Industry metrics have 2017 poised to be another banner year in the meetings business. The trend looks to only continue into the foreseeable future presenting new challenges and opportunities to meet, and hopefully exceed, the expectations of the client, planner, and hotel alike in this dynamic environment in which we find ourselves. The influx of meetings has increased over the last few years considerably along with the expectation to create a memorable 'experience' has meeting planners and hotels donning the 'creative hat' more frequently to provide a unique event that resonates long after the meeting has concluded. READ MORE

A lot is said about maximizing hotel revenue per available room, but what of revenue per available square meter? It's a broadened mindset that may be needed from any hotel that aspires to attract the world's several million business travelers to their property but doesn't quite know where to begin. Indeed, as Hotel Analyst's Katherine Doggrell recently observed: “MICE has been a thorn in the side of the sector since windowless rooms with biscuits were invented. Any hotel worth its salt has to have them, but selling them is ... hardly an efficient process. Dead space in which many go to die.” READ MORE

Since first coined in the early 1980s, the boutique hotel is one with quite the noteworthy story. Though a story of evolution, its true claim to fame is how its model has changed the industry. A look at today's hotel landscape showcases the undeniable influence boutique hotels, generally 100 rooms or less and almost always independently owned and many times self-managed, have had on the industry. Whether in design, location, in-room amenity options, or the locally supported one-off venues that make every 'must see' destination guide, the distinctive characteristics that define these hidden gems have gone mainstream. READ MORE

The decision to appeal a hotel's property assessment for tax purposes is only the first of a series of judgments before the case is resolved. Who will defend the appeal? Based on what facts? How far is an appellant willing to go to gain a remedy for the assessment? Deciding to appeal seems straightforward, but before the decision is made, the hotelier needs to understand that appealing a property assessment can be more art than science. It's showing convincingly that an appellant's opinion of value outweighs that of a professional assessor who works under strict laws, rules, regulations, guidelines and interpretations, many of them nuanced by the tax jurisdiction. READ MORE

Hotel lobbies are undergoing an exciting evolution. Architects, designers, hotel owners, and operators are re-thinking hotel lobbies and transforming them into active social hubs that are becoming the heart of hotels. With flexible designs, professionals are creating spaces that support work and play, dining venues and bars that morph throughout the day, communal tables with computers, library settings for quiet reflections, and game rooms for pure play. READ MORE