Every great hotel has a great story. There is nothing more enduring, nor more sacred, than the art of storytelling. It is ancient in its origins, found in every culture. It is a seminal part of every childhood and is arguably the greatest economic driver on the planet. Consider the combined value of the film, music, publishing, and advertising industries, and the billions that go into brand building for nations, companies, products, beliefs, and any part of our culture - large and small - that requires a producer and consumer equation. We're surrounded by stories, some trite and superficial but others transformative, enhancing life in ways never believed possible. READ MORE

Every town, village, community, and city has its own character, its own vibe, and its own history. Each location has a story to tell about what makes it unique. Isn't it important to tell that story through the practice of interior design? Shouldn't designers be called to task to bring the story to life in a unique way for each and every project, especially hotel projects where people stay? Doesn't the guest travelling on vacation or on business want to understand the locale, and what makes it unique? Won't this lead to better experiences for guests? READ MORE

When you have a team that manages the financial well being of your hotel across the dimensions of all the complex and different departments you have a developed an amazing power tool! One key crossover point is to have those department leaders and assistants know their key business indicator and apply it to their zero-based expenses and labor. The KBI power tool combines their costs with a measurable, trackable and meaningful volume number.  Read on to find out how you can create and use these in your hotel. READ MORE

The ability to provide a rich selection of goods and services for potential customers has aided the rapid growth of peer-to-peer platforms. Airbnb, one of the most successful of these, defines itself as "a social website that connects people who have space to share with those who are looking for a place to stay." Because of its rapid growth and popularity since Airbnb's launch in 2008, hotel industry leaders worldwide have been attempting to answer the Airbnb challenge. READ MORE

Hotels find themselves in an uphill battle as they seek to increase loyalty to their own brands and recapture market share from OTAs. Many hotels are increasingly embracing digital advertising, recognizing it as a critical channel to acquire consumers directly and compete more effectively with OTAs. But as hotels expand their digital marketing presence and ramp up advertising budgets, they would do well to consider some creative approaches that can help level the playing field and turn the tide in their favor. READ MORE