As an industry that combines hands-on services with bricks and mortar "product," hospitality is generally at the trailing edge of the technology adoption curve. Like many industries, hospitality did not anticipate the rapid emergence of the Internet, which created an opportunity for nimble upstarts such as Expedia, Travelocity and Hotels.com to exploit the growth and consumer interest in on-line travel services.

Thanks in large part to first-mover advantage, those intermediaries have not only gained remarkable penetration, but - like many Web players - have changed the operating paradigm by disconnecting the supplier from the customer (disintermediation) and driving down room rates by effectively commoditizing the hotel product.

Until now the answer has been to attempt to beat these new-breed competitors at their own game. One example is the popular "best rate guarantee" that has been implemented by virtually all major brands. While the basis is sound - encourage travelers to book via the chain's direct channel to ensure that they will get the best price - in reality, it merely reinforces the focus on price as the sole determining factor and serves to push us further down this slippery slope toward commoditization.

Doubtful? Well, consider this - despite an all out push by ...