The contractual relationship between an owner and an operator is begins with the negotiation of the underlying management agreement. The tone and evolution of that owner/operator relationship will hinge upon the resolution of the most important issues arising during the negotiation of the management agreement, with the commercial terms establishing the foundation of the financial relationship, and the allocation of liability terms establishing the parameters of the risk relationship. Determining who is responsible for the consequences and liabilities of the hospitality business is, more often than not, the most heated and highly negotiated part of a management agreement. READ MORE

A hotel's reviews can be one of its most powerful assets, as well as one of its own downfalls. As one of the most important sources of information for travelers prior to booking, a review can ultimately sway travelers to stay at your property or lead them elsewhere. That said, filtering through hundreds of thousands of reviews across multiple platforms is no easy feat, but hoteliers shouldn't dismiss this treasure trove of valuable information. The solution: data-driven technology that transforms guest feedback into actionable insights to help hoteliers understand what guests are loving at their properties, as well as areas of improvement. READ MORE

Hiring the right people is hard work, in and of itself. From casting a wide enough net to attract a variety of quality candidates, to getting the ideal hire to accept an offer, there are many pitfalls through the hiring process. There are external elements recruiters and HR leaders in the hospitality industry face that increase the level of difficulty. These include budgetary constraints, brand reputation and location. That's not to say there aren't best practices that will help to overcome these issues and ease the mind of quality candidates, getting them from prospective employee to actual hire. READ MORE

In the competitive hotel space, guests expect hotels to offer variety, creativity and excellence in not only the accommodations and services they offer, but in the ancillary activities they provide. Pools, gyms, spas and daily excursions all present a variety of risk exposures to hotels that owners and operators need to consider. In this article, we discuss new trends in activities and services provided by hotels, as well as the risks involved with each and how to mitigate them. READ MORE

Hospitality marketers are currently facing a more challenging landscape than ever when it comes to attracting and appealing to millennials. The methods used for generations past are proving to be irrelevant for this current audience, not just in where they are going, but why. And with the generation on track to make up 75 percent of all hotel guests by 2020, hospitality industry professionals should start to learn what amenities make them tick – and why they all point to Vegas. READ MORE