At the end of the day, from an owner and stakeholder perspective, business performance is an operational issue while productivity is a strategic issue. In a manner of speaking, productivity is a reflection of how efficiently business performance is achieved. Owners are in business for the long haul. A long haul can only be sustained if the means to ends are consistently efficient. It is productivity that makes return on investment a long term factor and vindicates the huge investment forked out. Stakeholders tend to sleep well knowing that an efficient system of producing business performance is at work and incrementally improving. READ MORE

In 1967, the Hyatt Regency Atlanta's revolutionary architecture introduced the modern atrium concept. At that time, soaring and expansive interior space was unexpected in urban hotel design. The public was captivated! The hotel was such a rousing success that it launched Hyatt as a major brand. The concept has since been copied in hotels the world over. Today, designing people space into hospitality is as effective as ever. It has morphed beyond the atrium to engage the public in distinctive ways while providing hotel operators flexible space that facilitates a quick response to unexpected demands now and into the future. READ MORE

Boutique hotel brands embrace who they are through a strong point of view and a propensity for great storytelling. They know they can't be all things to all people. They leverage truly local and customized narratives – that cleverly connect to the community – and provide guests with curated amenities and distinct service culture moments. These specialized environments have identified how to infuse unique experiences into travel, with a renewed spirit and true sense of hospitality. In this current hospitality climate, it's important that we start listening to our specialized, more nimble brethren – and emulate their anti-commodity mindset. They're bringing sexy back to travel … one guest experience at a time. READ MORE

Wherever your hotel happens to be, it's always possible to use your location and its natural assets to differentiate your destination from the competition-whether it's seasons or a lack of them; access to a bustling city center or a welcomed distance from one; backdrops of beaches or parkland and then some. At Mountain Shadows Resort, our development team sought to turn our desert setting (heat and all) into a hot commodity by applying an outside-in approach to design, architecture and programming. The result? Cool experiences that allow guests to admire and enjoy the great outdoors all year long. READ MORE

In today's ever-changing, fast-paced world, our exposure to what's new, what's better and what people are experiencing locally as well as globally has changed exponentially. As such, a more sophisticated traveler has become the norm which has reshaped the landscape of hotel design. No longer is it acceptable to simply satisfy guests, rather, hoteliers, developers, architects and designers are in constant pursuit of how to create spaces that "transport" guests to another place and provide them with memories that are timeless, unexpected, unforgettable and experiential. With this in mind, and with more than 30 years of experience positioning lifestyle and hospitality brands in the global marketplace, Lisa Simeone shares her insights and perspectives for delivering high-end luxury and forward-thinking authenticity through experiential design. READ MORE