You've heard the expression - "better late than never!"... Well it appears this expression may apply to a majority of the traditional hotel industry when it comes to embracing total revenue optimization. After years of dipping its toes in the water, the hospitality industry appears ready and willing to jump headfirst into a concept that, for more than a decade now, has helped many casino-hotels take their revenues to new heights - anywhere from 5- to 15-percent increases! Below are some of the key practices of casino-hotels that are applicable for traditional hotel to incorporate- READ MORE

As in any line of business, the hospitality industry undergoes continuous shifts and changes. It has evolved through the motivation to offer guests unparalleled comfort and experience, by the need to be as cost effective as possible, and by maintaining the highest quality standards. In an industry where solid wood and veneer were once considered more of a necessity than the norm, mid-scale hotels have recently moved toward wood laminate furniture and its myriad advantages, not the least of which is its impressive durability. READ MORE

Trust is important in any relationship, especially if you want people to sleep with you. (OK, at your hotel, maybe not exactly with you!) That's why people rely so heavily on reviews on sites like Trip Advisor and Booking.com: hearing what others have said about your hotel helps create the trust they need to feel confident making a reservation. But what if you don't have enough reviews yet to be profiled on the big sites? Or the reviewer numbers are so small that people wonder if it was just your spouse, parents and friends who wrote the reviews? That's when you need to find other ways to build trust with prospective guests. Here are 14 things you can do to build trust and get more bookings. READ MORE

Late afternoon, lazing in our cabana chairs outside our room, next to the pool, overlooking the beach, waiting for our first cocktail as sunset approached. Our guest experience so far was dreamy and our boutique hotel setting exquisite. We loved our room, the ambiance and the feelings we were having. We were comfortable, relaxed and happy with our hotel choice. Then, a high pitched buzzing noise, the sense of something flying nearby, the disturbing sight of a black insect landing on my leg, the stinging slap to end its life, a small squish of blood, a new bump and the realization that the itching would soon begin. A MOSQUITO had interrupted my Guest Experience! And, he brought friends. READ MORE

A few weeks ago I checked into a hotel that I have stayed at twice before. The woman checking me in was very pleasant and warmly welcomed me to the front desk. After taking my credit card and confirming the details of my reservation she asked, “Have you stayed with us before?” I immediately bristled. Not only have I stayed at the hotel before but I wrote a review of the property on TripAdvisor, which was responded to by the General Manager. And, I tweeted a day before my arrival that I was looking forward to another visit to the city and included the hotel's name. When I replied to the front-desk manager that I had stayed there a couple of times, she welcomed me back and thanked me for my loyalty. READ MORE