To remain competitive in your local market can be highly stressful yet there are some strong ideas that can be implemented to get an edge on the competitor. How well do you really know them? Do you know them by brand, reputation, or by the managers running the show, when meeting up at local events? How about how they truly capture their customer and their experience, for example? Do you meet or exceed their service levels? We will get a view of the big picture as to how our rates and market position initially affects how to conduct a study on the competition. READ MORE

Knowing the competition means playing detective on the World Wide Web. Hotel operators can take a page from the great fictional detective stories. Sherlock Holmes studied the suspects and reviewed the clues to solve the mystery. Hotel managers who study the competition on line and uncover clues to their business can discover information that will lead to additional revenues for their hotels. Smart hoteliers who incorporate the same sleuth techniques as Miss Jane Marple will find the means to gain market share while protecting their own with clever on line marketing. READ MORE

Hotel incentive programs have long been a part of the travel industry. The ever present challenge of keeping properties occupied has now become the focus of new marketing plans. Today's traveler is no longer a strict brand “loyalist”. Current hotel consumers are now loyal to the chain that offers the most relevant incentives during their stay and who can give them the best incentive offering to become a repeat guest. READ MORE

The movement to improve the environmental performance and image of the travel and tourism industry in the last decade and a half has taken root and built the foundation of long term sustainability. Hotels of all sizes and customer class, and in all locations, have joined the "green revolution". A visit to the website of any globally recognized hotel brand or chain yields an abundance of information on that organization's efforts to make its properties and services more environmentally sustainable. From guest room towel reuse programs to energy efficient and water conserving devices to commitments toward sustainability initiatives at the local and global level, consumer awareness has finally caught up with the industry's leadership initiatives. READ MORE

Golf courses have always been recognized for their natural beauty and serenity. Players feel as if they are worlds away from reality - with the silence broken only by the swish of a club or the warbling of a native bird. While it is often criticized for its abundant use of land and natural resources, the golf industry is answering back with sound programs that assist courses in measuring environmental sustainability. READ MORE