As an increasingly globalized and interconnected world economy continues to emerge and as United States companies continue to expand abroad, what constitutes legally acceptable business practices in the U.S. is often in direct conflict with incongruent foreign business practices and customs. These issues are especially prominent when they concern dealings between U.S. companies operating abroad and foreign officials who act as the gatekeepers to market entrance. Given these complexities, the question then becomes what is a multinational hotel company supposed to do when foreign officials are open and even welcome bribery as an acceptable facet of business or in a country where gift giving, even to foreign officials, is culturally acceptable and expected? READ MORE

If asked to define your "Circle of Trust" you would likely come back with a select handful of your closest combination of family and friends. People who you probably consider your confidants. If you are a hotelier your "Circle of Trust" is growing by the minute. They are everywhere; omnipresent. Never mind a handful; it could be a stadium full. There is never a down moment; when one stops talking about you, the next one starts. Who are these people? What are they saying? Why are they in your "Circle of Trust," a group that is traditionally defined as a much more intimate crew? We'll take a look at this ever expanding circle, the new definition of it and how to keep this circle working for your property to drive positivity and revenue. READ MORE

Years ago, there was a movie in which someone leaned out of a window and yelled: “I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!” When it comes to information about themselves, a similar scenario can be applied to today's hotel guests. So what does this mean to your marketing plans? It means that people are increasingly taking ownership of their personal information, forcing management to rethink their approach to gathering market statistics. Historically, guest data has been something that hotels have obtained as a byproduct of their transactions with them. But the days of a so-called free lunch are over. In this article, you'll see how Big Data, Analytics, and Exabytes will be increasingly important elements in your hotel's marketing strategies. READ MORE

We're all looking for an edge. In the ever-competitive environment in which we operate, it's one of the never changing business constants….find the “edge”! Whether competing for corporate, leisure, government or the increasingly sophisticated segment of “group” finding that edge in the piranha pool of a hotel's competitive set is never easy. Hitching your wagon to a big brand family and the theoretical catnip of the loyalty program is thought to be a business necessity in most every domestic market where corporate and group business fuel a property's financial vitality. READ MORE

International travelers based in the People's Republic of China have heretofore ventured forth exclusively as members of tour groups. This paradigm will gradually be altered as an increasing number of Chinese travelers set their own itineraries and travel independently. A profile of these travelers' preferences depicts a sophisticated set of travelers who seek to gain the most from their trip. Although they appreciate the touches of home (such as the availability of tea service and Chinese-speaking staff), they are motivated to learn and experience as much as possible about the destination. Thus, they place a premium on time and efficiency. READ MORE