In the sixth century BC, Greek philosopher Heraclitus observed "Everything changes but change itself." Twenty-six centuries later, it's still just as true. It certainly applies to today's hotel customers. Travelers, whether business road warriors or families on vacation, are more selective, value conscious and well-informed than ever before. They also have a whole new set of expectations. Hotels have a unique opportunity now to embrace and benefit from this new customer reality. Read this article to learn how you can capitalize on it in ways that will differentiate your property's brand, rise above the competition and increase customer loyalty. READ MORE

2009 is finally behind us. Now what? According to PhocusWright, demand won't reach 2007 levels until 2011, supply will fall less than 1% from 2011 - 2013, occupancy will not get back to 60% nationally until 2012, preventing rates from trending upward until 2011 and RevPAR will reach only 90-95% of 2007 peak levels sometime in 2012. So what do hotels and hotel companies do to not only survive, but also thrive in the two years ahead? How do you win going forward then? By changing the rules and the application of those rules to change the competitive landscape. READ MORE

In general, a company's culture is defined by the shared values, beliefs, and behaviors of the people who represent it. While strategies and specific objectives may change or evolve over time, a company's core values and beliefs, and hence its culture, should not. But what if they do? This year, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Over the course of the last century, the company's history has been marked by three distinct periods, each bringing its own set of priorities and cultures. READ MORE

How much information would you like to have about your employees before you make a decision about whether to hire or fire them? If you had access to all public and private information about them at the click of a mouse, would you seize the opportunity? Be careful what you wish for. This article identifies the primary problems associated with the use of social networking sites by employers in the private sector, and offers some best practices to effectively address some of the potential pitfalls. READ MORE

The hospitality industry's crystal ball is, unfortunately, just as cloudy this year as it was this time last year. Though we can perhaps take comfort in the fact that those clouds are just grey instead of black and stormy, uncertainty is still the only thing that is certain for the hotel and lodging industry in general. Even with positive GDP last quarter (indicating that the recession is technically ending), hotels, resorts and other lodging properties are still experiencing depressed demand, low average daily rates and stagnant occupancy. In other words, low RevPAR. No one can know for certain whether these negative trends will persist through 2010 but following are my thoughts and projections for what 2010 has in store for the hotel industry. READ MORE

Avatar is the second-highest grossing film of all time and has a legitimate shot at toppling the all-time worldwide box office record. 3D movies are taking the entertainment industry by storm as consumers seek more satisfying entertainment moments. Guests are seeking those more than satisfying moments in hospitality too. Hoteliers can actually capitalize on the 3D entertainment phenomenon with a multi-dimensional focus on exceptional service delivery. This article introduces a powerful methodology focusing on the procedural, personal and perceptual sides of service which lead to exceptional service delivery and a deeper understanding of guest experience management." READ MORE

Like other industries, the hotel industry has followed the environmentally friendly trend of going "green". Hotel developers have recognized the cost-saving and marketing benefits of going green, because apart from being environmentally responsible, green development could literally translate into more green in the bank by increasing revenues and reducing costs. However, now there is a compelling new reason to design and build green projects - increasingly, it is becoming the law. As green projects become mandatory, and as projects come to fruition, litigation is sure to follow as hotel developers and others go top court to resolve issues relating to going green. READ MORE

In this article, I explore potential ways that a hotel, restaurant, or similar hospitality establishment can use exceptions to discrimination laws to capitalize on sex appeal while still remaining within the bounds of the law. Gender or sex discrimination is, of course, never appropriate. However, the fact that a hospitality establishment capitalizes on sex appeal is not in and of itself illegal. The distinction likely turns upon whether gender-specific hiring enhances the "authenticity" of the establishment, and whether provocative dress is reasonable under the circumstances and is applied equally to both male and female employees. READ MORE

Any discussion of the benefits of arbitration over litigation generally parrots the "well known" benefits. That is, arbitration is generally viewed, by both lay persons and even by most attorneys, as a more economical and efficient method of resolving disputes than traditional litigation. Attorneys and parties are often surprised when arbitration includes complex and burdensome discovery, motion practice, and expensive hearings. As explained below, the line between arbitration and litigation has, at least in some instances, disappeared. READ MORE

During the past couple of years, it's been hard to miss articles in the press concerning one or more aspects of the proliferation of the "condo hotel." Those articles have generally dealt with potential issues that might arise from the new mixed property uses, the soundness and reasons for investments in condo hotels, and legal issues relating to the purchase, sale, and management of the condo hotel. One potential issue that was the subject of many articles concerning the condo hotel boom - - including an article by this author - - was whether dissatisfied condo-hotel unit owners would seek to assert claims against developers alleging that the sale of a condo hotel unit constitutes the sale of a security, thus giving rise to the right to rescind a condo unit purchase contract and seek damages, under federal and state securities laws. READ MORE

Top fitness professionals stay abreast on current researches and advances in the field to forecast exercise trends and serve a crucial role in promotion into the general population. Health clubs must also chart these trends but have the additional burden of working within limitations of space and budget to provide their members to access to these trends. This is especially true for hotel fitness centers that, due to certain variables such as limited space and non-staffed facilities, must try to offer these trends to their guests when feasible. Following are ten current exercise trends that can be incorporated into the hotel fitness center.. READ MORE

With concern about climate change on the rise, consumers expect businesses to do their part to reduce their negative environmental impact. A recent survey by Tripadvisor.com indicates that environmental friendliness is an important travel-planning consideration for many individuals, with 34% of respondents stating they would be willing to pay more money to stay at an environmentally-friendly hotel. For this very reason, hotel executives are beginning to recognize the importance of turning their gardens green by using sustainable landscaping techniques. READ MORE

The wave of mergers and acquisitions activity, fueled by record hotel profits, globalization and an influx of private equity money, is increasing the market power of the big industry players. Hotel giants have been accumulating multiple brands - either in multiple market sectors or in a single sector - and that trend is expected to continue. As a result, fewer competitors hold larger market shares with more control over the nature of competition in various market segments. These industry trends can draw unwelcome attention from more than just the trustbusters. Competitors and business partners alike have significant incentives to engage in private antitrust litigation, and this only adds to the antitrust concerns that keep your lawyer up at night. READ MORE

Two dark horses have emerged in the current economic climate both competing for hospitality industry and real estate consumer and investment dollars. The contenders are Extended-stay hotels and Multi-family Apartments MFAs). Extended-stay hotels are competing by trading in their economy pedigree and emerging as upscale alternatives to traditional business traveler accommodations. MFA's are responding to the changing market place by offering short-term leases to market segments that traditionally would not be considered rental property consumers. The convergence of long-term stays and short-term leasing creates interesting legal issues as hoteliers and landlords blur the lines between traditional hotel stays and leases of rental property. READ MORE

Mergers and acquisitions, disputes over management agreements, and fights for ownership of guest information. These are just some of the issues among today's hospitality industry headlines. As a lawyer often involved in these sorts of matters, we often must work with the news media - and manage the glare that follows high-profile hospitality issues. While many lawyers shy away from public comment on these matters, we believe that it is better to help our clients navigate the waters of public relations. In fact, we consistently recommend that our clients - whether managers, owners, investors or otherwise - work with the news media when involved in high profile hospitality disputes. READ MORE