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

There is a common misconception among smaller independent properties that a mobile app is expensive and only useful for larger hotel brands. In this article I explain why this isn't true and discuss how a hotel app can be a powerful marketing tool for hotels of any size and star rating. This article also provides an overview of the mobile market today, and outlines what your hotel needs to do to meet your mobile guests' increased expectations. READ MORE

Since mobile devices are always with us, our sensitivity to privacy is much higher. Mobile messaging done incorrectly will likely be seen as abusive and damaging to your brand. There must be a coordinated effort to deliver the right information at the right time - and only with the recipient's explicit permission. For these reasons, the biggest opportunity I see in mobile communications is using it as a service channel - not as a direct sales or marketing medium. Let's examine how mobile messaging can be used for service. READ MORE