Read any business journal or industry publication and you will find at least one article focusing on how important it is for organizations to innovate. Watch any online business channel and you will see segment after segment promoting the same thing. So for fun, I did an online search for the "importance of creativity in business leadership" and got more than 144 million hits. Change "creativity" to "innovation" and the number jumps to more than 603 million. There is a commonly accepted truth that, if consumers are continually changing, it follows that businesses must also continually change. Nowhere is...

The hotel industry has many challenges in common with us at the YMCA. Just like hotels, important success factors such as brand loyalty and customer experience are heavily dependent on well-trained and highly engaged staff across a wide range of disciplines. It is a challenge to achieve the high standards of training required to accomplish these goals with such a diverse workforce, especially with seasonal patterns, transient staff, and part-time staff to take into account. At the YMCA we have a demographically diverse workforce across a wide range of disciplines, from leisure and sports to health specialists and coaching....

Hotel companies are always looking to fill open roles. According to a survey conducted by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and AHLA Gold Partner Hireology, hotels have, on average, six to seven open positions per property. As a result, hotel companies and hiring managers often undercut the expectations for these roles in an effort to quickly fill the position and alleviate a staffing shortage. The hiring process is a delicate balance between communication, training and investment. It can be tedious and often takes time, patience, and equal parts effort from various team members at different levels. It...

The travel market continues a dramatic shift towards sustainability. Driven by increasing environmental awareness among consumers, regulatory pressures, and the promise of long-term economic benefits, green certified hotels and resorts are the industry’s most sought-after market segment. Travelers and industry stakeholders alike recognize the importance of credible sustainable practices. This trend translates into higher-than-ever Hospitality Certification demand at organizations such as Audubon International. Let’s explore the factors driving demand growth for green certified hotels and resorts, supported by recent research and case studies. Rising Environmental Awareness A 2023 report issued by the World Travel and Tourism Council...

In the dynamic landscape of the hospitality industry, the role of social-media management has become increasingly pivotal. Hotels face a critical decision when it comes to crafting their digital presence: Should they handle their social media internally or entrust the task to external agencies? This article delves into the perspectives of six industry professionals, each offering unique insights into the advantages and drawbacks of both in-house and outsourced social-media management.Mauri Berry, vice president of marketing & digital strategy, Remington Hospitality: Bringing Social Media In-housePros of In-house: Managing a staggering 130 properties, Remington Hospitality is shifting from outsourcing to in-house social-media...

According to Holistique Training’s Evolution of Hospitality Industry Trends, the hospitality industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by shifting consumer expectations, technological advancements, and a growing focus on sustainability and well-being. In response, hotels worldwide are investing in renovations to meet the demands of the modern traveler. These renovations not only address aesthetic updates but involve rethinking how hotels function and cater to evolving guest needs. Modern travelers prioritize convenience, connectivity, and unique, personalized experiences, leading hotels to re-imagine their spaces and services to offer guests more than just a place to sleep. As the General Manager of...

The year 2024 is shaping up to be a record-breaker for international tourism, with visitor levels fully recovered and surpassing those of 2019. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, international tourist arrivals are set to rise 15 percent from last year’s total and to exceed figures for 2019 by 2 percent, suggesting that lingering doubts regarding the safety of travel in the post-Covid era have waned. By way of illustration, The Mainichi, Japan’s national daily newspaper, recently announced critical aviation fuel shortages as a surge in demand for flights due to increasing inbound tourism has outpaced...

Two years ago, Gen Z began to overtake Baby Boomers as a percentage of the US work force (see CHART 1). Millennials had already overtaken the Boomers a decade ago. (See CHART 2). And Millennials have been a larger part of the workforce relative to Gen X since the late teens. Demographics are destiny. Whatever you think about today’s workforce, it will be different in the next 5 to 10 years and Gen Alpha will be joining in ever larger numbers. It’s all inevitable and unavoidable. A quick primer reminds us that the cohorts are distributed as follows: Baby...

By now, most hoteliers have heard Joe Pine’s rallying cry: “The Experience is the Marketing.” But how many of us have really learned its meaning beyond introducing a signature scent that subtly fills the lobby. Or offering infused water, seasonal teas or locally roasted coffee. Or even displaying unusual local artifacts, vintage postcards, or rotating trivia about the hotel and the area. Pine’s mantra is not just a clever tagline. It is a strategic imperative, especially in an age where guests are less interested in thread count and more obsessed with Instagramable-worthy moments. If your hotel is not...

When telling my wife that I was writing an article on Workers’ Compensation, you can imagine her reaction – boring! After discussing the business importance of this topic, she changed her mind. A company can talk about how wonderful they treat their employees and their focus on engagement. If that same company ignores those healing from injury, fails to provide sufficient information to them or neglects empathy for their plight, that company can watch its engagement survey scores plummet. It is not just about ensuring an engaging workplace – managing workplace injuries is economics. Costs go up if injury...