Supporting employees through sexual misconduct in guest service positions is an often over-looked and very important part of keeping the ambiance and integrity of any hotel spa facility high. Encouraging spa and hotel management with ideas on responsibly and positively training employees to handle sexual misconduct appropriately. Let's explore training guest service receptionists to identify potential sexual misconduct, as well as the definition of sexual misconduct by law, and what options are available for counseling therapists, separating the "sex industry from luxury spa". READ MORE

Protecting your guests' cardholder data beyond the Payment Card Industry requirements is critical. To provide additional protection and combat the threats to your hotel and guests, select a security provider with a solution that gives you the very best protection available. There are many options, but one that employs end-to-end encryption, does not charge "junk" fees and utilizes both software and hardware offers the best, most comprehensive protection. READ MORE

The drive to go green by hotels comes not so much from environmental concerns as from economic considerations. How then, does an expensive butler department fit into this fundamental drive to balance shrinking budgets? Perhaps a more fundamental question could be visited first: is there still a demand for luxury in the hospitality world? This may sound like a question that could only come from a Martian or a socialist or communist zealot, but at the 32nd NYU International Investor Conference held in midtown Manhattan during early June, a gathering of preeminent capitalists, the first workshop was entitled Luxury: Postmortem or Post AIG? READ MORE

We all appreciate that a hotel functions as a critical component of the travel experience. Over the years, I've come to think of the hotel stay itself as a journey as well. From arrival and check-in, through corridors and public areas to experiencing the accommodations, enjoying the dining options . every moment forms a key element with potential for making the entire visit an adventure that is at once enjoyable, memorable, and worth repeating. Smart design is the first step in ensuring this journey is a success every time, and presents an important opportunity for developing a brand storyline. READ MORE

Loyalty programs have a long and rich history in our culture, but what does a loyalty program today look like? What are our expectations of them as travel and hospitality marketers? We need to think beyond the traditional membership-based approach of earning points for a free night's stay or an upgrade. Traditional loyalty programs no longer make sense for travel and hospitality organizations and the travelers they serve. Instead, a well thought out Customer Dialogue Management (CDM) Program monitoring behavior and orchestrating cross-channel communications is what today's travel and hospitality organizations need to develop true loyalty and engagement. READ MORE