"Survey fatigue" has been a concern among researchers for a long time. If people stop taking surveys, it could really hamper the quality of the data many rely on to make important business decisions. Response rates have been falling fast for many forms of research. The hospitality industry is hungrier for feedback than most. It relies on guest surveys to understand what is going well and what can be improved. It also needs positive online reviews on websites like TripAdvisor to influence booking choices. Significant survey fatigue would be devastating if it hit hospitality. READ MORE

Social Media has begun to affect the hotel industry in ways unperceivable just a few short years ago. Such exponential growth and development has hoteliers worldwide working towards improving the guest experience through use of these different channels. Robert Rauch, President of R.A. Rauch & Associates, provides us with insight on the industry's most recent trends and campaigns involving the use of social media as a form of communication within hotels. R.A. Rauch & Associates is a hotel management and consulting firm offering the full spectrum of hospitality management services to owners, developers, lenders and investors in hotels and resorts throughout North America. READ MORE

Global advertising spend in 2013 will see steady growth of 3.5 percent, reaching $503 billion by the end of the year, with the largest share in television advertising, according to ZenithOptimedia. The travel and hospitality industries are in the top five markets advertising on this medium, spending more than $152 million collectively. Although television still leads the way, consumer expectations have shifted, and your marketing dollars should too. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of online video advertising for hoteliers, specifically with YouTube's TrueView platform, in comparison to traditional television advertising. READ MORE

When a guest has any touch point with your hotel - staying overnight, having lunch in the dining room, using the fitness center, booking a room through the hotel's website, or reading an advertisement in a travel magazine, s/he experiences consequences of the act. Future behavior depends on those consequences. The more your guest feels rewarded, the more likely s/he will become loyal, spend more money, and become an advocate recommending your property to family and friends. The less s/he is rewards, the more likely the opposite happens. In this article, find out how a farmer and his three pigs bring this truism home for hotels. READ MORE

Once thought of as a passing fad or internet phenomenon, it is clear that Social Media is now firmly ingrained in the culture. Everyone seems to have an opinion but like it or hate it; social media has become a part of most business marketing strategies in the hospitality industry and is here to stay. Does your social media plan include those with disabilities in the ADA community? READ MORE