All of us in the hospitality industry must stay focused on the clients that brought us success prior to the crisis. Even without a crystal ball, I'll go out on a limb and predict a future where businesses, and life, are still with us. Things will be different. By design, and out of necessity, behaviors and attitudes will shift. Technology will play an ever-greater role, helping us to approach things in entirely new ways. Undoubtedly, there's a lot we'll be surprised by. From where I sit, there's also a lot to be hopeful about.

PART II. Last week, we looked at how the official response to the pandemic morphed from great concern about the danger; to numbness at the economic devastation (the UN World Tourism Organization estimated earnings down 80% on 2019 and the loss of 120 million jobs); to increasing rejection of the absurd. This week in Part 2 we review how a draconian censorship of the medical community is being enforced not just in China, as one might expect, but also in the Western world; we examine the information that has been hidden so enthusiastically from you, and finally explain why almost every action taken by authorities has been at variance with impartial science and common sense. READ MORE

While the extent of global financial distress is still uncertain on account of its enormity and the virus being nowhere near control, what is certain is that the world will soon be grappling with several changes of a permanent nature that will become the "new normal." These will be in the form of products, services, and the several life choices we make in our everyday life as we gradually, over time, put the memory of this pandemic behind us and move on. Here are some trends and changes that will likely be seen in hotels across the world. READ MORE

Creating a hotel brand that resonates means far more than designing an eye-catching logo and putting together a style guide. A brand should evoke a feeling, according to David Ashen, president & CEO of interior design and brand consulting firm dash design. In this article, he explores how hotels can imagine a dynamic environment and a service culture that, alongside sharp design, creates magic that few brands have yet to fully tap. Most of all, Ashen implores hoteliers to define if they are a head, heart or gut brand and to bravely lead from that revelation. READ MORE

As the exponential growth of the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked worldwide havoc and forever altered life as we know it, the food and beverage industry has nearly been decimated over the past three months. Ongoing efforts by the entire food and beverage industry, as well as local, state, and national governmental agencies have been successful at mitigating the devastating effects of this virus. While the overall impact has still yet to be determined, it is abundantly clear that we all have a role in defeating this common enemy and that valid and reliable data needs to be made available for future research and analysis. READ MORE