Thirty years ago many hotels were implementing their first Property Management Systems (PMS). Its main role at the time was to automate processes that had been handled manually. As the PMS has evolved, hotels have utilized these systems' capabilities to increase efficiency and maximize profits. Initially, this was accomplished primarily through interfacing and more recently, via integration and seamless communication. The complexity of our systems has increased and tech-savvy consumers are driving development. So, now that the PMS has evolved beyond merely managing our information, what will the Property Management System of tomorrow look like? READ MORE

Most hoteliers realize the importance of their Web face to their customers and the extent to which customers interact with the brand through that medium; therefore, we should always invest in the best possible experience for our visitors. Rich Internet Applications provide the potential to take that experience to the next level. The best way to decide if Rich Internet Applications are right for you is to recognize your current Web site's unique problems and identify optimum opportunities for improvement. READ MORE

Enhanced customer service, reduction to staffing costs, and a better utilization of hotel resources are just some of the hotel benefits obtained by successfully implementing self-service kiosks. Many customers are already accustomed to using self-service alternatives for airline check-in, rental cars and supermarket check-out. Today, customers are demanding the same convenience and ease of use in the hotel check-in process. READ MORE

Why has guest experience accelerated in importance over the past several years? Some say it's the build out of local markets where location and price have reached their zenith. Oversaturation is the death knell for many an operation. But there are still others that realize a focus on guest service and the guest experience has the potential to negate many of the affects of competition, location and price. In fact, many are finding that they can significantly increase revenue by focusing on guest service. READ MORE

Success in hotel operations means reducing costs and improving operational efficiencies while enhancing guest satisfaction. The most visible benefit of deploying a document management solution is an immediate reduction in manual processes and volumes of paper. Companies that choose to deploy a document management solution gain a rapid return on investment. The costs savings are easy to see: dramatic decreases in the time and labor required to search for and retrieve documents, increases in work capacity and productivity and reduced physical space demands for filing paper copies of documents in offices and off-site warehouses. READ MORE

Historically, the hospitality industry hasn't exactly been the leading hotbed of technology. Earlier this millennium, the best you'd usually find was billing and room reservation systems linked using the room TV as a display. And guest services tended to be centralized with terminals at reception and in restaurants. Now, IT is everywhere. In-room mini-bars are connected to IP networks that add purchases to the bill 30 seconds after a cold beverage is lifted from the fridge. The flat screen TV offers streaming music services with soothing screensaver photos. Even the room key has become part of a technology link that allows guests to buy food in restaurants and access voice mail and wireless Internet portals. And a new generation of gadget-minded and gear-toting business and leisure guests are forcing hotel operators to continuously -- and at warp speeds -- adopt new information and entertainment technology systems. READ MORE

Most resorts, hotels and spas have peak and off seasons. Some resorts in particular find their off seasons especially trying for many reasons including profitability, staffing and basic fiscal sustainability. No matter what position you find your facility in all is not lost. In fact, the down season can actually be transformed into a period of opportunity for growth, market renewal and baseline improvement. Not only can you enhance your market mix you can rethink your overall strategy for the year as well as grow your business as a whole. READ MORE

Running a spa in a hotel is a must these days as well as a hectic matter. The phone is ringing; the clients are streaming in at a steady pace. There are sheets to change and implements to be sanitized. What's more? The spa in your facility is no longer a fluffy amenity. Your spa is real business that affects if guests return. Your spa is expected to generate revenue, retain clients and top off what is expected to be a delightful excursion during each guest's stay. Is your spa profitable? If you can't measure it you will never manage it. Dive in to uncover the inner workings of your spa from facial room to retail and discover opportunities that you may not know your spa offers in terms of hidden potential. READ MORE

While it is obvious that the spa-goer or hotel guest is the primary client at any spa facility your staff or your internal clients are just as important. Particularly in the spa environment where clients are so closely handled, touched, and communicated with the tone of the technician's mood can make or break a client's experience. Consequently finding and retaining excellent staff with demeanors to match is a crucial although challenging part of running a successful spa. READ MORE

As most companies wrap up their 2009 financial planning season, many creative and impressive strategies have been developed to maintain ownership's expected levels of return. As I travel to meet with clients, the bigger issue I see is not how to create an aggressive plan, but how to turn it into reality. A great plan is only as good as its execution, and this starts with the training of the people who are going to actually execute it. READ MORE

Hospitality managers work hard through many different efforts to generate revenue for the property at all levels. Many are surprised to find thatheir success at this process does not always fully make it to the bottom line. The "leakage" is caused by many reasons, but most often by error and theft. Every hotel experiences these issues in some degree, impacting bottom line EBIDTA anywhere from 1% to as much as 10% or more. In this article, we discuss some areas which are at risk and how establishing an effective revenue control system can prevent them. READ MORE

Hoteliers spend tremendous time and energy looking for strategic ways to utilize technology to improve their operations and drive financial performance. What many fail to look at is that the hotel itself usually sits in the middle of a large parking facility. This facility often takes up as much real estate as the hotel itself, but because parking is outside of the core focus of the industry, parking technology is rarely part of any strategic capital or IT plan. This article will explore how some of the latest advancements in the parking industry can help hotels capitalize on unrealized profit. READ MORE

To employ or not to employ? That is the question. The answer can be fairly easy, provided, the employer has taken care to ensure that it is fully protected pursuant to the terms of the hotel management agreement. What tips the scale will vary based upon many factors, imputation of liability, collective bargaining agreements, union labor vs. non-union labor, and the applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the hotel is located. Sophisticated owners and managers carefully address each of the issues related to employment in the hotel management agreement so if an employment related issue arises, it is clear which party is responsible. READ MORE

Raise your hand if you have had a bad boss. I am sure everyone reading this has raised both hands, and raised them pretty quickly! We often remember our bad bosses more readily than we do our good ones, because the experience was so unpleasant and disappointing. And sometimes we are so harmed by the experience it can take us a long time to get over it. Now think about the good bosses you have had. I hope you have had at least one in your career. Why were they good? Why was the experience working for them so invigorating and memorable? Wouldn't you like to create such an environment for anyone under your area of supervision? READ MORE

Do you struggle to keep your office organized? Do you keep current with your business communications? Do you let e-mails sit in your in-box for days on end? If you've ever had a challenge achieving a goal in the past it could be because you didn't attempt to achieve the goal from the right mindset. Everyone knows that if you want to achieve a goal, you need a well thought out plan and a timetable to implement the plan. It seems like a relatively simple process that would make any goal obtainable. This makes sense in theory, but in reality the best of intentions many times turn into un-kept promises to yourself or others, a missed business deadline, a downturn in sales or a decrease in productivity. READ MORE