Brand extensions have always been a common part of corporate growth strategies, but have more recently expanded into the hospitality business. From retail and entertainment brands like Restoration Hardware, Taco Bell and Disney, companies from all industries are now looking into brand extensions. This article examines the implications for hospitality brand extensions, provides examples of successful integrations, explains how hotel brands can expand into the retail space, and examines the questions they need to address before doing so. Following these tips will help brands avoid being the next Blockbuster and will ensure longevity in the space. READ MORE

Revenue management plays a vital role in the modern hotel technology stack, and demonstrating ROI in a hotel's revenue technology investment goes deeper than year-over-year RevPAR uplift. The additional revenue from the proper implementation of revenue technologies and strategies directly impacts a hotel's bottom line, making it a valuable tool for optimizing the net value of a property. Forecasted earnings and asset sales proceeds are critical factors in applying revenue science to hotel real estate assessment. It's only a matter of time before the majority of the industry catches up to what leading hotel owners and asset managers have already realized: a smart investment into revenue strategy and technology is the key to driving greater property profitability and value. READ MORE

For operators of hotel casinos, the amount of risk exposure can rise faster than a progressive jackpot on a slot machine. Because guests tend to stay on-site at hotel casinos far longer than guests at any other class of hotel, these venues have a radically different risk profile. Add in an events center, a bar or a live entertainment venue, and the risks multiply. This article takes an in-depth look at four risks on which hotel casinos can't gamble and offers practical tips operators can take to limit their hotel casino's exposure to a potentially devastating financial loss. READ MORE

Robust indoor wireless networks are enabling building owners and managers to employ technology and applications that allow their staff and systems to be more efficient. These applications include automated systems that monitor and control various environments within the building, including security systems, housekeeping and maintenance functions. Citizens Broadband Radio Service spectrum has recently made available by the Federal Communications Commission in a novel shared approach that could prove advantageous for hotels. CBRS spectrum can facilitate private back-of-house communications for staff using private LTE spectrum that has all the advantages of cellular with the ease of deployment that Wi-Fi offers. READ MORE

We are long past the days of one-on-one texting or emails within hospitality organizations; even videoconferencing. Communications have become more complex and more sophisticated. Today's hotel task optimization platforms allow organizations to stay connected in new ways, fully integrated with the onboarding and training process; ongoing operations to include scheduling and keeping track of task fulfillment; and staff evaluation, engagement and recognition. The key in this process is to understand how to customize and implement each function with specific goals and needs in mind. This makes careful comparison of competing technologies an extremely important aspect of staying connected. READ MORE