Establishing a powerful online presence is a must for every business today, especially in the hotel industry. Developing even the most incredible website is not enough to generate or increase your business. Using a well thought out link building strategy can provide the necessary visibility for your site by providing more places for searchers to find your hotel property across the web, and boosting your search engine rankings so your prospective customers find you. Relevancy is the key to establishing a good link building strategy and establishing positioning in the Internet. READ MORE

Since Google Earth launched, millions of Internet users have traveled the globe in search of everything from Mount Kilimanjaro to their childhood homes, all from the comfort of their own computers. But, this popular satellite-based application is far more than a way to pass the time at work. When integrated into a website, Google Earth is a powerful tool that can boost Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and support the overall marketing strategy. READ MORE

It amazes me that spas have been "allowed" to be "lazy assets," but now, as a response to the challenging economy, there is a necessity and sense of urgency to focus on how spas can be profitable business ventures. Developers, investors, asset managers, hotel/resort operators and directors of finance are carefully examining every department within their lodging establishment with an eye on how to deliver the spa experience in an economically logical way so the spa is profitable. As a result of careful scrutiny and due diligence, we are seeing the creation and use of spa-specific business tools to help spas attain higher levels of financial performance and profitability. The following are the key components of my simplistic approach to spa revenue maximization... READ MORE

For years, making decisions in revenue management and, to some extent, hotel management has been ruled by gut instinct. Revenue managers and hotel operations executives frequently justify their rate setting decisions by saying, "I have a feel for the market" or "I know what the market will do." Yet when asked for a concrete example of how they knew this, they usually have no answer. Smooth economic times are behind us and while their return is inevitable, today we must navigate challenging waters. How can you make the move from instinct-driven to data-driven business decisions? Here is a proven a six-step process... READ MORE

Online travel reviews are nothing new; they have existed in one way or another for over 10 years. Sites without user reviews may become less common over the next few years, as consumers rely more heavily on others' experiences before making a decision. So how can hoteliers take advantage of this growing trend to bring in more business to their property? Easy, include customer reviews directly on your site. This article explains and analyzes the pros and cons of posting consumers' reviews of your property on your own website. READ MORE