In a marketplace that increasingly places a premium on authenticity and extraordinary, historic hotels offer a spectrum of event venues, from elegant to quirky, but typically unique. There is always a temptation to concentrate on operational efficiency and standardization in designing new space, and certainly, flawless service is a key to a successful event. But whether a grand dame hotel or an adapted vintage building, there is value in embracing the special places and unusual character of older buildings, capitalizing on historic architecture to create memorable venues – which in turn feed the bottom line. READ MORE

Despite confusing rhetoric from Capitol Hill, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its employer mandate is alive and well. Not only that, the IRS is serious about enforcing the mandate and is collecting penalties from employers for noncompliance. Many companies fall short of ACA compliance because they fail to accurately track full-time employees throughout the year. Constant turnover, variable-hour shifts, and seasonality make it increasingly difficult for hospitality businesses to track employees' hours. This article will cover the nuances of ACA reporting and how to stay on top of all the day-to-day change with shift workers. READ MORE

In the context of a hotel acquisition or new hotel construction, there are a myriad of issues that must be addressed, including a tangled web of permits and licenses that must be obtained prior to opening. Perhaps the most challenging license or permit that must be obtained is the liquor license. The difficulty, obstacles and puzzles that must be solved when obtaining a liquor license vary in complexity and intensity depending on the state in which the hotel is located, and in some cases depending further on which county and / or municipality within the state. It can be easy for outside transaction lawyers working on a hotel acquisition for the owner or management company client to overlook the difficulty and potential for delay that obtaining liquor licenses can present. READ MORE

The contractual relationship between an owner and an operator is begins with the negotiation of the underlying management agreement. The tone and evolution of that owner/operator relationship will hinge upon the resolution of the most important issues arising during the negotiation of the management agreement, with the commercial terms establishing the foundation of the financial relationship, and the allocation of liability terms establishing the parameters of the risk relationship. Determining who is responsible for the consequences and liabilities of the hospitality business is, more often than not, the most heated and highly negotiated part of a management agreement. READ MORE

A hotel's reviews can be one of its most powerful assets, as well as one of its own downfalls. As one of the most important sources of information for travelers prior to booking, a review can ultimately sway travelers to stay at your property or lead them elsewhere. That said, filtering through hundreds of thousands of reviews across multiple platforms is no easy feat, but hoteliers shouldn't dismiss this treasure trove of valuable information. The solution: data-driven technology that transforms guest feedback into actionable insights to help hoteliers understand what guests are loving at their properties, as well as areas of improvement. READ MORE