Of all of the marketing disciplines, public relations is, to many, the most difficult to assess. "Are we getting our money's worth?" "Are they as productive as they can be?" "Are we achieving the best results?" "Is it time to make a change?" These are the kinds of questions that surface periodically during the life of almost any client-agency relationship. They may crop up often in a new relationship as it struggles to seek a firm foundation, but they occur even in the most established and longstanding of marriages. The questions are natural and they are understandable. Employing a framework for assessing your particular situation will aid in arriving at solid answers. The process will either support the conclusion that you have the right agency in place...or suggest it may be time to make a change. It will also serve as a guideline for working effectively with your agency so you can be secure in the confidence that you are getting the most from your agency and your public relations budget. READ MORE

Communication, on the surface, is easier and quicker than ever. We have a wealth of information at our fingertips, allowing us to be better informed in our communication with others. We can communicate in real time, cutting across georgraphic, time zone and even cultural boundaries. We can easily inform ourselves of basic cultural idioms as we craft communication directed to people in other regions of the country or far flung areas of the world. When the situation calls for it, we can access translation services at the touch of a button. And yet it seems that true communication is more elusive than ever. If you accept that communication creates understanding between the giver and the receiver, then we seem to have quite a way to go before we can call ourselves consistently effective. It may be, as someone said to me years ago, that communication is the last great frontier. READ MORE

Last year was a tough year for everyone. For this reason, it doesn't matter what industry you are in, everyone had to make significant changes, including those within their sales and marketing teams. Joint ventures, partnerships, creative marketing and networking are just a few options for the next generation of companies striving to meet demands in the working world as we transition into a new decade. These collaborations, if executed effectively are an opportunity for both small businesses to band together to take on the goliaths of an industry as well as an opening for large companies to capitalize on some of the streamlined methods utilized in smaller organizations. READ MORE

It is no secret by now that employers, including those in the hotel- and hospitality-related industry, continue to be hit with the legal tsunami that are class action lawsuits. Hotel employers are especially vulnerable, with limited defenses, when it comes to wage and hour lawsuits, where a large class of employees allege that their employer failed to pay minimum wage or overtime compensation. That vulnerability has been increased recently by the current economic climate, where employers look for ways to cut certain employee-related costs, and by advances in technology (e.g., the use of Blackberries) that make it more difficult to monitor working hours and activities. READ MORE

General managers and hoteliers face the challenge of synchronizing all of the internal processes of a hotel every day, coordinating the F&B department with the front office and sales, all while making sure engineering keeps the place running right. It's a tough job! One of the greatest challenges facing hoteliers and hotel managers in terms of getting their symphony well-tuned is synching their sales and revenue management systems. This article provides GMs and hoteliers with suggestions on how to properly integrate their sales and revenue management systems to ensure optimal revenues, a must in today's tough market. READ MORE

Almost overnight, group business disappeared when the worst economic times of our life time coincided with the public exposure of AIG and other companies spending lavishly on group business while accepting government bail-outs. As a result, large groups from high profile companies wanted to avoid the illusion of excess or decadence and cancelled their meetings at resorts, conference centers, casinos, and convention hotels. In desperation, most group properties significantly reduced rates to attract any group business and undercut their completion to gain back this market. This article will address some tips to penetrate this market regardless of market conditions to ensure that your property(s) is positioned for success. READ MORE

With business travel showing a slow rebound going into 2010, business travelers are being forced to review the need for travel on a case-by-case basis as companies increasingly examine how they can get the best return on investment from travel. Because business travelers make up such a large percentage of the bookings, marketers will need to rethink and rebuild an ongoing strategy that is reflective across all channels. Find out what some of the emerging trends are for 2010 that will be on the forefront of the business travel market. READ MORE

Interior designers work hard to sharpen their savvy and well-oiled sales pitches - sales pitches that often seem to include validations of our essential service offerings. As a designer - I myself am often guilty of reasoning over details and well thought out design concepts, which in most cases focus on the end-user and revenue generation. Designer concepts fall all too often on misunderstanding ears as proverbial designer fluff, but within this article I'll present valid scenarios that clearly assuage the misgivings of property developers and owners and in the end validate the work of designers. READ MORE

Without a doubt, the most significant line item under a hotel's operating cost umbrella is energy. Lighting, cooling, heating, and supplying water to a hotel and its guests is pricey. Therefore, it's the smartest place to look for savings. But it's impossible to reduce energy spend without first understanding your consumption. That's where the power of the utility bill comes into play. READ MORE

Qualitative marketing research can be a valuable tool for gaining an in-depth understanding of business travelers' behaviors and attitudes toward hotels. It is a means for investigating what influences business travelers' purchase decisions and why. Obviously, business travelers today have many hotel choices. In fact, in many instances, these choices are within walking distance of one another. So, why do some business travelers choose to stay at your hotel while others stay at the one across the street? How can you drive more traffic to your property? Understanding what motivates them can greatly influence your bottom line. READ MORE

"Spray and pray" is so pass'e. Gone are the days of promoting yourself to everyone in the hopes of capturing anyone. With the advent of technology, the increasing presence of the Internet and the growing savvy of travelers, it's now possible - and necessary - to shrink your focus and target very select groups of customers. Niche marketing may mean going after fewer guest segments, but you may find these smaller groups are so much more qualified and loyal, generating greater revenue at a lesser cost as a result. READ MORE

Small, independent hotels have the added challenge of limited marketing resources as they are typically established as a percentage of revenues. Therefore, each dollar spent and each strategy implemented must be efficient and produce the greatest ROI. This article addresses the key components to establish a plan; how to effectively evaluate its effectiveness; and how and when to change course, without "knee-jerk reactions". READ MORE

Boutique hotels are a relatively new concept to the hotel industry. Until the early 90s, the standard model had typically been a large full-service hotel with numerous banquet and meeting rooms. The large size and its economies of scale, helped insure greater profitability. Along came the concept of boutique hotels which was contrary to that formula. The typical boutique hotel is less than 100 guest rooms, limited service, zero to one boardroom, and any food and beverage outlets are generally outsourced. The emphasis in boutique hotels is on selling guest rooms (where the profit margins are significantly higher than in banquets and meetings) by enticing a guest with its high design, the promise of a unique experience, and lower rates. READ MORE

Hotels are performing well despite service and product issues, and in many cases, despite poor sales department work habits. So, when we know that the supply/demand dynamics can change and do change, then why be complacent with short term results and accept work habits that would not be acceptable in any other department? A few simple tips can help protect your investment as an owner and insure optimum performance as a manager. READ MORE

Technology has brought numerous advantages to conducting business, including servicing existing customers and in reaching new markets. But as a service industry, it is important to ensure that technology is used to enhance guest satisfaction, especially in the case of free-standing boutique hotels. One key factor that differentiates boutique hotels from large or chain affiliated hotels is its personalized service. Therefore, in order to benefit from the many applications of technology (i.e. reducing expenses, generating demand, and increasing guest satisfaction), and to simultaneously maintain the personalized services characteristic of boutique hotels, it is important for owners and managers to re-think and evaluate the following key areas... READ MORE