It was supposed to herald the age of wireless transactions, turning the leather-bound wallet into an antique. Yet years after its mainstream launch and NFC (near field communications) - two-way mobile phone radio communication, enabling everything from digital keys to remote checkout - has languished on the "hit list to be" with each new wave of excitement retreating into the silicon sea. But there are signs the tide is about to turn - again. From real-world hotel experiments to global trade shows to a host of financial services companies, NFC, challenged as it is, remains a tantalizing technology and one that hotels are reluctant to ignore. It just might be that after numerous misfires, 2013 will be the year NFC doesn't just "hang on" to live another day, but thrives. Eager to deliver new experiences and engender loyalty, hotels are banking on their success. READ MORE

In a 2006 PKF article, labor consisted of 61.7% of the rooms department expense. Laundry, linen and guest supplies take up an additional 10%. They also very wisely state "Profitability is driven by revenue management and expense control." However, there is an overarching concern that the effort to reduce overhead will reduce output quality thus making your guests unhappy. There are methods for improving housekeeping and laundry efficiency without hurting your scores. By reviewing the departments' tasks from a process-centric viewpoint, you can quickly and economically improve efficiency and reduce overhead without sacrificing guest or staff satisfaction. READ MORE

Depending on who you talk to in the hotel industry, the answer to the question of what is the most effective way to drive sales can vary quite a bit. Some hotel owners and operators will focus on the management team, others on staff training, and others on aggressive and effective sales strategies. One management company might insist that great service will yield sales dividends down the road, and another might maintain that effective use of brand resources is essential. So who is right? READ MORE

The movement toward the 100 percent guarantee appears to be driven primarily by three marketing forces. One is a consumer that is continually becoming more sophisticated, more experienced, and more demanding of a high price value. A second is an increasing importance that all businesses are placing on quality service, consumer satisfaction, and customer loyalty. More recently, a third has come to the forefront: the proliferation of information available on the Internet - social media, hotel websites, third party booking agents, and, of course, rating sites such as Yelp, Kayak, or Trip Advisor. In this article, you'll learn what your guests want in a guarantee and why it is a necessary tactic in your marketing strategy. READ MORE

For hotel developers, the financial, logistical and technical challenges of transforming historic buildings into modern-day facilities can be daunting. Doing so while preserving the historic architectural tenor of the space and the essential character of iconic buildings is even more difficult. In such circumstances, developers are not only preserving discrete details, they are preserving history; embracing not only the aesthetic and structural integrity of the environment, but oftentimes the cultural and community context as well. Adaptive reuse and historical hotel renovation can be a challenge. It is not a paint-by-numbers exercise, and it requires both skill and experience to execute successfully. When done correctly, however, such a strategy of preservation and reinvention can pay enormous literal and figurative dividends. READ MORE