It is an understatement to say the realm of communication has changed with social media. It seems like overnight social media has revolutionized not only the way we communicate with each other, but also the way we transport information. While many companies have utilized social media to generate business by employing new marketing schemes, companies must also be wary of the negative effects social media could have on its business. Without a doubt, social media has become the latest avenue by which a company's proprietary information can be compromised. One of the greatest risks facing companies today is the ability of its own employees and third parties to access and obtain confidentiality information. READ MORE

In the traditional hotel environment, departments are seldom responsible for each other's success. The push towards Total Revenue Management is changing this. As department heads learn that they need each other's data in order to effectively insert themselves into a hotel-wide, guest-centered strategy, many of the boundaries that separated functions are beginning to disappear. This is the new hotel ecosystem, driven by data and the people that need it. For the hotels that have begun to democratize data to eschew in this systems thinking approach, the gains have been substantial. To embark on driving this transformation at your company, concentrate on these four key components. READ MORE

Hoteliers spend a lot of time and money researching, marketing and trying to attract new guests to their hotel all in order to boost revenue. While growing your customer base is critical to ongoing success; hoteliers should also make sure that they are maximizing the money they make from existing guests.  To help ensure a hotel is making money from the guests it does have, it is vital a hotel understands and qualifies their guests so that they can be targeted with the most appropriate upsells and promotions. READ MORE

With more female business travelers emerging and leisurely spending habits often made by women, the hotels that can offer solid design features combined with creative marketing and services will see a successful return on investment for years to come. When assessing what women want from a hotel versus men, the preferences don't tend to vary dramatically; women just tend to want more from the overall hotel design. From hotel design including increased safety measures and amenities like toiletries and gym equipment, to marketing using social media, hotels use many different tactics to attract female customers. READ MORE

Numerous vectors are pushing the hotel industry to reduce its carbon footprint and improve the sustainability of operations. One of the vectors is guest demand, as individuals and groups request hotels to report on their sustainability initiatives. Guests are generally willing to participate in a hotel's sustainability programs, as long as that participation doesn't interfere with the enjoyment of their stay, but guests have not shown a willingness to pay higher rates for improved sustainability. This article explains one hotel's experiences in retrofitting for efficiency. READ MORE