With the world economy better resembling a roller coaster ride, hoteliers need to have an effective pricing strategy to maximise profits, while riding out the ups and downs in the market. Currently transient demand in the US hotel sector is breaking all records, yet subsequent price increases are not keeping pace. Since April 2010 the increase in average daily rates has been growing at half the speed that it dramatically fell, when the full impact of the global financial crisis kicked in September 2008. The European economy is still in turmoil, with daily ups and downs, leaving the direction for the hotel industry hard to predict. If forecasting was easy, all weathermen would be rich. In these erratic and uncertain times, pricing decisions will have one of the biggest impacts on hotel profitability. It is more vital than ever that revenue managers understand industry best practice and the latest supporting technologies to ensure their hotel rooms and services are priced at the right rate regardless of periods of high or low demand. READ MORE

Hotel owners may look to strategies designed to increase bookings, revamped marketing campaigns or cutting expenses in order to grow their business and see more profits. What many hotel owners don't realize is that undiscovered cash flow may exist within their own property, if they know how to find it. The application of a cost segregation study may significantly reduce the hotel owner's tax liability and provide needed cash flow for other business endeavors. READ MORE

Luxury properties are wrought with upscale amenities from lavish architecture and furnishings designed to transform your world, exotic foods and ingredients to satisfy even the most squeamish and discerning palates, rare wines and cocktails procured specifically to take guests on a euphoric journey. Even what you smell, what is in the air, has been carefully selected to entice guests to embrace the full experience and pleasure of what the hotel has to offer. Yet with no expense being spared on providing these amenities; the security and safety for guests often falls short. READ MORE

Reduced occupancies. Apprehensive associates. Concerned creditors. All hallmarks of turbulent economic times and issues that we have each been facing during the past year. As business leaders, we directly affect how well our organizations weather the storm through our interactions with the various constituent groups that we rely on, namely our associates, our guests, and our vendors/capital providers. In people-intensive industries like ours, communication and accountability are inevitably critical to our success, and never is this more important than in today's economic climate. READ MORE

Today's travelers are choosing hotels that inspire them and effectively articulate why their rooms and amenities are 'worth' the price. But hotel listings on travel sites are typically lackluster and undifferentiated with unclear value propositions. The challenge for hoteliers is this: successfully conveying their hotel's unique value on the sites travel shoppers use to research and compare hotels online. Hoteliers can capitalize on their presence on travel websites by applying online merchandising techniques and using visual content to their advantage. READ MORE