Spas are everywhere. In fact, it wouldn't be unheard of to come across a hotel/resort spa, day spa, club spa, and medical spa within a 20-mile radius. While this abundance of spas gives consumers endless options, it makes it more difficult for spas to differentiate themselves from the competition. Deals remain to be a main consumer draw, but there are other approaches spas can take to rise above rate wars and give consumers an unforgettable spa experience - on a dime. READ MORE

More than a decade ago during the beginning of the spa trend, spas began cropping up in hotels all over the country. While hotel spas can be a profitable venture in some markets and resort hotels, in this economy, there are hotels in other markets that need to reevaluate the way they provide spa services to their guests. Marketing to outside customers, providing complementary services, downsizing the spa, or partnering with local spas and treatment professionals are just some of the ways that hotels can still offer the luxury of spa services without sacrificing profitability. READ MORE

After location, of course, the three most important profit levers for a hotel are price, price and price. Suppose you are given the opportunity to make a 10 percent improvement in occupancy, price, fixed costs or variable costs. All things being equal, a top-line price increase drives the most dollars in bottom-line profit. This is not a new discovery, although with the intense focus on cost-cutting that many businesses have embraced, it bears repeating. READ MORE

The crisis in our economy and the banking industry has focused renewed attention on four banking realities that directly impact hoteliers - and limit the availability of funds for hotel funds: 1. Hotel loans are classified as "special purpose", 2. Hotels are classified as "commercial real estate", 3. "Mark to market" financial regulations reduce asset value, and 4. The FDIC policy on "loss-sharing" agreements encourages unnecessary and avoidable foreclosures. My column examines how these procedures are detrimental to the country's 51,000 hotels - and why leaders in hospitality and banking, including me, are working actively to change them. READ MORE

Writing engaging social media content seems challenging, at times even impossible. The truth is there is no quick fix or six easy steps to writing engaging posts - despite the headline claims of so many articles. Instead, writing engaging content requires some research about your product, about your customers and a fair amount of creativity. Balancing entertainment while adding value is hard work, but the payoff of a well-executed plan can be an increase in brand advocates. READ MORE