According to a recent study, the U.S. lodging industry continues to benefit from double-digit profit growth in 2006. The data suggests that the gross operating profit for the typical U.S. hotel increased 13.1 percent from the first half of 2005 to the first half of 2006. So, how as a hotel manager, can you make the best use of this profit to create greater value for shareholders?

One answer is an upgrade to your property's landscape. An attractive landscape with vibrant plants, flowers and trees makes a positive first impression on hotel visitors. High visibility areas like driveways, paths and entrances are a great place to introduce new plant materials and reinforce your hotel brand through color schemes and/or other design elements.

But with a seemingly endless selection of landscape maintenance providers out there, how can you really know which one is best for your hotel? If the time is right to consider upgrading your service, what factors are most important to the selection process? To help with the decision-making process, here are some important things to consider:

The profitability of the U.S. lodging industry has created a good problem for hotel executives. The increase suggests that hotels are generating a greater return ...