Wellness is an essential component for planners to incorporate into their 2019 meetings and events, focusing on the complete physical, mental and social well-being of their attendees. The top meeting trend prediction comes as the theme of wellness grows rapidly on a global scale. Diane Tighe of Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club and JB Duke Hotel on the campus of Duke University shares recommendations for physical, mental and social wellness for planners to incorporate in 2019. With nearly 20 years of experience, Diane is a Certified Professional Catering Executive (CPCE) and an active member of NACE since 2001. READ MORE

"My pleasure." Though just two words and three syllables, this simple phrase can serve as the cornerstone for a hotel's delivering on a great guest experience. I have found that by training associates to not only say but to also consistently live this creed can make a difference in the success of a property. So, how do we develop quality hotel associates to try to be better every day? How do we make guest service a priority of every hotel associate's job function, regardless of the department in which they are engaged? READ MORE

Insuring that workers are safe on the job is an issue that is increasingly in the spotlight. While it applies to the entire hotel staff, it is especially relevant to those who often work in isolation, with housekeepers being a prime example. The industry is responding with new programs that include devices which staff can activate to signal an emergency alert when in distress, i.e. personal safety devices (PSDs). A safer workplace also contributes to employee confidence and satisfaction, augments health and wellness, and aids in reducing worker compensation exposures. This article explores the role of technology in achieving these goals. READ MORE

Revenue management has in the past decade or more redefined the traditional and archaic reservation function. It took reservation from an administrative and often clerical function and placed it front and center as a business strategy. It has had its challenges during this time but has reinvented itself multiple times proving it sustainability. Cross Selling was one such reinvention phase. Its promise of integration of revenue streams delivering incremental revenues is a powerful factor since the paranoia that owners have of year on year growth is take care of. It puts a smile on stakeholders faces - a dream not just for every hotel revenue manager but the entire management. READ MORE

Fred Cerrone has celebrated 50 years in the hospitality industry. His genuine love of people drew him to a business that thrives on guest service. Over five decades, it's hard to calculate the number of guests his career has touched. When he founded his own firm, he developed a set of Value Statements as guidelines for the firm's associates. In this article, he shares how three of those statements impact the treatment of guests. Acknowledging that guests are human and aren't always right, he points out that they must always be treated as guests! READ MORE