Market conditions impact our planners tasked to make decisions on destinations for future meetings and events. Taking a strategic look into the cycle to source and confirm the right venue to host your program we explore best practices to find availability in first tier destinations, what to look for when you cannot find availability in your destination of choice, and other costs and concerns driven by the market to be mindful of when sourcing an upcoming program. These practices have proven results navigating the uncertain market conditions of today and the future and could set your programs up for success. READ MORE

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not just a trend, but a common business value. For over a decade, major corporations have implemented CSR initiatives focused on sustainable practices, ethical business, investment in the community, health and wellbeing of employees and general philosophies about being good citizens of the planet. For events, CSR appears in various formats like incorporating sustainable practices of going paperless or having water stations instead of plastic bottles or volunteer projects like supporting a local charity. These initiatives play a role in venue selection and offer opportunities to use non-traditional space as part of a meeting or conference. READ MORE

Generation Y, The Millennials. Generation Next - These are just a few of the names attributed to the generation born between 1980 and 1999. Millennials, now 19 to 39 years old, were the first to grow up in a digital world, they are the so-called digital natives. To put an entire generation into one category is a crude generalization, however, this generation does share various characteristics. They are characterized by an absolutely experienced approach to the World Wide Web and social media and they not only use but master all of the advantages of the digital world. This article will explain what Millennial "Bleisure" travels expect from the hotel industry and why independent hotels are the perfect match. READ MORE

Hotel executives need to at least take a look at models associated with knowledge management, which is directed at developing a better understanding of the concept of knowledge management within hotels. Knowledge management has to be measured in some way. Once knowledge is accumulated, the current processes may be supplemented or even substituted. The key point in the process perspective is the knowledge accumulation section coupled with knowledge integration and reconfiguration to ensure that the knowledge is actually helping the hotel grow both professionally for individuals and profitably for all stakeholders. This article raises a vital question as to how hotel executives can successfully evaluate the success of knowledge management in hotels. READ MORE

Recent trends have focused on the sourcing of ingredients from whole animals, to local honey, community farmed vegetables to craft cocktail bitters. The Good Food 100 Restaurants List has done a great job of giving chefs and restaurateurs the ability to see how their buying power can change the food supply and essentially vote with their guests forks. Sourcing is no doubt important, but don't leave behind the rest of the operations. There are many options to be more sustainable throughout the entirety of the business. READ MORE