Social media has changed how consumers research, plan and purchase travel. From travel review sites - research shows more than two in three travelers cite traveler reviews as influential when planning leisure travel; to engaging and sharing through social networks - 70% of online travelers are active participants in an online social network - the impact and importance of social media within the travel ecosystem cannot be overlooked. With the vast majority of US consumers engaged with social networks, and many with activities related to travel, an enterprise social media strategy is a requirement.

More than ever it is critical for hotels to get mobile right. At the recent PhoCusWright Conference in Arizona last November a large international hotelier stated that they recorded a decrease in hotel bookings from the now 'traditional' PC for the first time in 2012. Meanwhile their hotel bookings via mobile have increased.

Global marketing for the hospitality business is more complex than ever. Travelers are on the go, using their mobile devices to access content, connect with your brand on social media and even reserve rooms. But are you catering your content to each of your target audiences worldwide? To help you localize your brand to strategic foreign markets, a language service provider can guide you through the process of boosting customer engagement and online exposure, resulting in increased bookings. Get started by following three best practices for global hotel marketing: multilingual search engine optimization, content localization and international social media.

The hospitality industry's turnover rate is far above that of the national average, which the US Bureau of Labor Statistics states is approximately 32% annually. Studies have found variances in the industry of between 60 and 300%. Even though theories have been put forward to explain this above average turnover rate, the issue seems to not only be a long standing one, but one that has worsened over time. There are many negative implications associated with such a high turnover rate.

Your customers are interacting with someone on their smart phones hundreds of times each day. Are you a part of that conversation? If you aren't, there's a good chance one of your competitors might be. How can you become a part of the conversation? Discover the three most critical aspects of your mobile marketing plan? Can you do to lead the way, while controlling the public perception of your company? Consultant John Collins thinks you can and give some practical advice on accomplishing that task.

When does investing in a hospitality recruiter make sense for an employer? When an employer receives optimum benefit from beginning to end coupled with future assurance making it worth the while. Yes, recruitment firms can become very expensive very quickly, but are they worth it? Yes, absolutely and with the correct flags to look for employers can ensure they are getting the cream of the crop without having additional costs or at least reducing the risks.

The hotel sector of the hospitality industry is vast, to be sure. Some of you have positions at well-established, corporate legends in the hotel space. Typically, hotels of this stature offer impressive employee benefits packages, including health insurance. For those of you working at an equally fabulous, yet smaller-scale establishment, a benefits package may not be part of your vocabulary yet. Whether you are the proprietor of an independent, boutique hotel or an executive at a five diamond resort, one thing is probably true - you don't know exactly what this whole health reform thing means for your business.

In today's economy, it is important for hotels to find something that makes them rise above the competition and provide a unique experience; yet one of the most oft overlooked areas is the property grounds. Not only can a beautiful garden showcase your property but it can also be a simple and cost-effective way to differentiate your hotel from the competition. Careful selection of plant varieties and regular maintenance can help keep the landscape within budget while still showing the hotel's property in its best light.

With a focus on strengthening our hospitality services, Trigild - a real estate services firm with 35 years of property management, receivership/bankruptcy and consulting expertise - recently announced a strategic alliance with Blu Hotel Investors, a Santa Barbara-based hotel company with extensive expertise in acquisitions and ground-up development. The newly formed alliance enables both companies to share specific resources, services and specialties.

Just like the President's mislabeled healthcare reform, “socialized loyalty” is not about a government or hospitality takeover of social media - far from it. But it is recognition that social media, specifically mobile social media is rapidly becoming standard and a must-have component for hotel loyalty programs.