Technology is engrained in everything we do. It's in our cars, offices, homes and even the hotels we select. Travelers today, from millennials to baby boomers, are technologically driven and expect the ease and comfort that various forms of technology can provide. Many crave convenient and quick access to information. And with more hotel flags and brands than ever, hotels must incorporate high-tech elements throughout the building from the lobby to amenity spaces to the guest room in order to stay competitive. READ MORE

Hotel design is evolving to meet the needs of a new generation of guests. One of those emerging trends seeks to combine old and new trends into a warm and inviting space that provides all the amenities and features of living in a modern world. For hoteliers, making guests feel at home from the moment they walk into the door is what makes a design successful. One feature leading the charge with adaptable charm and the overall range of colors, patterns and textures is hardwood flooring. READ MORE

As smart technologies continue to permeate every sector of our lives and Millennials grow into consumers with clout, the hotel industry is taking note. New developments are taking place and others are being imagined to keep pace with demands of this technology-savvy generation. Futuristic guestrooms will trend toward being smaller, but technology will rule to provide guests the efficiencies they prefer, the unfettered access to Wi-Fi they demand and the individual recognition they enjoy. A trip to the future is really not so far away. READ MORE

Sustainability and farm-to-table dining have become synonymous with dining experiences. The expectation for a locally grown meal at fine dining restaurants has risen 87% over the past years according to the 2015 National Restaurant Association Industry Forecast. As the leader of a culinary team, we are dedicated to exceed those expectations while meeting our bottom line. This can be a challenge to hotels and resorts around the globe whose climate does not permit for produce to be grown year round. I am fortunate to lead The Ritz-Carlton, Naples culinary team, the first resort to work with CropBox, the solution to providing sustainable dining that is not contingent on climate year round. READ MORE

In the 1990's, I interviewed several futurists who, amongst other predictions, anticipated the omnipresence of robots in the workforce. In 2001 (unrelated to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey), I spoke at a butler convention about a convergence of "hominids" (humans) and robots: the robots becoming more human and the humans becoming more robotic-and warned that this did not augur (signal) well for humans who preferred superior service. Hospitality, basic definition is friendly, which comes from an Indo-European root word meaning love. Met any friendly robots recently, ones who expressed their heartfelt love? Or for that matter, from staff who lack passion for service? READ MORE