Portland's Harlow Block is the second oldest commercial building north of downtown. Built as a hotel in 1882, it thrived well into the 1920s but then began a descent into disrepair and disinvestment that ended in the building becoming a flophouse before being closed. For the last forty years, people have tried to revitalize the building, only to leave it in worse condition than before. In 2007, Ganesh Sonpatki of Parum Hotels took on the challenge. Despite more than a decade of struggling through code and historic preservation issues, the building is today reborn as a historic boutique 26 room hotel/restaurant. READ MORE

On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell uttered his famous words, "Mr. Watson. Come here. I want to see you." Watson, who was in an adjoining room heard Bell's summons clearly. The telephone was more than an invention by an unbelievably creative mind. It was a disruptor. There is a distinct difference between an invention and a disruptor. Today, there is a disruptive "new sheriff in town" and its name is Blockchain. In this article, you'll see how this technology can be integrated into your hotel and transform your Loyalty Program. READ MORE

An organization's forgiveness climate is pivotal in reducing negative and promoting positive consequences of errors, mistakes, or offenses in the workplace. Organizational forgiveness refers to the abandonment of resentment and blame as well as the adoption of a positive, forward-thinking approach to errors, mistakes, and offenses. A forgiving climate in hospitality organizations can increase hospitality employees' job satisfaction, organizational commitment, performance, fairness perceptions, and learning, and decrease turnover intentions. Therefore, hospitality organizations and leaders should consider promoting a climate of forgiveness. Recommendations are provided to managers to create a forgiving work environment in hospitality organizations. READ MORE

Interests in the hotel industry are bought and sold. Contracts in furtherance of the sale of those interests may contain restrictive covenants. In some cases, restrictive covenants might take the form of contractual provisions that, among other things, restrict competition from a new owner or prevent certain uses. Use of a restrictive covenant may lead to litigation when one party contends that another party is in violation of a restrictive covenant. Hospitality industry players should be aware of the risks associated with restrictive covenants, and aware of the hospitality-related litigation that can result from them. READ MORE

Hospitality has always provided a great entryway to the world of work for younger individuals, while also attracting older individuals who wish to embark on a new career in an exciting service-driven industry. This is fortunate at a time when the industry faces a labor shortage, especially in areas like housekeeping. This article discusses how available technologies, including today's best hotel task optimization software platforms, can help bring newcomers to hospitality on board and up to speed quickly, and propelling those inclined on to a rewarding career path. READ MORE