When asked, the most successful hotel executives tell me that their greatest challenges concern people: hiring the right people, bringing them onboard effectively, engaging them, and of course retaining them. On top of that, you need to insure that there will be a pipeline, so that in the event that someone leaves, you have a trained employee to step into that role. Handle these five areas well and you will be considered a great leader. Miss even one of these areas and you will not succeed. Here's your roadmap to success with your people. READ MORE

Why is it so important to see the real personality of an applicant? Everyone will put their best face forward for interviews so it's prudent to try to discern the “real” personality before hiring them to avoid unwelcome surprises later. Social media profiles allow a peek into a candidate's life, interests and relationships. What would have taken hours or days of background calls and checks can now be done in a few minutes on a smart phone or tablet. READ MORE

The hospitality industry is challenging, to say the least. Minimum wage paychecks and difficult customers magnify the stress of long hours andaching feet, leading to high turnover rates and unhappy employees. It's no secret that happy employees work harder and lead to happier customers, but what is the recipe for success when so many factors of workplace satisfaction are out of management's control? While customer behavior can be volatile and frustrating, managers have the ability to encourage employees through providing understanding, preparation for unpleasant realities and appreciation for a job well done. READ MORE

The lodging industry is no stranger to the fickle whims of the economic climate. The catastrophic events that we have come to know as the “great recession” forced many businesses into triage mode, and those who would weather the recessionary storm were left with the dizzying task of doing more with less. While cautiously optimistic, HR professionals believe that there is no such thing as “returning to normal”. Instead, they understand that we are now operating under a new normal — the landscape has been permanently altered. READ MORE

This article includes a table of corresponding global trends on crisis management directly or indirectly, impacting the hotel industry. Additionally, we explore related background information, company valuation, crisis management, trend awareness and “Black Swan” events, and methods of implementing and sustaining a global trend management program including justification, awareness, preparation and response. The article concludes with the organizational and competitive advantages of implementing an effective global trends management program. READ MORE