Over the past decade the unstoppable rise of social media has impacted almost every industry in some way, but the hospitality business has been especially affected. Online customer reviews, real-time feedback through social channels, and the rise of travel-influencers are just a few of the side effects from social media that have had a profound effect on hospitality. But social never stands still and, for marketers in all industries, a process of constant evolution and learning is necessary in order to stay in ahead of the game and take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the channel. READ MORE

A major part of Best Western® Hotels & Resorts' (BWHR) evolution has been the emergence of hip and energetic boutique brands under its corporate umbrella, including, among others, GLō®. These new additions have played a critical role in contemporizing the BWHR brand and broadening its reach from economy to upscale with unique boutique offerings. The GLō brand has allowed BWHR to appeal across generations and tap into a demographic that they were previously missing. With a stylish, convenient and technology-driven design, GLō holds a powerful new place in the affordably priced, broad-midscale hotel market. READ MORE

Sam Moon Group's latest hotel development is the JW Marriott Dallas Arts District hotel in downtown Dallas, which will be the first JW Marriott hotel in Dallas. The 267-key hotel will be located at 2000 Ross Avenue and will join the Dallas Arts District, the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation. The hotel's resort-style amenities, food and beverage options and luxurious rooms with sweeping views will draw visitors and residents to the new destination. The JW Marriott Dallas Arts District hotel is projected to open February 2022. READ MORE

Hotel operators may consider it wise to sign contracts with multiple vendor partners, but who benefits from this strategy? Hoteliers who are juggling conflicting relationships and a tangled web of tools? Vendors who lack access to each other's data, only seeing a piece of the operations puzzle? Or travelers, whose needs are ever-changing? The reality is that a strategy tapping the tools of multiple vendor partners may provide peace of mind for hotel operators, but it also creates an environment that often hampers growth rife with inefficiency. In order to remain competitive, hotels need to reflect on existing partnerships now. READ MORE

If managed strategically, social media can serve as an early warning system, alerting hotel managers of guest concerns and dissatisfactions before such guest discontent mushrooms to the point where it can seriously damage a hotel's reputation and eventually its profitability. To help prevent such a scenario from occurring, hotel managers can turn to technology known as social listening tools. These are applications that search the web for posts and comments about particular hotels. Once such tools are put in place, hotel managers can begin to analyze the results and then take remedial steps to quickly and effectively minimize any damage that might have occurred to the hotel. READ MORE