As the hospitality industry continues to emerge from the economic recession, there is little doubt that this year will bring both opportunities and unexpected challenges. Last year, we witnessed the opening of a number of new hotels and resorts worldwide, including a dozen new hotels in New York City alone. Many new management deals were also announced in 2010. On the other hand, the recent recession has left us with a considerable number of disputes between owners and operators. Those controversies serve as a reminder that, in good times and especially in bad, owners and operators need to understand their respective rights and responsibilities in the hotel management agreements they enter into. Because it is better to identify potential problems before they occur, this article briefly explores how owners and hotel operators may address legal and economic issues in hotel management agreements for major development deals. READ MORE

There are two ways to increase profits - raising revenue or lowering costs. Hospitality employers often miss opportunities to lower costs by missing valuable tax savings attributable to hiring incentives. The federal government provides businesses with tax credits for hiring members of disadvantaged groups. This often represents a larger share of a hotel's staff than one would imagine. A member of a targeted group can be as simple as someone who lives in a designated area to one of the 40 million plus recipients of food stamps. Overall, a hospitality employer can expect between 15% and 25% of new hires to qualify for tax credits. Here is a rundown of the major programs to look at for 2011... READ MORE

Chinese Investment in the hospitality sector is increasing as capital needs and investment opportunities in the United States drive the "yearn for yuan." Investment has been through both government-sponsored funds such as Chinese Investment Corp. (CIC), China's $300 billion sovereign investment wealth fund, as well as private funds and companies. Learn from the lawyer who represents and structured the investments for Shenzhen New World Group, Ltd., one of the largest Chinese investors in the Lodging Industry. Get an inside view as to how these deals are being structured, what Chinese companies are looking for in making an investment, cultural differences to consider in doing business with the Chinese and the forecast for Chinese investment in the lodging industry for 2011. READ MORE

As technology advances, more and more businesses are taking advantage of the large number of consumers who are using their mobile devices to surf the Web. Like all businesses, hotels can greatly benefit from mobile marketing of all forms - from SMS messaging to social media marketing and apps. Creating a strategic mobile marketing campaign is the first key step for hoteliers in tackling this new frontier. Is your hotel in-tune with the world of mobile marketing? Have you organized a strategic plan? If not, what are you waiting for? READ MORE

Booking Engine, In-House Communication to Guest, In-House Communication Guest to Hotel Staff, Access to CRS, Access to CRS Reports. The mobile device has changed how the world communicates. The freedom it has given and the always-connected attitude has been readily consumed, some would say to our detriment. However, with creative know-how and a conscious effort to respect one's privacy the device can be a valuable tool for the hotel and travel industry. READ MORE

Several trends are emerging as the economy improves and the hospitality sector begins to show signs of recovery in 2011. Increases in occupancy levels will help drive the need for additional staff, but it may take several months before hiring within the industry rebounds from the recent historically low levels. Hospitality employers express concerns ranging from keeping top talent to operating with less staff and few dollars to reward employees. Hospitality workers are feeling more optimistic and are open to new opportunities. See what else may unfold in this article... READ MORE

You have arrived, your moment of anticipation is here, you are about to open the door to your sleeping chamber for the evening and your temporary living quarters. You are about to experience perhaps the strongest impression making moment of your hotel stay. You have activated your contribution to the REVPAR of that property. You are entering - The Bedroom. What makes the guest room experience memorable? What are the dos and don'ts of bedroom service and how does each department/role of the hotel impact that intimate space? What kind of service will you experience in the bedroom? Read on... READ MORE

Now that budget season has concluded for most operations and a plan has been made for the 2011 year, there is still much to consider for those who wish to prosper in this otherwise rather fragile economy. Having created a blueprint for the annual business in the budget, it is now important to work to stay in sync with that defined budget plan as well as the ongoing forecast on a day by day basis. What then should a property expect in daily operations information that can be reviewed in such a useful report? What is the information that Hotel Managers at all levels should utilize to make proper daily business decisions that are in line with the more detailed established budget plan for each week, month and remainder of the year? READ MORE

There's no getting around it-social media is here to stay. The question is: How can our industry use these powerful new tools to achieve our communications and marketing goals? Perhaps Einstein, in his infinite wisdom, had the answer-long before anyone put the words "social" and "media" together. Imagination, he said, is more important than knowledge. In the online age, this concept means that people who know how to use social media creatively are destined to surge ahead of those who only have knowledge of the tools. Keeping that in mind, check out six innovative ways to make social media work for you. READ MORE

The credit world is considered by many to be in turmoil. Real estate values as measured through investment sales are below the lofty heights of just months ago. Residential absorption is dismal in many markets. Nevertheless, the possibilities for mixed-use development, anchored by an imagination catching array of amenities, remain strong, both domestically and internationally. In such a climate, the hospitality industry is attracting interest from experienced developers, owners and operators to be sure. However, there are new players in the game who see the allure, but are less familiar with the rules. This article provides a brief overview, both historic and current, of the law relating to hotel management agreements. READ MORE

Right now your employees are using social media to share what's happening, what they think, and where they've been. They're engaged for both their personal use, and in some cases for their job. This article looks at ways to chart your hotel's social media governance, shares a database of 163 policies from a leading social media consultant, and checks in with a Director of Digital Marketing from a well-known hotel to find out his thoughts on the matter. One thing is for sure, when it comes to hotel social media policies, one size does not fit all. READ MORE

It's a competitive market online for hotels these days. What can you do to attract online travel shoppers, set your property apart and produce more hotel bookings? The answer, as a growing number of hoteliers have found, is to tell your story in a unique and compelling way -- tell it with video and get that video in front of as many shoppers as possible. Considering that hotel shoppers are clearly demanding video and your competitors are jumping in with both feet, it may be time to begin incorporating video and video syndication into your own marketing and e-business strategies. Such moves can generate impressive returns. READ MORE

If your would-be customer has started her hotel search by typing in a query to Google, Bing, Kayak, or another search engine, you need to make sure that your hotel comes up near the top of the search engine's results page. As you probably can guess, the reason you need to be near the top of the results page is that searchers rarely scroll down the page. In fact, in a study of web searchers' eye movements, a team at Cornell University found that the "hot spot," where users focus most heavily, is an area in the upper left corner of the page-essentially the top two or three of the unpaid, or "organic" hits. READ MORE

Hotel guest rooms are a critical area of focus under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Do not incorrectly assume your hotels are ADA compliant because they have designated "handicap accessible" rooms on a low floor with accessible showers. The standards for guest rooms are detailed and rooms that were formerly ADA compliant may have been rendered inaccessible due to alterations and renovations. Additionally, the new 2010 ADA regulations and standards impose significant requirements affecting guest rooms. Are your hotel rooms accessible and ADA compliant? READ MORE