In response to perceived guest demand and government regulation, many international hospitality operators and local hotel operators have moved ahead with sustainability programs. However, many of these programs focus on different elements of “green” operation. One consequence of this diversity of sustainability efforts is that would-be guests cannot always compare one hotel's program to another. Thus, one challenge for the global hospitality industry is simply to define and measure exactly what constitutes sustainable practices, together with establishing consistent sustainability benchmarks. Contrary to established myths, sustainability programs confer several benefits on hospitality operators, including cost savings for well-designed programs, improved customer relationships, and, in many jurisdictions, meeting government regulations. However, sustainability can move beyond mere regulation to becoming a positive competitive force. READ MORE

We are all familiar with the basics of a hotel frequent guest program: customers earn points for staying with a particular property or chain, which are redeemable for anything from discounts, upgrades, to a free stay. While most hotels have loyalty programs, most place very little importance on their loyalty programs as a driving factor for increasing consumer bookings. But the truth is that loyalty programs can be a very important decision-maker, especially for frequent travelers, often hotels' highest-earning customers. Don't believe me? Let's look at the stats.. READ MORE

In the pursuance of growth, retailers know the key to profitability and success is location. Red Door Spas CEO Todd Walters explains the importance of identification and the prioritization of locations as critical factors in the prediction of the success of a site. The private-equity-backed company turned to Site Analytics Co, to create a quantitative formula factoring guest demographics, psychographics, competition and other Red Door-specific considerations to create a predictive model for the success or possible failure of potential locations. The model has also helped to improve under-performing locations, evaluate potential hotel partners and study best practices of thriving spas. READ MORE

Attracting new revenue and saving money is more important than ever in this economic climate and many hotels now recognize both of these goals can be realized through green programs. As a result, many hotel or hotel companies are claiming they have programs in place, but are they actually being implemented successfully? Is the full value of these programs being realized? This article examines how critical it is that eco-programs are implemented internally and successfully managed, plus it outlines the subsequent benefits that come from doing so. READ MORE

Recommendations from family and friends are the number one trusted source of insights and advice driving travel service purchase decisions. What are you doing to empower guests to spread the word about your property? Learn several easy and inexpensive ways to increase word of mouth and help drive bookings. READ MORE