Nearly a half century ago, business guru Theodore Levitt said that the purpose of business is to make and keep customers. It might seem that his admonition is just plain common sense, not some cutting edge revelation. On the other hand, growing competitiveness in the lodging industry has forced many executives to believe that the purpose of their hotel is making money. The focus on revenues, REVPAR, ROI, escalating costs, cost containment, and a series of sophisticated business school jargon has drawn attention away from the real purpose of any hotel - i.e. to make and keep guests. No one is suggesting that revenues are not important; they are. Without adequate revenues a hotel "ain't no more." So let's give Levitt's definition a modern lodging marketing perspective: Marketing is managing your hotel's brand so that guests recognize that your hotel will solve their needs better than any alternative. READ MORE

When limited markets are divided among competing hotels with similar facilities and services, hoteliers find that new guests can be attracted and hotel occupancy increased by revisiting the past. They've discovered that heritage corridors create additional reasons to travel a route, be loyal to a property and stay longer. These less-traveled corridors were once the beaten path, but now have nostalgic appeal for travelers in search of a slower pace, authenticity and our nation's history. READ MORE

According to a recent article in Hotels Magazine, when it comes to more meetings business, "Who gets the lion's share of the proceeds will depend largely on two key factors: the right technology and the right read on what meeting planners want." When it comes to technology, there are several aspects that hoteliers need to consider. I'd like to share six ways that that can help you get and manage more meetings business. READ MORE

Today's meeting planners have a lot more to consider than just booking sleeping quarters, outfitting seminar rooms with multimedia equipment and ergonomic chairs and organizing group meals. Meeting groups now require the latest in technology (Wi-Fi is a must), entertainment and amenities while also demanding the latest in comfort, cuisine and last but not least, an inspirational setting where business and bonding can be conducted in every corner. READ MORE

The Spa Retail Management process is comprised of key components that allow you to develop a foundation that will enhance your business strategy and positively effect your bottom-line. The Retail Concept is one of the first things that need to be defined. This focuses on determining your target market's needs and how you will satisfy those needs more effectively and efficiently. Who do you currently serve and how well are you serving them? Take a look at your current spa offering to determine what you sell and who is buying it. What do you sell? What is your retail mix? How have you integrated all that you do? These are just a few questions that need to be answered to define your retail concept. READ MORE

Theories and concepts compete constantly for our attention with most fleeing out minds as quickly as they entered. A few, however, begin to appear with such frequency that it is hard to ignore. Concepts that become of continual concern shift from simply ideas or musings to solidified trends. As the members of the Generation X leave the work force, multiple movements are made within the business world that potentially affects your organization. While we cannot predict the future, these six trends will contribute to the way in which many of our future business practices and processes operate. READ MORE

It's simple. It's all about control! A retail management agreement typically provides a hotel owner with much greater control over the day-to-day operations of a retail facility than a retail lease does. The first question a hotel owner should ask is, "do I really want control over the day-to-day operations of the retail facility?" The answer may vary from facility to facility. For example, the hotel owner may not wish to delve into the day-to-day operations of the sundry shop, but the food and beverage operation, that may be quite a different matter because the food and beverage experience is closely tied to the overall guest experience. READ MORE

In the last decade spa has become synonymous with luxury and upper- upscale hotel markets, building a five star resort without a spa is now unthinkable and has become a standard of entry into this market segment. While growth of spas within the five star hotel markets is expected to continue, the four star hotel markets has also steadily begun to incorporate spa into the facility footprint; especially in resort markets. Furthermore, spa is beginning to emerge in the three star hotel market. READ MORE

You know that getting more value from your energy dollar is always important. The lodging industry spends over $5.5 billion per year on energy. That is a lot room for potential savings. And greater profitability. The need to improve your electric energy efficiency is especially important. Electricity is an amazing energy source, and demand for it today is at record levels. Looking ahead 25 years, the nation's population is anticipated to grow by 23 percent. The country's GDP is projected to double in that time. And both events lead experts to predict that electricity use will grow 40 percent by 2030. One way that hotels can improve their overall energy efficiency is by taking the ENERGY STAR Challenge READ MORE

Tired of the disruption? Upset that you keep paying hundreds of dollars fixing unreliable equipment? At what point do you stop repairing that 10 year old piece of kitchen equipment and make the decision to buy something new? Making these decisions can be difficult and buying the right piece of replacement equipment can be more challenging than just purchasing the same item you currently own. Obviously, you want a great price, but there are other considerations as well. Before you buy, here are some ideas. READ MORE

In business jargon, a niche is simply "a special area of demand for product or service" because it offers consumers "a situation or activity specially suited to a person's interests, ability or nature." In other words, a niche simply matches what I need or want in a lodging experience to what your hotel can offer me. The key is in the matching. So how do you effectively make that match? It is simple. Just follow the five points of the star to which you can niche your wagon READ MORE

Many hotel executives are aware that wasting water costs money. But with increasing demands on many municipal water supplies, frequent and increasingly severe droughts and a broadening concern for the environment, it has become more important than ever to control the flow of this precious limited resource. Irrigation expertise and advances in irrigation technology, however, provide a ready, proven solution to a major source of water waste. READ MORE

Are you in the condo-hotel business? There are already reports surfacing regarding legal issues stemming from poor asset management. Although condo-hotels are sexy, popular and full of promise, they come with their own set of challenges. Not only can your PR "people" ensure that the message is transmitted accurately, but there are nuts and bolts procedures that can preserve the reputation of your property. READ MORE

Have you ever been in a situation where you're talking to a reporter and you don't know what to say? Or you keep talking to fill the silence because they're not asking you questions? Maybe you've never talked to a reporter and you don't know how to handle yourself. I'm here to tell you it's a piece of cake. Reporters are people too. They put on their pants one leg at a time. And they can help your business grow because of the credibility they lend to a story or trend about you. But there are 13 very important tips you should consider before picking up the phone or talking to a reporter in person. READ MORE

Every property has to control pests such as insects or rodents, but you want to do so in a way that doesn't compromise the health and aesthetic quality of the environment you create for the benefit of your guests. In particular, the concern is that potent, toxic chemical pesticides may very well eliminate a pest problem but create a human health or environmental problem. Having your guests become ill - or suspect that they may - is not a good alternative to their finding a roach in their rooms. On the other hand, you want to ensure that pests are not part of your guest experience, so you must find an effective as well as safe way of controlling or eliminating them. The environmentally preferred way is through Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which is offered by some major hotel service providers. This article will describe the fundamentals of IPM and what to specify from your service provider. READ MORE