One of the greatest benefits of a career in hospitality is the ability to connect with others - whether it's working directly with guests or developing programs and services that impact guests' experiences. Employment opportunities in hospitality are aligned with the qualities that many workers say make a job ideal. In fact, a recent CareerBuilder.com survey of more than 6,300 workers finds that 81 percent of workers feel it is important to impact others in their jobs - one-in-five (20 percent) say it is absolutely essential. Developing, implementing and promoting Career Path programs can help establish your company as a preferred employer and that has many advantages. Here are just a few of the ways Career Path programs can positively impact your organization. READ MORE

The challenges we face due to our current economy will continue to a have a significant impact on all of us. Furthermore, the lifestyles of active-minded Americans continue to be action-packed, making time a luxury that most of us can not afford to waste. These two themes will play prominent roles, influencing the business of fitness and the choices that hospitality-based fitness center owners and managers make throughout the year. So with that, let's take a deeper dive into the specific fitness trends the hospitality industry needs to be reckoning with in 2010. READ MORE

The hospitality industry was not immune to the challenges that many organizations faced in the past year. Benefit cuts, layoffs and restructuring are just a few of the hurdles that were encountered in 2009. As hospitality employers look ahead to the coming months, they will remain cautious with their hiring plans, but they do plan to add more headcount than they did last year. According to CareerBuilder's hospitality hiring forecast, 12 percent of hospitality companies plan to add full-time employees this year; compared to only 5 percent who said the same in 2009. Temporary hiring - often a positive indicator of future full-time recruitment - is also forecasted to increase with 22 percent of companies saying they will bring on part-time help. READ MORE

Today the hospitality industry is dominated by a handful of large international hotel chains. Like other industries, consumers continue to look to recognizable brands for comfort, value, dependability and quality. Learning to "go local" and break away from "corporate uniformity" does not mean abandoning the value of a national reservation and incentive program, but it does require an understanding that, in today's market, appearing to be part of a "larger enterprise" is not always the most effective way to increase market share in the industry. A combination of marketing that includes utilization of branding programs and corporate good will, with more personalized local services and unique experiences, is necessary. READ MORE

The relatively young hotel and resort segment of the spa industry continues to develop and mature as guests become more spa savvy and managers are held responsible for achieving higher performance. As owners/developers invest more heavily in spa facilities, and property managers become more aware of spa revenue opportunities, everyone is taking notice of this once quiet sector. While simply having a spa doesn't necessarily drive revenue, being smart about its development and operations can mean the difference between a profitable spa and an amenity spa. READ MORE