High tech, high touch, and high energy continue to characterize the hotel industry - owners are designing and furnishing their properties to keep guests comfortable, efficient, and coming back. Let's look at what this means for your furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) decisions as you plan new construction and renovation projects in 2008. READ MORE

First impressions can be effective or disastrous, but they are always lasting. Nowhere is that more true than the highly competitive hotel industry, where the look and feel of a property can immediately turn guests on - or off. That's precisely why hoteliers are increasingly turning to professional design and purchasing for their furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E). Buying FF&E can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be painful - either for your peace of mind or your bottom line. READ MORE

In recent years, it has become trendy for some Westerners to use feng shui in making life decisions. Of course, feng shui has guided the lives of many people in the Orient for more than 3,000 years. Yes, feng shui is a complex concept, but its implementation is based in large part on common sense; such as correlating form with function or selecting and positioning objects in a way that is smart as well as aesthetically pleasing. My article explores some basics of feng shui and then applies them in a simple, useful, practical manner to the interior design of a hotel. READ MORE

Buying furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be painful - either for your peace of mind or your bottom line. Yes, you're spending a lot of money to furnish your hotel - but a purchasing professional can help stretch the dollars you spend, while also building the value of your property. By definition, choosing your FF&E means making choices - and the right choice for many owners and property managers is to assign purchasing responsibilities to an outside source. So when people claim that they can do effective buying of products for you, how can you be sure you're selecting a reputable purchasing agent for your FF&E needs? READ MORE

Most of us eat three meals a day, 365 days a year for a total of 1,095 dining experiences. Surely some of these should be memorable, and that's a key goal for managers at fractional interest resorts. Restaurants and food service are without a doubt the most competitive aspects of the fiercely spirited luxury resort hotel industry. Top-notch hotels and resorts have started recognizing this growing trend and are now being pushed to raise the bar on culinary services still higher as a new generation of "foodies" want more on their vacation menus than just room service and all-you-can-eat brunch buffets. READ MORE

US-based hotel chains are in various stages of adopting corporate environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility programs. The trend tracks rapidly increasing utility costs, growing awareness among guests of global environmental issues such as climate change and scarcity of water resources, and the introduction of a wide variety of "environmentally-friendly" product and technology alternatives. US hotel chains are also taking advantage of collaborative voluntary initiatives at the local, national and international level. READ MORE

The Travel marketplace is at the top tier of the web's explosion of channel aggregation, information, and game changing consumer sophistication. To compete and win, today's hotelier must develop a multi-layered strategy and deploy an array of finely-tuned tactics. And must do so while battling a recovering economy and navigating crowded sea lanes. Special times require special measures, with the keyword being "Specials" - a tried and true marketing tactic that can help you beat your competitors, engages consumers, and can be profitable when smartly done and managed. READ MORE

I've been through an interesting period with a union that has attempted to organize our hotel's dedicated employees. Unions use 'old school' tactics that don¹t work today. In my 35 years in the hotel business, it¹s been drilled into me to take care of your employees and reduce turnover ­ it's paramount to success. Unions don't understand our efforts to take care of our staff. Now, facing declining enrollment, unions' failed efforts to develop new strategies and work in conjunction with business has led to EFCA, which could eliminate the 'secret ballot' election process and lead us down a very slippery slope. READ MORE

In this article, one of a four-part series on generational marketing, we will look at the second "hump" of your hotel's four-humped customer camel - The Baby Boom generation. Boomers have reshaped each phase of life as they have passed through it, due to their sheer size and tendency towards rebellion and creativity. And they are doing so in your hotel. In their middle years now, they are characterized by a desire to stay fit and healthy for as long as possible and to maintain their youthful looks. As they age, they will redefine the term "seniors" in the same way that they redefined other life stages. With continued improvements in medicine and people living longer and healthier lives, their 70 will become the new 50. So what products and services can your hotel offer that will be in sync with the values of this generation? Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing: READ MORE

For any hotel, generational marketing is a strategic business perspective that studies the effects of age cohorts on marketing decisions. So in this article, the first of a four-part 2008 series, we will look at the first "hump" of a hotel's four-humped customer camel - the Matures or Silent generation. In subsequent articles, we'll look at the 76+ million Baby Boomer group, the infamous Generation X, and the generation that will be filling your hotel's coffers in the coming years - the Y or Millennial generation. So just who are the Matures? And how can you best reach them? Let them tell you... READ MORE

In this article, one of a four-part series on generational marketing in your hotel, we look at the third "hump" of your property's four-humped guest camel - The Generation X (Gen X). A Xer himself, Canadian writer Douglas Coupland has said Generation X is not a chronological age but a way of looking at the world. There may be more truth than fiction in this statement. Defined by diversity, today's 20- and 30-somethings are cynical and skeptical of traditions and institutions (including hotel brands). READ MORE

We are Sasha Cohen, Reggie Bush, the Olsen twins, and the McCaughey septuplets. Born after 1985, we already number 75+ million, and are growing. By 2010, we will be 100+ million strong. And with our numbers, we will become a very powerful economic force as we travel, stay in your hotel, and become members of your loyalty program. Because we were the first generation to grow up immersed in a digital-driven world, we are often called Generation Y (Gen Y), the Net Generation or iGen. But we are also known as Echo Boomers, because we are primarily children of the Baby Boomers. We have even been labeled the Einstein Generation because we are adept at multi-tasking. READ MORE

As executives and decision-makers in global distribution for hotels, we have an obligation to the next generation of professionals to impart our knowledge and experience. By participating in university programs and trade associations, and mentoring young professionals, we can (and should) share our understanding of topics like revenue management, look-to-books, CRS reliability and response, Web site design and content, channel management and career development. Our influence will help develop the best talent to address today's industry challenges, while also helping define and shape the future global distribution landscape for the better. READ MORE

The peaks and valleys of the travel and hospitality industry are inevitable. While there are times you can't meet demand, there are also times that you can't give your product away. But don't take those valleys sitting down, because, there are a number of things you can do to make this time period more profitable for your organization. The low periods may actually offer the great opportunity for financial upside. Read on to learn more about practical strategies that will drive reservations in off- and shoulder-seasons for your organization. READ MORE

The U.S. lodging industry spends close to $4 billion on energy every year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If hotels could improve their energy performance by an average of 30 percent, the hotel industry would see a savings of approximately $365 per available room night per year for every hotel room in the country. The good news is that there are many simple steps your staff can take to use energy more efficiently. And the great news is that electric utilities can help you. READ MORE