Millennials and technological innovation are leading some of the most substantial transformations in American hotels since the business-centric 1970s. The next generation of urban hotels resemble the minimalist European model where limited amenity hotels are connected to high-amenity neighborhoods. Stripping hotels of their traditional amenities, the design of spaces becomes crucial. Architecture and design are to be used to support guests in their total hotel experience. What do these hotels look like? If the country's newest hotel brands are any indication, they will be historically rich, locally relevant, minimalist, full of multi-use space, interactive, and community- and wellness-oriented. Let's take a look … READ MORE

Woodbine Development Corporation designed, developed and opened the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio in 1992, the year of MTV VJs and Arsenio Hall. At the time, my father was calling the signals and this was the first of five similar resorts throughout the Southwest that Woodbine was responsible for developing over a period of about 15 years. The formula was pretty consistent: 300 acres, 500 guest rooms, 100,000 square feet of meeting space (or more), two or three golf courses, a water park and a few resort mascots, which have included dogs, longhorns, hawks and spray-less skunks (don't ask). READ MORE

For most of us, the process of checking into a hotel is not particularly memorable. Nor do many of us often recollect how hotels engaged our sense beyond standard guest relations. Technology has come a long way in filling this void, and hotels have made significant strides in how they engage visitors. From a purely audio-visual perspective, video - i.e., digital signage - tends to get the most attention as a branding, engagement and monetization tool. However, used appropriately, audio can deliver the same benefits in hospitality environments in hotels and resorts, and at a far lower investment point that deploying and operating a digital signage network - particularly when working across multiple sites. READ MORE

There is a generation of young people that have redefined travel for all of us. Actually, they have redefined many things for all of us! The advent of social media platforms and the influx of visually stimulating photos posted everywhere have enabled people to open their minds to new ideas. Where the unknown used to be scary, there is very little unknown these days because you can tap into new experiences from friends and strangers gaining comfort in your interests. You can follow innovators and be exposed to what others are seeing and what they are experiencing and put those ideas on your bucket list. READ MORE

As we enter into the planning period for 2018, you might be talking about revenue forecasting, occupancy rates prediction, holiday promotions - but have you factored in the winning guest feedback formula to operate a hotel successfully? This "winning formula" is one I've written about before, but here, and in my two upcoming articles, I'll be sharing specific details on how to use this formula in your 2018 planning, in order to see greater success next year. By now, you probably want to know what this formula is. READ MORE