Travelers love to tell stories: the snorkeling trip they took in the Molokini crater in Maui, or the fabulous dinner they had at a hole in the wall in a far-flung city. They regale their friends and family with stories of their adventures, showing them pictures, recommending their best spots, and warning them off bad experiences. Some of them will post on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, sharing their good - and bad - encounters with your company on their journey. READ MORE

We've all traversed the same bumpy social media path over the last several years. What can we anticipate for 2016? Is the battle for social dominance a worthy endeavor in light of the new disrupters taking headlines, and profits, from the hotel industry? What does it mean for the brands and our customers? READ MORE

The next few years, and the distant future, will see the profession of alternative therapy (i.e. naturopathy, homeopathy, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, energy alignment, soul healing, fitness, exercise and the likes) in much higher demand than at any rate and time before. The increasing demand for complementary therapies will unfold itself through the yet unseen energetic forces of the soul and spirit. These two entities will ignite a fire with the human body volcano to release deeply repressed and unresolved issues; regardless of the mental, spiritual and/or physical condition of the individual. It is going to happen across the globe, stretching into every tiny corner of society; the business environment must be ready to accommodate its demand and be open to new opportunities, not the other way around. READ MORE

Mobile technology's impact on the travel and hospitality industry is far greater than the ability to check in on your smartphone; it's impacting how we collect, understand and implement the insights we collect from our guests. It's also changing how we respond to guests with issues. In this article, CMB's travel and hospitality practice leader explores some of the exciting opportunities mobile technology presents for hotel guest insights - with the reminder to focus on the customer not on the technology. READ MORE

Hospitality press is full of stories on the growing popularity of mobile keys and the apps that support them. Much of the publicity leads hoteliers to believe that all their guests need is a mobile phone or wristband to do everything from unlocking guestroom doors to ordering cocktails by the pool. Surrounded by media pressure, many hoteliers today are mystified about how - or even if - they should commit the resources to develop mobile key guest access services for their properties. The major chains make this decision for franchisees, but not for independents. This paper offers guidelines on how operators can make an informed mobile access decision and intelligent implementation plan. READ MORE