The typical hotel room requires about 175 to 200 yards of fabric to drape, decorate, and upholster. Plus there is fabric for the lobby and other public areas. Sometimes you want fabric to play a starring role in creating a “wow” factor, while sometimes you want fabric to be a more subtle bit player in your design scheme. So how do you choose the right fabric for the right application? My column examines the most common fabric types used in the hospitality industry, plus the six most important factors to consider when selecting fabrics - texture, color, pattern, purpose, fire retardation, and clean-ability. READ MORE

What you've read is true. Social media is here to stay, so it's time to embrace the change. This new era of social networking has taken communication and information sharing to a whole new level. We all know at this point what social media is, and most hotels have a good grasp on how to use it to reach their audiences. With the constant evolution of social media, however, how do you make this public relations and marcomm tool work for your hotel in the face of a new decade? In this article I have put together some tips on ways to make your social media strategy successful and solid. Who are you looking to reach out to, and why? Read my article on social media tips for the new decade! READ MORE

A look into the next two years reveals a more intensive shift of meeting and group planners looking for ways to streamline and consolidate the process of researching and placing group business, a $300 billion global marketplace. By moving these processes to the online world, many corporations will consolidate their groups and meetings business under procurement departments allowing for the standardization of business practices. How will this impact the hospitality industry? Tremendous change will be in hoteliers' future, yet as always the industry will adapt to the change and after a few bumps in the road will eventually wonder how they ever did business without meetings being booked online. READ MORE

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

An environmental, financial and practical assessment of Bamboo as building material for bearing structures was presented at the 7th World Bamboo Congress in 2004. It compared the overall "environmental cost" of structural building elements made from Steel, Concrete, two types of sustainable hardwoods, and Bamboo. The most extreme contrast showed a steel column having an "environmental cost" over 300 times that of Bamboo! The sustainable hardwoods fared slightly better but the report notes that "timber from regular, non-sustainable woods will have a considerably greater environmental impact." READ MORE

With the ever increasing demand from organizations and travelers to stay in socially responsible hotels, adding environmental responsibility to your hotel's identity can translate directly into new revenues. The Ecological Lifestyles market is now estimated at $81.2 Billion (2005) with over 63 Million consumers wanting to open their wallets for environmentally responsible companies. READ MORE

All across the country, hotels and their parent brands are talking about implementing or enhancing their environmental programs with more enthusiasm and passion than ever before. Not only has there been a tremendous influx of high-quality eco-products into the marketplace, but guests are becoming more sophisticated in their demands for a planet-friendly hotel. Eco, once considered to be an esoteric fringe lifestyle, has become part of the cultural mainstream and recent media reflects that trend. Compelling and extensive recent coverage in outlets such as Time, Vanity Fair, Elle, and Cameron Diaz's MTV show Trippin', have not only educated consumers on the urgency of doing our part, but has made it cool and sexy to care for the Earth. READ MORE

In this day in age, why would a hotel or hotel group not embrace and adopt a sincere environmental program? Typical answers include it costs too much money, quality of service will suffer, we don't know where to start, and we have other more pressing priorities. The good news is that all the above responses are misperceptions and there is nothing but bottom line and top line benefits that come from a well thought out and executed environmental program. Furthermore, an environmental program translates into cost savings, new revenue, and happier employees - some of the biggest priorities for any hotel. However, to achieve these outcomes it may be necessary to look outside of the hotel for support and resources. In this article we'll explore how engaging an environmental consultant may be the best option to remain focused on a hotel's core competency while adding business and social value in the process. READ MORE

Travelers and hotel guests are becoming more informed and educated on 'green' issues and as a result are changing their behavior. These changes can include changing to CFL light bulbs, buying eco-friendly products (such as 'green' cleaners), purchasing carbon offsets for their travel, and recycling more. As a result, hotels must ensure their 'green' efforts are supporting their customer behavior preferences or risk attracting and maintaining the loyalty of these 'green' travelers. READ MORE

While the supply of spas has been on a steady rise for many years, the growth has slowed and this is probably good because there are some challenges that need to be addressed... The supply has out-paced the demand, the labor pool from management to service providers is quite limited, and there isn't enough reliable economic information. These may be "symptoms" that need further examination in order to address any "health" issues that could impinge on the well-being of our industry. The challenge has been to define "what is financially profitable." It may be time to really have a "fiscal check-up" to see just how healthy we are. READ MORE

In order for spas to be profitable business ventures in and of themselves, they need to be properly planned and staffed, but of equal importance is the need for an exceptionally strong, creative, on-trend and well-executed marketing plan. Consumers need to know why they should go to your spa, e.g., why is your spa different from and better than the one down the street. In our 25 years as spa advisors, we have constantly emphasized the need to have a solid pre-opening and operational marketing budget and plan that will allow you to bring in people who want to spend time and money in treatments and retail. Since marketing is critical to revenue-maximization, I thought it would be beneficial to hear from people who are integrally involved in creating and implementing marketing strategies and plans. Therefore, I invited 3 of HFD's well-respected clients to share some of their experience, insights and strategies. READ MORE