Solutions to food waste are showing up in the trendiest of eateries, generating interest, great PR, earned media and good will. Chefs are boasting tip to tail and root to stalk menus with a waste not want not philosophy. Creativity and innovation abound adding interest and new flavors to menus. Chefs are educating guests on the value of baking bread today and serving bread pudding tomorrow as the wisdom of their grandparents is being revisited, and compelling restaurant narratives emerge. READ MORE

Technology is no longer a mantra or a false idol for the hospitality industry. Hotel executives need not prostrate themselves before the almighty writers of code and the masters of programming, as if these men (and a minority of women) can bless or curse a company with nothing more than a mouse click or the “three-finger salute” of Control-Alt-Delete. Their power - their monopoly of information - is over. For, if you seek the future of this industry, look at the mobile device before you. Look at the smartphone in your pocket or the tablet on your lap because, on the other side of that screen, is the world. READ MORE

Monitoring and responding to travelers' comments on social media is now a must for hotels. Guests tell the world, in cyberspace, about the good and bad on their stays at properties. By promptly addressing complaints, along with providing relevant content in travel-related social networking communities, savvy brands can increase occupancy and revenue - and even build loyalty. We look at tools and tactics for effective “social listening.” READ MORE

For the first time ever retail sales at restaurants ($50.48 billion) were higher than retail sales at traditional grocery stores ($50.47 billion) in January 2015, according to the American Enterprise Institute. Hotel guests make up a large portion of those restaurant diners. Hotel guests are a somewhat captive audience since we know that they will eat our virtually every meal. They have two options: eat in at the hotel, or head to a restaurant off hotel property. While these diners may be filling the seats of on-property eateries and off-property local and national restaurants, it's likely that few truly recognize the hard work it takes to operate a successful restaurant day in and day out. READ MORE

Spending time in nature is the best remedy to improve your quality and outlook on life. It also provides the simplest, most cost effective and innovative opportunities to have a positive impact on our overall well-being. Global Wellness Tourism is a $3.4 trillion business as reported by the 2013 Global Wellness Report. Dr. Deepak Chopra noted in a recent speech that, “Wellness is the number one trend in the world today.” And Ophelia Yeung, senior consultant, Center for Science, Technology & Economic Development, SRI, and one of the report's lead researchers, argued that she only sees more growth ahead: “Prevention-challenged traditional healthcare systems, and an obesity and chronic disease crisis, are simply costing people and governments too much. READ MORE