Recent research shows that more and more travelers, especially among younger generations, are forgoing familiar but often cookie-cutter hotel brands in favor of boutique properties that promise unique, authentic local experiences that connect guests to the destinations they visit. This trend dovetails with the recent growth of culinary tourism - in which guests make travel decisions based on available culinary options - to put significant pressure on hotel food and beverage operations, which represent the second largest source of revenue for full-service hotels according to PKF Hospitality Research, to shift strategic focus toward culturally relevant, experiential offerings that resonate with today's modern traveler. READ MORE

Food is always an important consideration for travelers, for some more so than others. The food tourism industry is almost 15 years old and in this time, we've been able to identify changes in consumer behavior when it comes to food and travel. Some of these changes are driven by health concerns or religion, while others are driven by consumers' obsession with food and drink. Still, there are some basic tenets of behavior when it comes to foodies and their purchasing decisions. There are actually 13 different types of foodies, and knowing which foodie(s) you're targeting can make or break your marketing plan - and your bottom line. READ MORE

The hotel business is in the midst of a peer-to-peer revolution, and it's seriously threatening the industry's financial stability. A new wave of accommodations spurred by the birth of the sharing economy is radically altering how many people prefer to stay while traveling. According to a survey of US travelers, consumer preference for staying at traditional hotels is halved (79 percent vs. 40 percent) once they've experienced peer-to-peer housing. In addition to Airbnb, there's a rising number of peer-to-peer accommodation sites appealing to specific market segments. Those include the high-end home rental group OneFineStay, and the family friendly HomeAway, which are both nipping at the traditional hotel business. And if hoteliers don't meaningfully respond, that nip could become a significant bite to the bottom line. READ MORE

The rise of Airbnb and other peer-to-peer hotel alternatives has shaken up the hospitality industry. While the long-term impact remains to be seen, this new breed of short-term rental providers is proving to be agile competition to traditional hotels, with inventory and pricing adjusting quickly to fluctuations in demand. How can a hotel's revenue management team effectively respond? Do they treat local Airbnb inventory as a competitor in their market? Shop Airbnb pricing as they do their traditional hotel competitors? This article explores the issues revenue managers must address as they navigate this latest threat to revenue growth. READ MORE

Food has become a magnetic force that steers people's travels and often dictates what hotel they choose. So, it is vital to get the word out through traditional and social media about your hotel's offerings. With the exploding culinary craze, travelers are making decisions on what destinations to visit based on the cuisine they see covered in the media. Preferences, such as farm-to-table, locally sourced produce, and the innovative creations of chefs, are what your property should be publicizing through feature stories in important media outlets and social media channels. It is more critical than ever to publicize the cuisine at your hotel to reach the burgeoning “foodies” market. READ MORE