GLBT athletes travel for regional, national, continental and international sports competitions and the gay sporting competitions generate millions of dollars for local economies. Gay sports remains an emerging growth market as evidenced by the increasing number of sporting competitions and the steady growth in attendance at those events by athletes and spectators alike. READ MORE

In this economy, every marketing dollar counts. Public relations and media relations are among the most high-impact, low-cost marketing tools out there. When it comes to building and executing a public relations and media relations campaign for the gay and lesbian traveler, too often common mistakes are made, which ultimately hurt your company's reputation and credibility. This article outlines "Jeff's Top Ten List" to build and execute an effective public relations campaign on a tight budget. You will learn how to avoid common mistakes, save time and learn ways to find new leads to bring business to your hotel now. READ MORE

What is the point of a performance test anyway? Traditionally, a performance test was designed to determine whether the hotel operator was “keeping up with the Joneses” and the hotel was “performing” well under the hotel operator's management and came within striking distance of the annual budget. Usher in a global economic collapse and this untested territory has hotel owners, operators and lenders taking a long hard look at traditional performance tests. This compelling article will assist owners, operators, and lender analyze the traditional performance test and determine whether traditional performance tests perform as expected. READ MORE

Reports of the death of travel agents have been greatly exaggerated, and T&H organizations should keep this in mind when developing marketing programs. Travel agents still matter, and that doesn't even take into account group and meeting planners. In fact, for many travel & hospitality providers, travel agencies still represent a major - if not the largest - channel for guest bookings. Read on to learn more about how to engage this ever-important segment in your marketing efforts, including specific tactics that have worked and processes to get your program up and running. READ MORE

As the economy continues to rebound, so too will the hospitality industry, and properties that have suffered through the recent slump will now have a new opportunity to compete for clients. Whether in the leisure or business travel market, hotels that haven't already done so need to take this opportunity to evaluate the condition of their facilities and determine whether renovations are possible, necessary, or desirable and whether the economics of these investments make sense. In some cases, such as most properties with franchise agreements, there are likely continuous requirements for maintenance and renovations during the term of the agreement, with funds set aside in replacement reserves to keep the hotel up to the brand's standards. READ MORE