A persistent labor shortage means the hospitality industry is facing tough workforce questions: How can a hotel deliver the level of service it promises with a smaller staff? Will tougher competition for workers impact average wage rates in a historically low-paying industry? What solutions, like cross-utilization, can hotels implement now? And what solutions will require larger-scale legal and societal change? Among the more transformational ideas this article will explore are rethinking current minimum shift requirements and looking to nontraditional sources, from retirees to training the formerly incarcerated, for future hospitality work. READ MORE

Hotels go to great lengths to present a carefully crafted image to their guests and, hotel employees play an integral role in making a mere marketing strategy become a revenue generating reality. One way to ensure that employees effectively communicate the hotel's desired image can be accomplished by a written dress code and personal appearance policy. This policy can be as detailed as management desires. Regardless, to avoid liability, hotels need to be aware of both state and federal laws that govern gender, gender identity, gender expression and religious expression, in the workplace and how those laws interact with their dress code policy. READ MORE

The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 is a threshold event that will change how all businesses collect, retain and treat personal information. No industry is more challenged by the law than the hospitality industry, where the "heads in beds" part of the equation is driven by guest data. The Act will impact how hotels do business, ranging from their reservation procedures to new challenges on their ability to implement guest loyalty programs, one of the key means of creating brand loyalty. Hotel companies, whether they be owners, managers or brands, must act now to comply with the Act. READ MORE

The California Legislature had a busy year in 2019, once again enacting a number of new laws that significantly affect California employers and their businesses, most of which will take effect on January 1, 2020. With the new year fast approaching, hotel executives and human resource professionals should take the time to educate themselves about these new laws, review their employee handbooks and evaluate current practices to ensure they are in compliance. Cox, Castle & Nicholson attorneys Dwayne McKenzie and Cathy Moses provide a brief summary of the most notable laws as well as best practices for hospitality companies. READ MORE

In the competitive hotel industry, it is sometimes hard to successfully market a property's history and heritage in a cost-effective manner. In 1989, the National Trust for Historic Preservation created Historic Hotels of America, a marketing organization specifically charged with capturing the heritage tourism market. Thirty years forward, the organization has grown to represent 300 properties nationwide, including nearly every major brand. The success of HHA can also be found in the average daily room rate and per room revenues. This article explores both the growth of heritage hotels and the programs of HHA. READ MORE