Planning and executing a valuable meeting while adhering to a reasonable budget is the goal of every meeting planner. To accomplish this, many turn to Complete Meeting Packages (CMP), the conference center's niche total pricing structure which allows clients to budget an event with confidence, while offering options ranging from budget to upscale. However, today's meeting planners are savvier and striving to find unique venues or add-ins, such as an out-of-the-box team-building activity, when planning their upcoming events. READ MORE

This year is going to be one of the most exciting times in the meetings and conference industries to date. With all the changes taking place, it can also be daunting if you're not on top of the competitive arena. The following article outlines some of the most significant trends and opportunities in the industry as projected by myself and my team at ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, a leading provider of professional services to 50 conference and corporate training centers, specialty hotels, national and state parks, resorts and other tourist destinations throughout the United States. READ MORE

It has been decades since the Internet and World Wide Web first opened their virtual doors to the world, and although traditionally the meetings industry has tended to lag in adopting new technology, all of this is changing - and fast. Today's world of Blackberry addicted executives, tech-savvy meeting planners and gadget-friendly presenters are forcing conference centers to provide state-of-the-art technology as a standard practice - or else risk competition taking their business. Technology standards within the industry are advancing as quickly as new innovations emerge. Gone are the days when an overhead projector was considered high-tech; wireless connectivity has quickly become the standard. LCD Projectors, video conferencing and computers, once considered luxury pieces of equipment, are now customary. READ MORE

According to The Historic/Cultural Traveler, a weathered, but oft-quoted 2003 study by the Travel Industry Association of America and Smithsonian Magazine, more than half of U.S. adults (over 118 million people) include at least one art, history, humanities or heritage activity or event when they travel. You find them swaying to exotic music at cultural events, festivals and fairs. They're drawn to ethnic neighborhoods for authentic foods and imports. Clusters of them are seen looking skyward as they walk through historic districts on guided architectural tours. Others are involved in volunteer projects to both immerse themselves in a destination while helping to preserve it. They walk battlefields, often as knowledgeable about what took place as are local guides. The travel stories they retell are of the cultural treasures they saw and the remarkable local people they met. READ MORE

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) reported this year that customer satisfaction within the hotel industry declined over five percent from last year. The industry's final score? A not so impressive 71 out of 100. That would also be known as a "C minus," if we were still school. Sure, it's a passing grade, but below average, and far below what the industry is capable of. In other words, there is a lot to learn out there - about lodging customers and how to serve them. What if the industry as a whole could earn at least a 90? What if a single chain could score that high? Vacancies would be scarce, revenues would soar, and that chain would gain the reputation as the place to stay. The truth is, it doesn't really take a great deal of effort. In fact, your customers are saying it all the time. The trick is how to hear them. This article discusses how best to go about obtaining actionable feedback from your guests, how it can help you adn what the potential benefits could be. READ MORE

While the present-day environment may make it difficult to slow down and remove oneself from the renovation arms race, participation will provide no lasting advantage. You may have a slight edge winning the "mind" of the guest... until the guy next door completes his renovation, and it's way cooler. If you launch a parallel arms race by attempting a renovation of the human touch points of the guest experience, however, you have an opportunity to win not only the mind, but the "heart" as well. READ MORE

Hotel trade shows are complex events that require months of focused planning, preparation, and coordination. Trade shows are a great venue to showcase your business, helping to generate new and increased revenue in a variety of ways. Public relations plays a critical role in how a trade show is publicized in the media and perceived by your target audiences. A successful trade show program should have a strong public relations component, enabling the maximization of positive media coverage in relevant outlets to your business. A complete plan will have recruitment, preparation, execution, and follow-up procedures working together to highlight your business in the media. READ MORE

There is no question that the overall demand by travelers for the "extra" touches and the impact it makes on repeat business is driving hoteliers to outdo their competitors. Are hotels with the latest and greatest attracting more guests? Absolutely. Join the bandwagon or be left behind. Let's take a glance at some of the offerings from yesteryear and today. READ MORE

In Part I of our series on spa development, the importance of planning, the value of feasibility studies and avoiding design pitfalls was discussed. As mentioned previously, it is crucial to proceed cautiously when planning your spa and to ensure that there has been enough due diligence to make the most appropriate decisions regarding size, scope and potential location. As critical as it is to offer the most aesthetically pleasing and functional space through a thoughtful and comprehensive design process, it is equally important to "stage" your spa for a smooth and successful launch. This requires a focus on what the ultimate objectives will be and a definition of how the spa will ultimately operate in presenting itself for guest and public use. Questions such as how to maximize revenue and profits, and how the spa can best impact room nights and yield should be addressed. READ MORE

In order to ensure that a hotel or resort spa will offer a truly memorable experience while maximizing revenue and potential for a positive bottom line, one item is of critical importance. Perhaps the most important decision that will influence the success or failure of a spa operation is to select staff that will "make a difference". Putting it another way, will guests and other spa patrons remember their experience as one that is delineative and memorable in some way, and one they wish to share with spouses, friends or colleagues? Spas may be beautifully designed and have a wonderful and diverse menu of services; however, if the staff aren't really attuned to their customers, friendly in their demeanor and well trained, the entire spa experience can be ruined before it ever starts. In our view, staff selection and training is the make or break decision for most spas and leisure facilities. Yet, in many cases, not enough time, effort or emphasis is placed on this crucial area. READ MORE

Most, if not all, of the major hotel companies have restaurants in their hotels. This allows for a fantastic opportunity and advantage when creating a unique banquet menu. The attitude my team has taken, is to reflect the theme of the restaurants at each property and allow this style to flow into banquets. Food and beverage directors must take great care and place major emphasis on not offering generic fare and items that seem to be on so many catering menus. READ MORE

Kiss goodbye to the products your spa sells, or even vitamins from the supermarket. Codex Alimentarius is Latin for "laws governing what people may put down their throats" - and by extension, manufacture, sell, discuss, and possess on the subject. The requirements of Codex Alimentarius will come into full force worldwide on 31 December, 2009. Each country involved in a trade dispute under the aegis of the World Trade Organizaton, will automatically lose its case if it is not compliant with Codex Alimentarius, irrespective of the merits of the case it is disputing. This is forcing every country to align its national/state laws with Codex. READ MORE

How many hotel trade shows do you attend each year? I'm willing to bet you attend the big ones - NYU Investment Outlook, ALIS, and the Lodging Conference. Some of you probably even attend NABHOOD and the specific brand shows. So how do you get visibility for yourself and your company among the thousands of people who attend each year? READ MORE

There are many external factors that can unexpectedly and negatively affect the business and brand, such as a food borne illness outbreak, labor dispute, or traumatic newsworthy event. Acts or situations that oftentimes happen outside the control of hotel management can have long-lasting damaging effects on the property. How the management team and brand respond to such issues when they happen is critical, and having a trained team with a crisis or issues management preparedness plan at the ready can be the difference between defending the brand versus seeing it destroyed when under attack. READ MORE

One of the first things guests notice upon arriving at a hotel is its landscaping. It is also one of the most crucial - and overlooked - aspects of building customer satisfaction. Since repeat guests are your best customers, it is important to maintain a fresh new look that will keep them entertained and returning for years to come. But keeping your landscape fresh and up to date with changing seasonal aesthetics is challenging for many hotel executives - especially in areas like Southern California and Texas where there is little seasonal variation to the landscape. Color, climate and different light exposures all factor into the design and maintenance of an interesting landscape with a year-round aesthetic interest. READ MORE