Changing outdated notions regarding construction is like pouring refrigerated maple syrup - slow, but worth it. Unfortunately, time is tight for adopting environmentally sensitive practices; we need to do it now. Utilizing prefabrication and modular building techniques and choosing innovative and sustainable building materials like Structural Bamboo can play an important role in establishing a conservative and sustainable eco-footprint and identity for a hotel or resort development. READ MORE