The hotel market is more competitive than ever before. Tapping the talent of experienced design professionals can help industry leaders gain a needed, game changing edge. Guest columnist Paula Azevedo, a principal at dash design, explores how the proper use of technology, materials, luxurious appointments and destination estaurants can provide a true return on investment for hotel owners, developers and operators. Tapping the hands-on knowledge of design professionals is one way that hoteliers can gain an edge and, therefore, capture market share. READ MORE

The market landscape has truly undergone a major metamorphosis in the past decade. The way businesses woo customers has consequently also changed dramatically. Gone are the days when businesses craved for referrals through direct communication. The new referral engine is social proof - the positive influence that is created when someone comes across something that many others are doing. In a way, it is using experiences of others to choose a product. READ MORE

The Miami of today - the "It" city of art, tourism, fashion, culture and business - was really born over a decade ago, when Samuel Keller, the former director and leader of Art Basel, an internationally renowned Switzerland-based art show, had the vision to use Miami Beach as a host city for a temporary traveling Art Basel exhibition in 2002. The show did more than bring a good deal of attention to South Florida. Art Basel partnered with the city and its local institutions to create parallel programming, bringing Miami alive with galleries, street fairs and events at its convention center as attendees poured in. READ MORE

In the dictionary, rebranding is defined as the changing of a company or organization's corporate image. In reality, for businesses that are rebranding their hotels, the term exudes a much less simplistic picture. It can be a daunting task, even one that seems overwhelmingly complex and trying. But irrespective of how challenging the overhaul of a brand might first appear, it's not impossible if approached methodically and with an outlined strategy. In the end, it's a worthwhile undertaking for establishments looking to reinvent themselves in their respective markets. Which brings me to the first most pivotal point: understanding your market. Delving from that comprehension into the personality of your hotel will help prepare you, step by step, for a successful transition by creating an identity that resonates. So, how exactly is it done? READ MORE

Typically, when we attempt to control insurance claims costs in hospitality, we find ways to reduce the number of claims. That means yet another conversation about slips, trips and falls, the most frequent source of any insurance claim filed by a hotel. What about the most costly claims, the ones that draw settlements in the hundreds of thousands of dollars? Hotels must also reduce their exposure to risks that result in these sometimes catastrophic claims, from Legionnaires' outbreaks to back strain injuries among hospitality staff. In this article, I will discuss five emerging risks and one all-too-familiar risk that generate costly insurance claims. READ MORE