The hotel pantry was once little more than a guest convenience - a smattering of snacks and sundries. Too often an under-stocked, unkempt retail offering that barely covered the cost of the inventory required. But as the economy began to tumble, and everyone began to look for new ways to increase sales, many turned to the hotel pantry as a new and important source of revenue. And with that came a new approach to hotel retail and the need to market this lobby asset to guests. There are several ways to successfully market your hotel pantry offering, but before you begin any effort, you need to evaluate the message that will most effectively resonate with your guests. READ MORE

Looking for ways to add revenue and new profits to your hotel's bottom line while increasing guest satisfaction? Adding a hotel pantry to your lobby is a quick and affordable project if you know what you need and where to look! There are just a few must-have items that are easy to find and easy on the budget - allowing even the smallest hotels to put a profitable pantry in place quickly and painlessly. READ MORE

If "Location, location, location" applies to all hotels, an even more relevant adage for boutique properties might be "Service, service, service." When you have no grand ballroom, less than 100 rooms, no health spa and fitness center and only one restaurant, you don't "make do" and apologize, you make the guests love you. It's all about the guest experience, and that is all about the quality of hotel-customer interaction. It is also about knowing who your guests - and potential guests - are. Of course, it's very nice if you also have an ideal location and convenient access to some facilities more typical of a larger hotel. READ MORE

Despite millions of unemployed workers, there is an acute shortage of talent across industries. The hotel industry is no exception and with this industry growing at an exponential rate, the talent shortage hits especially hard. As more facilities are opening to tourists, hotels are in dire need of general managers to implement human resource strategies that build a foundation and reputation for a positive work environment, sales managers that are committed to the customer's needs, and housekeeping staff that understands and respects the importance of image - just to cite a few examples. READ MORE

Why do people REALLY love hotels? It's NOT the scratchy towels and continental breakfasts. It's NOT the out-dated patterned carpeting in the meeting rooms. It's NOT the travel sized bar soap or the cold bathroom tile. It IS the opportunity to get away from daily routines. It IS the opportunity to live out expressions of aspiration. It IS the opportunity to become a "celebrity" for a day - to the extent that a guest FEELS the experiences of both extraordinary recognition and paramount service. A Habitat is the incarnation and delivery of the sentiments of relevant, experiential, and meaningful promises. This is also how a BRAND is actually defined. READ MORE